Al Jazeera News :
Around 30 protesters from Lebanon’s “You Stink!” movement have stormed the Ministry of Environment in Beirut and started a sit-in, refusing to move until the minister resigns.
The activists said on Tuesday that they will “occupy the ministry until [Minister Mohammad] Machnouk steps down”.
They lined themselves along the hallways of the ministry, sitting on the floor, chanting for the minister to step down, and singing the national anthem.
Meanwhile, Security forces have since cordoned off the area, blocking access to journalists.
In addition to those inside, about 20 protesters gathered outside the ministry’s building.
According to one protester affiliated with the You Stink! campaign, there are more “surprises” to be expected.
Lebanon has faced increasing protests over the past few weeks over the ongoing rubbish standoff, which saw tonnes of rubbish piled up on the streets for over a month as the government struggles to find a solution to the problem.
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to protest the failure to solve the rubbish crisis, as well as what they call the government’s failure to providing basic services such as electricity and water, and ongoing political corruption.
Protests turned violent two weeks ago after security forces opened fire and beat protesters, as well as using tear gas and water cannons against them in central Beirut. One protester is still in intensive care, and several hundred others were injured. Dozens more were arrested.
Protesters’ demands, made on Tuesday, include the resignation of the minister of environment for failing to find a solution for the ongoing rubbish crisis, holding the minister of interior accountable for the use of force by security forces against protesters in previous demonstrations, and decentralising the waste management to local municipalities.
On Monday, Machnouk resigned from the parliamentary crisis cell created to deal with the waste management issue, but refused to step down from his position, stating the responsibility for solving the issue was not just his and it is not his time to resign from the government.
Around 30 protesters from Lebanon’s “You Stink!” movement have stormed the Ministry of Environment in Beirut and started a sit-in, refusing to move until the minister resigns.
The activists said on Tuesday that they will “occupy the ministry until [Minister Mohammad] Machnouk steps down”.
They lined themselves along the hallways of the ministry, sitting on the floor, chanting for the minister to step down, and singing the national anthem.
Meanwhile, Security forces have since cordoned off the area, blocking access to journalists.
In addition to those inside, about 20 protesters gathered outside the ministry’s building.
According to one protester affiliated with the You Stink! campaign, there are more “surprises” to be expected.
Lebanon has faced increasing protests over the past few weeks over the ongoing rubbish standoff, which saw tonnes of rubbish piled up on the streets for over a month as the government struggles to find a solution to the problem.
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to protest the failure to solve the rubbish crisis, as well as what they call the government’s failure to providing basic services such as electricity and water, and ongoing political corruption.
Protests turned violent two weeks ago after security forces opened fire and beat protesters, as well as using tear gas and water cannons against them in central Beirut. One protester is still in intensive care, and several hundred others were injured. Dozens more were arrested.
Protesters’ demands, made on Tuesday, include the resignation of the minister of environment for failing to find a solution for the ongoing rubbish crisis, holding the minister of interior accountable for the use of force by security forces against protesters in previous demonstrations, and decentralising the waste management to local municipalities.
On Monday, Machnouk resigned from the parliamentary crisis cell created to deal with the waste management issue, but refused to step down from his position, stating the responsibility for solving the issue was not just his and it is not his time to resign from the government.
