Conflict Incident Report

The You Stink activist group vowed to confront the current political class in ballot boxes, describing the "technical" extension of Parliament term as "hijacking people's will." The group said in a news conference that the attack on protesters outside the Parliament "was to divert attention from the bigger crime [by lawmakers] that is to confiscate people's choice." "We will not back down, we will remain strong," an activist said. The group said that the "unconstitutional" third extension of the Parliament's term "is rejected." "Staging the elections doesn't need the Parliament. The Interior Ministry and relevant authorities can prepare for them and hold them," a female activist told reporters. "We have a Constitutional right to express our opinion. Did some eggs and tomato scare them?" she asked. The activist demanded authorities to reveal the side behind the that assault against protesters and the side that issued the order. "What is the nature of those men wearing Lebanese Army uniforms? If they don't belong to the military then they should change their uniform. Is the speaker [Nabih Berri] going to hold them accountable?" she added.

Protesters had gathered in front of Beirut’s municipality building at the entrance to Nijmeh Square as ministers convened for a session focused on the vote law that was passed by Cabinet Wednesday and sent to Parliament for ratification.

Videos of security forces beating the protesters who were demonstrating outside Parliament during the vote on the new electoral law went viral. Uniformed security personnel could be seen in the videos shoving and hitting the protesters. “Some protesters hurled stones, eggs and tomatoes at a number of MPs’ passing convoys,” a statement from the Parliament Police Command read Friday. “After some demonstrators attempted to break into the security barrier and assault protection guards ... and after they [demonstrators] forcibly stripped one of the servicemen of his arms and shoved him onto the ground, the Parliament’s guards had to intervene to free their comrade,” the Parliament Police Command added.The activists Saturday asked if the Nijmeh Square will remain closed off to the people. "They [Parliament Police] claimed that protesters initiated the attack ... we want them to monitor the surveillance cameras in the area and inspect who did," the movement said. You Stink activist Assad Thebian told reporters that "confrontation is coming and accountability will be in the ballot boxes."

He called on people to join the acts that will begin on Tuesday, when the current Parliament's term end. "We will keep on reminding you [politicians] that you have hijacked authority ... we will point out to all your flaws," he said. He said that all politicians' convoys will be hurled with rotten eggs. "We have the right to see real change." One of the protesters who was beaten by Parliament police told reporters that "the Lebanese have the right to defend their country." The movement added that legal proceedings would be filed against those who took part in the attack. "The unjustified attack will only strengthen our will against this mafia ... we will unite against this cancer that is breaking the Lebanese body."

Lawmakers Friday approved the country’s first proportional vote law with an overwhelming majority, putting the country on the road to holding in 2018 the first legislative elections in nine years, despite sharp criticism and backlash from a number of lawmakers and civil activists. The draft law includes an article that calls for an 11-month “technical extension”. The next elections will be between March 20 and May 19, 2018. This will be the third extension after Parliament’s four-year mandate was extended for another full term in 2013 and 2014.