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Lebanese Police Beat ‘You Stink’ Activists in Beirut Lebanese Police Beat ‘You Stink’ Activists in Beirut
(about 14 hours later)
Simmering tensions between protesters and the authorities over Lebanon’s continuing trash crisis erupted into violence on Wednesday as the police used force on demonstrators rallying outside the seat of government in Beirut.Simmering tensions between protesters and the authorities over Lebanon’s continuing trash crisis erupted into violence on Wednesday as the police used force on demonstrators rallying outside the seat of government in Beirut.
Video posted on Facebook by activists from the antigovernment You Stink movement showed one young protester, identified as Bilal Allaw, being rushed away on a stretcher after police officers with batons charged at dozens of protesters.Video posted on Facebook by activists from the antigovernment You Stink movement showed one young protester, identified as Bilal Allaw, being rushed away on a stretcher after police officers with batons charged at dozens of protesters.
Mr. Allaw, who was reportedly taken to the emergency room at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, was one of four activists arrested last month in connection with an attack on a government minister’s car during a demonstration demanding a sustainable solution to the city’s waste problem.Mr. Allaw, who was reportedly taken to the emergency room at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, was one of four activists arrested last month in connection with an attack on a government minister’s car during a demonstration demanding a sustainable solution to the city’s waste problem.
Trash has piled up in and around Beirut since an overflowing landfill was closed last year.Trash has piled up in and around Beirut since an overflowing landfill was closed last year.
According to Alexis Lai of Beirut’s Daily Star, the protesters first scuffled with the police earlier in the day when one of the movement’s founders, Assaad Thebian, was briefly detained. After Mr. Thebian was released, he called on supporters of the movement to protest in Riad al-Solh Square, outside Prime Minister per Tammam Salam’s office. According to Beirut’s Daily Star, the protesters first scuffled with the police earlier in the day when one of the movement’s founders, Assaad Thebian, was briefly detained. After Mr. Thebian was released, he called on supporters of the movement to protest in Riad al-Solh Square, outside Prime Minister per Tammam Salam’s office.
Images uploaded to Twitter by the activists and a television report from LBC, a private channel, showed protesters being pelted with water by the police as they tried to remove barbed wire blocking the street leading to the government buildings.Images uploaded to Twitter by the activists and a television report from LBC, a private channel, showed protesters being pelted with water by the police as they tried to remove barbed wire blocking the street leading to the government buildings.
The protesters later regrouped, refusing to disperse until four more activists taken into custody were released.The protesters later regrouped, refusing to disperse until four more activists taken into custody were released.
The detained protesters were eventually set free, according to Nadine Mazloum of LBC, but the activists promised to return to the square on Saturday to protest police brutality.The detained protesters were eventually set free, according to Nadine Mazloum of LBC, but the activists promised to return to the square on Saturday to protest police brutality.
Inside the government headquarters, meanwhile, a committee evaluating tenders from waste management companies to tackle the crisis failed to reach an agreement on Wednesday and postponed its decision until next week, the environment minister, Mohammad Machnouk, told reporters.Inside the government headquarters, meanwhile, a committee evaluating tenders from waste management companies to tackle the crisis failed to reach an agreement on Wednesday and postponed its decision until next week, the environment minister, Mohammad Machnouk, told reporters.
Last week, protesters expressed their frustration with Mr. Machnouk by dumping trash outside his house and calling on him to resign.Last week, protesters expressed their frustration with Mr. Machnouk by dumping trash outside his house and calling on him to resign.
Many of the protesters who first took to the streets last month have described the government’s failure to arrange for routine trash collection as just the most obvious sign of a corrupt and dysfunctional administration they want to be rid of.Many of the protesters who first took to the streets last month have described the government’s failure to arrange for routine trash collection as just the most obvious sign of a corrupt and dysfunctional administration they want to be rid of.