Large Protest Held in Beirut; Protesters Give Government 72-Hour Ultimatum

Tens of thousands of people protested in Beirut on Saturday, September 7, waving Lebanese flags and chanting against the "government" and "corruption of politicians." News outlets describe this protest as the largest in Lebanon's history, held without the participation of political parties. The demonstration, organized by the "Your Stench Campaign," took place in Martyrs' Square, where protesters set a 72-hour ultimatum for the government to meet their demands, threatening to escalate their movement to other areas of Lebanon if their requests were not addressed. The Martyrs' Square protest began and ended peacefully, but after the campaign concluded, some attendees, labeled as "vandals" and "infiltrators" by Lebanese media, moved to Riad al-Solh Square, leading to clashes with security forces. A similar protest occurred the previous week with fewer participants but ended in violence, prompting Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam to threaten resignation, which could exacerbate the political tensions in a country already facing political stagnation. Tens of thousands, many attending with their families, flooded the streets leading to Martyrs' Square. Security forces were stationed along the route to the square, accompanying the protesters, but their presence in Martyrs' Square was minimal, as they focused on Riad al-Solh Square, reinforcing their defenses around government buildings. The organization of the protest in Martyrs' Square was managed by the security personnel affiliated with the "Your Stench Campaign," who wore specific uniforms. The organizers distributed Lebanese flags among the protesters and handed out brochures containing their demands. Due to the size of the square and the large number of protesters, in addition to the main podium, three other platforms were set up for chanting slogans. They chanted against "all corrupt politicians," referring to the two existing coalitions in the Lebanese government: "We want neither 14 nor 8." The March 14 coalition includes the Future Movement led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, while the March 8 coalition is formed by Hezbollah and its allies. Slogans included "Down with the corrupt government," "The people want to overthrow the regime," and "Thieves, thieves." Some protesters held signs with photos of all ministers and political leaders, accusing them of corruption. Besides the slogans, protesters danced and celebrated to national songs played during the event, with the Lebanese national anthem sung multiple times. Protests in Lebanon began over a month ago in response to the accumulation of garbage in the streets of Beirut, an issue that not only created a foul smell in the summer heat but also led to the spread of diseases. However, the protest movement gradually expanded to include issues of "corruption" among politicians, as service problems in Lebanon are not limited to garbage but also include crises in electricity and water. These issues compound the economic problems and unemployment in Lebanon, which have worsened since the onset of the Syrian crisis and the increasing divide among Lebanese officials. The "Your Stench Campaign" articulated its demands during the protest, setting a 72-hour ultimatum for the government and officials to begin addressing them, threatening to escalate their movement to other regions of Lebanon if ignored. The demands included the resignation of Environment Minister Mohammad Mashnouq due to his failure to resolve the garbage issue, the establishment of a permanent, viable, and environmentally friendly solution to the garbage crisis, punishment for all those who misappropriated public funds in the past, and accountability for Mashnouq and those who ordered the shooting at protesters last week. The statement continued: "Our struggle is still in its early stages, and it will continue until we have an independent judiciary and president, until municipalities reclaim their properties, until the misappropriation of public funds and borrowing stops, until public properties are returned to the people, until we do not lose our lives in front of hospitals, and until the kidnapped soldiers (by extremist groups) are returned." Mashnouq acknowledged in a press conference that some security forces used "excessive force" and stated that those responsible would be punished. He also mentioned the violence of some protesters, emphasizing that those with justifiable reasons for their violence would be prosecuted based on available evidence and footage. The protest organizers claim that the "vandals" are "infiltrators" with no connection to them, asserting that their movement is peaceful. After the "Your Stench Campaign" announced the end of the protest, some protesters moved to Riad al-Solh Square, where dozens threw stones and glass at security forces standing behind barbed wire, which was set up to prevent sudden attacks on government buildings, including the Prime Minister's office. Most of these individuals, many of whom were shirtless, lit fires in the barbed wire and attempted to remove it. They also broke the windows of several shops. Security forces only observed these scenes until the individuals managed to cross the barbed wire, at which point they charged at them and arrested several.