Conflict Incident Report

In Saida, South Lebanon, fishermen demonstrated against the creation of Protein Company, a joint Lebanese-Kuwaiti company that they viewed as a move to monopolize the industry. The company inflamed existing resentment against state monopolies serving the interests of the Christian political elite. The chairman of Protein was Camille Chamoun, former president and head of the Christian party, the National Liberal Party (NLP). Leading the demonstration were Maaruf Saad, former mayor of Saida, former MP, and founder of the Popular Nasserist Organization (PNO) who was popular among the Sunnis community and leftist groups, and MP Nazih Bizri, who represented the conservative Sunni community. During the demonstration, there was a sudden exchange of fire with the army, during which Saad and two other protestors were wounded and one Palestinian was killed. The situation quickly deteriorated as demonstrators used dynamite and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) against military vehicles, killing an army corporal and injuring two other soldiers. Saad died from his wounds on March 6, 1975.