Collective Action
Protesters blocked the roads with tire burning against the destruction of encampments in downtown Beirut by the police
BEIRUT: Riot police forcibly cleared dozens of people from protest encampments in Downtown Beirut Friday evening after Cabinet’s enhanced curfew measures came into effect.
“They came at 6:30 p.m. and told us to leave immediately. They didn’t give us any warning and when people refused they attacked and destroyed every tent,” one protester named Hadi told The Daily Star. “They then destroyed the tents in the Azarieh parking lot before moving on to Martyrs' square.”
The encampments have been a permanent feature of the urban landscape in Downtown Beirut since nationwide anti-government protests erupted on Oct. 17.
“They told us that it was wrong to be living in one tent because of corona, and that because of the curfew ... we can’t stay there ... I don’t think this is the real reason – they wanted to remove us before and used corona as an excuse,” Hadi said.
Information Minister Manal Abdel-Samad told the nation Thursday afternoon that coronavirus lockdown measures would be enhanced and extended by an additional two weeks. She also announced the introduction of a curfew between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.
“I have no home here in Beirut,” Hadi said. “So I’ll have to call a friend to find somewhere to stay here tonight before heading back to south Lebanon tomorrow.”
Coronavirus lockdown measures were first introduced on March 15 when Cabinet declared a general mobilization. They were due to end March 29 but have now been extended until April 12 as the country continues to battle against the virus. The virus has so far killed eight people and infected close to 400.