LEBANON: Protest calls for protection of civil peace

Record ID: 349626

  • Title: LEBANON: Protest calls for protection of civil peace
  • Date: 18th November 2012
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 18, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE OF SANAYEH PUBLIC PARK WHERE THE PROTEST IS TAKING PLACE PROTESTERS GATHERING BANNER READING IN ARABIC 'FOR CIVIL PEACE' CLOSE OF PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING BURNT OUT BUS PLACARD WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF BURT OUT BUS. (IN 1975, GUNFIRE ON A BUS NEAR AIN EL-REMMANEH IN EAST BEIRUT WAS ONE OF THE INCIDENTS THAT SPARKED THE LEBANESE CIVIL
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5VF02YCG7PVFATLSH5UWO58IG
  • Story Text: Lebanese activists gathered in a Beirut park on Sunday (November 18) to call for the protection civil peace in the country.
    Several Lebanese NGOs and political organisations not affiliated with any Lebanese political parties called for the protest amid rising fears of a new civil war in the country.
    Photographs from Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war reminded people of the horrors of war. Banners displayed slogans against civil war and for peace and nation-building.
    One of the groups that invited Lebanese to participate in the protest was.Ma'an - Arabic for together.
    Ma'an member Georges Azar said a 'silent majority' in Lebanon was against any kind of armed conflict in the country.
    "Our main demand is to build a nation and to express a third movement that moves the silent majority who don't want to participate in a war, who are against the war and against the involvement of sectarian logic in every political disagreement in the country. We do not want armed conflict in the streets with every conflict in the region," Georges Azar said.
    Organisers exhibited cartoons caricaturing how the sectarian system is affecting all parts of the state.
    Rabah Chahrour said Lebanon's sectarian system did not serve the country anymore and should be abolished.
    "We came here as communist and democratic political forces to say no to civil war and yes to civil peace, after all that's been happening in the country, especially in the last two weeks from an uncontrollable country to uncontrollable arms in the streets. This threatens the country, and what threatens the country more is this sectarian system that is giving birth to more divisions day after day. We are facing undeclared civil wars as a result of this sectarian system so we are raising our voice here to say that this sectarian system does not work anymore in this state and country, what works is a secular regime that protects this country and all the religions in this country."
    Protester Youssra Nehme said all section of society should have an interest in keeping peace.
    "Civil peace is a topic that involves all Lebanese from all classes and communities, civil peace is a slogan for everyone of us, everyone should be eager about it from his position. Slogans are one thing and method of execution is another. For me, the activation and development of laws at all levels, in law or economics or politics, is the first step to start achieving civil peace."
    Speakers at the protest began by expressing support for Gaza. But the main demand was for the abolishment of the sectarian system and a new electoral law.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register