BEIRUT (Pakistan Point News / Online - 20th October, 2019) Tens of thousands of Lebanese people took to the streets Saturday for a third day of protests against tax increases and alleged official corruption despite several arrests by security forces.They streamed into the streets around the country�s parliament in Beirut, as well as elsewhere across the country, despite calls for calm from politicians and dozens of arrests on Friday.The number of protesters grew steadily throughout the day, with major demonstrations in second city Tripoli, in the north, and other locations.
Many waved billowing Lebanese flags and insisted the protests should remain peaceful and non-sectarian.The demonstrators are demanding a sweeping overhaul of Lebanon�s political system, citing grievances ranging from austerity measures to poor infrastructure.They have crippled main roads and threatened to topple the country�s fragile coalition government.Most Lebanese politicians have uncharacteristically admitted the demonstrations are spontaneous, rather than blaming outside influences.
In Tripoli, demonstrator Hoda Sayyur was unimpressed by the contrition some leaders displayed on television and echoed a widely-held hope the entire political class be replaced."They took all our fundamental rights... We are dying at hospital gates," the woman in her fifties said."I will stay in the street... Since I was born, we�ve been spectators to their quarrels and corruption," she said.�We hear you� -Amnesty International said such measures amounted to excessive force, pointing out the vast majority of protesters were peaceful.
"The intention was clearly to prevent protesters gathering -- in a clear violation of the right to peaceful assembly," it said.Small groups of protesters have also damaged shop fronts and blocked roads by burning tires and other obstacles.Protester Fadi Karam, a 40-year-old who said he works in construction, pinned much of the blame on the political elite."All the leaders, all the corrupt people in the state, are responsible," he said. "The people are tired.
They have no money."The Internal Security Forces said 70 arrests were made Friday on accusations of theft and arson.But all of those held at the main police barracks were released Saturday, the National news Agency (NNA) said.The demonstrations first erupted on Thursday, sparked by a proposed 20 US cent tax on calls via messaging apps such as WhatsApp.Such calls are the main method of communication for many Lebanese and, despite the government�s swift abandonment of the tax, the demonstrations quickly swelled into the largest in years.- �Demanding our rights� -In the southern port city of Tyre, supporters of Shia politician and speaker of parliament Nabih Berri attacked protesters Saturday, a witness said, a day after demonstrators had accused him of corruption.His Amal political party condemned the attack and called for an investigation.
