You Stink Movement Gives Lebanese Government 72 Hours to Meet Protesters’ Demands

Lebanese protesters at Martyrs' Square in Beirut earlier today. Photo credit: You Stink Movement official Facebook page

Lebanese protesters at Martyrs’ Square in Beirut earlier today. Photo credit: You Stink Movement official Facebook page

Lebanese protesters today gave the government a 72 hour ultimatum to meet their demands or face further protests on Tuesday. The demands include the resignation of Environment Minister Muhammed El-Machnouk and a permanent, sustainable solution to the garbage crisis, which initially took the people to the streets.

Earlier today, up to 250,000 protesters turned up at Martyr’ Square, where they continued to protest for a sustainable solution to the country's mounting garbage problem.

The demands, published on the Tol3et Re7atkom (You Stink) Facebook page, were shared on Twitter by Lebanese blogger and activist Joey Ayoub, who is also a Global Voices Online author and a You Stink movement member:

Other demands are holding accountable all those who have wasted public funds during the last period and holding accountable the minister of interior and all those who gave orders to open fire at the protesters.

Rami Khouri described the demands as “reasonable” but warned that failure to ensure them would mean the end of the You Stink movement. He warns:

Ayoub says close to 250,000 people attended the protest:

Blogger Habib Battah says over 200,000 people attended:

And Mohamad Najem gives a more modest estimate of the turn out:

Regardless, the Secular Club of the American University of Beirut shares those photographs from today's protest, saying “no picture will do justice to the size of the crowd here.”

And back to Battah, this was also the most eco-friendly protest he has ever witnessed:

According to Najem, Lebanese protesters stayed put, even after the protest officially ended and organisers announced their demands. He shares this video:

You Stink has broadened its focus beyond officials’ mishandling of the refuse problem following the closure of the country's largest landfill in July. Members are now calling for the government's resignation, an end to corruption and fresh parliamentary elections, among other demands. Lebanon, already suffering from a poor infrastructure and daily electricity cuts, has had no president for over a year. In 2009, its parliament extended its term until 2017, with no elections, citing instability as a reason.

Stay tuned for more coverage from Lebanon.


Also Read:
GV Face: Everything You Need to Know About Lebanon's Massive “You Stink” Protests

Videos Show How the Lebanese Security Forces Violently Dealt With ‘You Stink’ Protesters

‘You Stink’ Protesters Call for the Resignation of the Lebanese Government

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