A new wave of protests on broke out on Saturday in different parts of Lebanon, to further push for demands in solving the country’s rubbish crisis.
Clashes between protesters and security men took place, which led to the arrest of 20 protesters, according to the lawyers committee to protect protesters.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets last week in a similar protest against government officials and their corruption in solving the rubbish issue. The protests ended with violent clashes between security men and protesters, after some from the latter tried to cross the barbered wires surrounding official buildings.
Jinane K, a citizen who took part in the protests, told Daily News Egypt: “Everyday it starts calm and ends with clashes, but yesterday was less violent than last week.”
“Last week I went there with my children; we were singing and chanting and everything was peaceful until suddenly the shooting started, so we fled immediately,” she added. “There are hundreds of other reasons why we are protesting, related to corruption in the country other than the rubbish crisis itself.”
Dozens were injured last Saturday after the police forces used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to counter the riot and disperse the protest.
Rubbish has been piling up on the streets of Beirut since Lebanon’s largest landfill shut down last month with no ready alternative. In response, a movement called “You Stink” was launched, calling for protests, and criticising the shortcomings of the government in resolving the crisis.
The movement’s group on Facebook is calling for civil disobedience next Tuesday and further protests until the crisis is resolved.
Lebanon has been without a president for more than a year, while members of parliament have extended their own terms until 2017 after failing to agree on a law for fresh elections.
The conflict in neighbouring Syria has further imposed economic pressures on Lebanon after the arrival of 1.1 million refugees.
