ANSD : Lebanon: Protesters firm on rejection of Diab’s designation

MON 20 - 5 - 2024

Date: Dec 23, 2019
Source: The Daily Star

Lebanon: Protesters firm on rejection of Diab’s designation

_{Zoe Dutton| The Daily Star}
BEIRUT: Demonstrators across Lebanon rejected Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab’s appeals for cooperation Sunday, blocking roads and taking to the streets to protest what they called an attempt by political elites to coopt the uprising on its 67th day. In Beirut, people gathered around Riad al-Solh and Martyrs’ Square during the day, marching on Parliament and congregating in Nijmeh Square at night.

“They think we are stupid, but they are the stupid ones,” a protester in Martyrs’ Square told The Daily Star Sunday evening. “They think they can make things go back to how they were, but everything they are doing is completely obvious.”

“All of them means all of them,” another protester told The Daily Star. “I am here [in Riad al-Solh] to say enough, we are done.”

Earlier in the day, protesters gathered outside Diab’s home in Talet al-Khayat, as he met with “representatives” of the nationwide uprisings.

Demonstrators made clear their disapproval of the meetings, which began at noon and ended just after 2 p.m. Their picketing followed comments made by Diab to reporters at the end of Saturday’s parliamentary consultations, when he said that he intended to sit down with members of the protest movement and incorporate their demands into the government’s agenda.

However, demonstrators as well as prominent activist groups have repeatedly declared that “the revolution has no leader,” and the uprising’s broad-based, popular character is among its most notable features.

While those who met Diab stressed that they did so in a personal capacity, protesters said they rejected anyone who claimed to be an envoy of the uprising.

Journalist Mohammad Noun was among Diab’s visitors, as was another man who identified himself as Nabil Hajjar.

“There are some from the uprising who want to give [Diab] a chance,” Hajjar told local TV channel MTV. “We are free. No one can tell us we cannot meet with Diab.”

“We want a prime minister that comes from the people,” one protester told local media speaking from Talet al-Khayat. “[Diab] does not enjoy the revolution’s legitimacy.”

Before protesters could join the crowds in Downtown Beirut, many had to first make it past state security forces. Buses transporting protesters from Tripoli to Beirut Sunday afternoon were stopped at Madfoun checkpoint in north Lebanon. Army personnel searched their buses and detained a number of passengers, bringing traffic on the highway from Tripoli to Beirut to a standstill for close to an hour.

“Contrary to what has been circulated by some media outlets and on social media platforms, the Army clarifies that what happened at the checkpoint today falls within the framework of preserving security and was just a tight inspection process,” a statement released by the Army said. The statement also denied reports that the Army prevented buses from crossing the checkpoint.

“A number of people objected to the inspection process, refusing to follow instructions and orders of Army members at the checkpoint, and were therefore detained for a short period of time before being released,” the statement said. Sources told The Daily Star that 59 people were held. The statement added that wooden batons and gas masks were found on buses.

In Beddawi, protesters reacted to news of the events in Madfoun by blocking roads. “You don’t represent the Sunni sect in Lebanon,” a protester at a roadblock in Beddawi said, referring to Diab.

Demonstrators across the country have been outraged by what they believe is the government’s refusal to listen to their demands. An engineering professor with little political visibility until his designation as prime minister Thursday, Diab has vowed to form a government of experts within six weeks to tackle Lebanon’s dire economic situation. However, many have questioned his commitment as well as suitability for the role, saying that he is just another pawn of the same political elite that the uprising has sought to overthrow.

Supporters of outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who resigned on Oct. 29, also held a small rally Sunday night in Martyrs’ Square, adjacent to the rest of the protesters.

Over the past few days and after Diab’s designation, have been holding protests and cutting off roads in rejection to the resignation. Hariri Saturday called on those who want to protest to do so peacefully. His comments came after intense scuffle erupted between security forces and the supporters in Corniche al-Mazraa Friday.

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