Garbage from Beirut used to be disposed at the Naameh landfill in the mountainous region southeast of the capital.
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Think back a few months to a dark time in Lebanon this July, when a sanitation worker strike led to literal piles of trash throughout the capital Beirut.
Lebanon’s prime minister has hinted he might resign after violent protests against government corruption and political dysfunction focused on a monthlong trash crisis.
He is also under fire from politicians within the government for what they consider an “excessive use of force” against protesters.
About 15 demonstrators were wounded, one of them was in critical condition, the Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star reported citing the Lebanese branch of Red Cross. The Arabic reads, “We have 128 garbage collectors, Trash government”. “Lebanese authorities should respect the protesters’ rights and listen to their demands for a sustainable solution to the garbage crisis”. When using force, law enforcement officials should exercise restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and to the legitimate objective to be achieved.
The interior ministry said it had ordered the release of protesters detained during the clashes, which saw youths hurling rocks at police during the attempt to storm a heavily protected security zone around the Saraya palace, the seat of government.
Protest leader and activist Assaad Thebian, speaking to Lebanon’s LBC news network, called on protesters to remain in Beirut’s central Martyrs Square until five demonstrators who had been arrested were released.
Another man was heard shouting “killer” to a police officer.
Al-Mashnouq is responsible for the attack on the peaceful protesters, he said.
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Other statuses were questioning the origin of the YouReek movement, that organized yesterday’s rally: they were highlighting the fact that Hassan Nasrallah was not featured among other “rotten leaders”, on some posters that were used during the protest. He promised that the waste crisis issue “will be resolved during the Cabinet’s meeting on Thursday”.
