In an unprecedented move, the wave of protest against the Lebanese political class has spread to the Shia strongholds in the south of the country. These are dominated by Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Party, who were considered untouchable up to this point.
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Since October 17, a peoples uprising has been targeting the Lebanese government and the political class, considered corrupt and incompetent. It has not waned since and continues to sweep across the entire country. This includes southern Lebanon and Bekaa, the most important Shia electoral strongholds of Hassan Nasrallah's Hezbollah and the Amal movement led by the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon, Nabih Berri.
"It is a non-partisan socio-political movement that cuts across all social strata, regions and communities, united in the face of fears that the country will fall into the precipice because of the economic crisis," Middle East political scientist Khattar Abou Diab told FRANCE 24. “All Lebanese are concerned, especially those living in the south of the country, which is predominantly Shia and where the most disadvantaged territories are located."
In an inconceivable development just a few days ago, demonstrators attacked the offices of some Shia deputies, including Mohammad Raad, president of the Hezbollah parliamentary group, Hani Kobeissi and Yassine Jaber of the Amal party.
Anti-power demonstrators protest
"It is too early to draw any conclusions, as the demonstrations are still ongoing, but it has to be feared that Hezbollah will do everything it can to stop, drown out or take advantage of this popular movement," Khattar Abu Diab continued. “There have already been several attempts to do so, and even today Hezbollah sent supporters to mingle with demonstrators in the heart of Beirut to create diversions."
On Thursday afternoon, Hezbollah supporters attacked demonstrators in central Beirut, forcing riot police to intervene to separate the two sides. Several injuries were reported during the clashes by local media.
At the start of the week, hundreds of people, flying Hezbollah and Amal flags and perched on motorcycles, tried to head towards central Beirut, where the anti-power demonstrators are based, before being stopped in time by the Lebanese army.
Fifteen demonstrators were injured on October 23 in Nabatiyah in the south, in clashes with supporters of Hezbollah and its ally Amal.
Nabatiyah, a large Shia-majority city, has become the symbol of the uprising in the south of the country, even if the number of demonstrators is lower there than in other parts of the country. Speech is also more measured there than in the capital Beirut, where criticism is more frequent against Nasrallah.
Broken taboo
"Many Lebanese people have risen up in the south of the country, a taboo has been broken because what is today said in public has already been said in private," confided political scientist and professor at the American University of Paris Ziad Majed to FRANCE 24. “Thus, we now express ourselves even in the South, where some thought that no one would dare to move."
Even worse, in protest marches, especially in the large coastal city of Tyre, also in the south, the crowd have literally accused Nabih Berri, the very influential Speaker of Parliament and former warlord, of being a "thief" and of impoverishing the country by fostering patronage.
"The street has not only risen up against mismanagement or corruption, the political class has been caught up in the wear and tear of power, hence the rejection of a figure like Berri, who has presided over the Chamber of Deputies since 1992," said Khattar Abou Diab.
A sign carried by demonstrators in recent days in the capital read: "What was there before Nabih Berri? Adam and Eve!"
But the protests do not only affect Berri, "since to a lesser extent, and especially in Beirut, the demonstrators included Hassan Nasrallah among the other symbols of power," Khattar Abu Diab pointed out. This is despite Hezbollah's attempts over decades to seek to sanctify and protect him as a religious leader and leader of the resistance against Israel.
Hezbollah supporters categorically refuse to have their leader's image associated with politicians accused by the 'street' of being corrupt, arguing that Nasrallah has no son who is a minister or a member of parliament, and recalling that Hadi Nasrallah, his eldest son, lost his life at the age of 18 when he fought against Israel in 1997.
#Hezbollah statement condemns partisans for attacking protestors and not following values of party.
Nasrallah in speech says that if they were in protest they would stand along protestors “not against them.”
Awkward silence as speech played through speakers
#Lebanon pic.twitter.com/p4G57B4xmH— Kareem Chehayeb | كريم (@chehayebk) October 25, 2019
Directly criticised by demonstrators from its own community, the Shiite partnership, which is reputed to manage its neighbourhoods and bases well, has tried to respond. In a televised speech on Saturday, the head of Hezbollah said that his movement did not support the ideaRead More – Source
