CLASHES IN LEBANON AS CABINET CONVENES AMID CRISIS
▶ Tear gas fired at public sector workers demanding better wages
Hundreds of workers from Lebanon’s public sector protested in front of the seat of government yesterday as the nation’s caretaker cabinet convened to discuss their salaries.
Public school teachers, retired army and police officers, and civil servants demanded better wages and threatened to escalate action if the government did not deliver.
They are angry at a lack of action to address the nation’s currency crisis and the devaluation of their pay.
They demanded a partial dollarisation of their salaries and pensions, rather than payment in the fluctuating and devaluing national currency.
The Lebanese pound has lost over 95 per cent of its value owing to the nation’s deep economic depression.
Protesters also demanded better health coverage, as their salaries allow little extra money with which to pay for medical care.
Lebanon’s financial crisis, now in its fourth year, has impoverished over 80 per cent of the population and brought most state- provided goods and services to near-standstill.
Public sector salaries – from those of civil servants to teachers – are now worth a fraction of what they once were.
Meanwhile, public education is in turmoil, with the school year affected by months of off-and-on strikes as teachers, some of whom cannot even afford the commute to school, demand a living wage.
Some public sector workers make as little as the equivalent of $50 a month.
“We are here to discuss the demands raised, which are mostly justified,” caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said before convening the cabinet session.
“We express our understanding of the cries of the demonstrators and we affirm that we will spare no effort to follow them up.”
Although the protest began peacefully, demonstrators eventually clashed with security forces, who repeatedly shot tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Protesters breached the barbed-wire barrier that had been erected in front of the government building.
“It’s not just our salaries – we’re fighting for our lives,” a retired officer told The Nation
al after escaping from a cloud of tear gas.
“After serving our country for over 30 years, we can’t even live off our pensions.”
Cries of “shame on you” could be heard as protesters ran from the smog of the tear gas used against them.
“Thieves. Thieves. This government session is made of thieves,” demonstrators chanted after they reconvened.
“If the demands of citizens are not heard, people’s pain will soon mutate into something else,” retired army officer and former MP Chamel Roukoz told local media.
Last month hundreds of retired army soldiers demonstrated for better pensions, also clashing with police.
They dispersed following promises by Mr Mikati that the issue of public sector salaries would be reviewed at the next cabinet meeting.
Earlier yesterday, Lebanon’s parliament convened in a controversial session, voting to postpone, due to a lack of available funds, the municipal elections that had been planned for next month.