BEIRUT: Former Lebanon lawmaker from Tripoli Misbah al-Ahdab announced Sunday he would be launching anti-government protests over politicians' "targeting" of the northern city.
“We have decided, after referring to many of Tripoli’s leaders, to hold a series of mass movements against the government” over the "chaos" it has sowed, Ahdab said in a news conference held at his home.
Ahdab’s announcement came after he slammed the government and ruling political parties, accusing them of intentionally sabotaging Tripoli and encouraging economic hardship.
“During all your term in government you have only given Tripoli the rounds of violence, bloodshed, destruction and ruin,” he said addressing politicians without naming any specific person or party.
“You are following the Syrian regime’s path, arming the youth and using them according to your own calculations and interests.”
Ahdab said the clashes between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen were encouraged by politicians.
“You make your inciting speech, and you provoke sectarian tensions, and push your militants to fight each other in Tripoli,” he said. “Then you disown them and accuse them of being warlords and terrorists and you incarcerate them without trial.”
Ahdab criticized the behavior of security forces and an “intelligence apparatus” that he said supports violence and protects criminals.
The anti-government movements’ first demand will be to “change the security apparatus that has been using armed groups to bring tragedies to the city,” he added.
Second will be the establishment of fair trials for all the men who were pushed into extremism by politicians, according to Ahdab. “They are not terrorists, they are victims.”
Compensating for the losses that residents suffered during the clashes between the Army and jihadists last month was also on the list of the ex-Future MP, who stressed on the need to create jobs for the poor city’s youth as soon as possible.
He called for “supporting the merchants of Tripoli by issuing a law that exempts them from the taxes accumulated during the years of violence” between Jabal Mohsen and Bab al-Tabbaneh.
Ahdab said the movement will be called: “Army [troops] are our sons, but you are our problem,” to point fingers at those who ask the Army to use force against the people in order to hide their inaction on the socio-economic level.
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