FPM Convoys Roam Streets on Eve of 'Fateful' Day, Army Says Will Protect Peaceful Demos
Vehicles packed with supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement roamed the streets in several regions Wednesday evening, as the FPM continued to prepare for Thursday's street action, which FPM chief Michel Aoun has described as a “fateful battle.”
“FPM supporters from all regions have started heading to the Nahr el-Mot area, where they will gather ahead of taking off in convoys” that will roam several streets, state-run National News Agency reported.
“Our protests are peaceful and are part of preparing for the protest movements demanding the restoration of the rights of Christians,” said Hisham Kanj of the FPM's Metn department.
“Wouldn't they do the same thing if their sect was aggrieved?” he asked.
From Jbeil's souks to the coastal highway between Nahr el-Mot, Jal el-Dib, Antelias and Dbaye, FPM supporters organized massive convoys, raising Lebanese and FPM flags and blasting FPM anthems from the speakers of their vehicles.
Protesters also gathered near the Mirna Chalouhi Center in Baouchrieh ahead of taking off in convoys that headed to the Tabaris area in downtown Beirut.
“We will make our voice heard in a civilized and democratic way. We must be real partners in this government and we haven't asked our allies to be with us on the ground,” Education Minister Elias Bou Saab told reporters at the Baouchrieh gathering.
NNA said FPM convoys also roamed the streets in the northern districts of Batroun and Koura and the Bekaa district of Zahle.
The FPM has held a series of organizational meetings from Koura in the North all the way to Jezzine in the South, distributing flyers urging the Christian community to participate in rallies, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.
The FPM has also held several meetings at its headquarters in Rabieh, and sources from the movement told the daily that the steps “will include specific targets that have a strategic painful effect.”
The movement's chief MP Michel Aoun has called on his supporters to prepare for rallies to regain the “Christians rights.” He is waiting for the outcome of Thursday's cabinet session to give the green light for street mobility.
His supporters began preparing to stage anti-government rallies after the cabinet failed to discuss the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.
Flyers calling for the restoration of the Christians' rights and urging for the participation in the rallies have been distributed in universities and several regions, reports said.
FPM sources told al-Joumhouria that the mobilization will start on Wednesday in all of Lebanon's regions, warning that “it is only the beginning and we will not accept to be distanced from the equation.”
However, they stressed that the moves will be “peaceful, democratic and under the law,” keeping all options open for the shape that the demonstrations will take.
Later during the day, Aoun met with his son-in-law Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil who stated afterward that there is no specific time set for the street action and that all the options are on the table.
On the other hand, the army assured that it will protect “peaceful and civilized” rallies, acknowledging the civil rights to protest under the law, the newspaper said.
However it will not allow assaults against citizens or public property, attempts to disturb security, or clashes in the streets among citizens.
Source: Naharnet
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