Flags of the Free Patriotic Movement. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Tensions ran high on Friday and Saturday in the Akkar town of Rahbeh as opposition rose to a tour of the region by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil. Injuries were recorded for both protesters and security forces present at the crossroads leading to Rahbeh, as well as a local FPM official, as Bassil arrived in the area Saturday, while party posters were burned the day before.
Here’s what we know
• On Friday evening, our correspondent in North Lebanon reported that demonstrators blocked the public road in Jouma, at the Rahbeh crossroads, with rubble. They were protesting against a planned tour by MP Gebran Bassil in Akkar, a predominantly Sunni region and often considered hostile to Hezbollah, the Shiite ally of the FPM. Some protesters even burned posters of the Aounist party, promising to prevent Bassil from coming to the area.
• Despite the protests against his presence, Bassil arrived in Akkar Saturday afternoon. At the same time, tensions rose when a fight broke out at the Rahbeh crossroads. Tony Assi, a local FPM official, was injured, according to Al-Jadeed. The FPM later denied that a party official had been injured. The army intervened, and scuffles were reported between the demonstrators and the military. According to our correspondent, the army reopened the road to Rahbeh by force after demonstrators blocked it with vehicles.
• During altercations, a soldier not involved with the security arrangement for Bassil's visit was attacked and injured along with his civilian companion. In addition, a protester was injured.
• The FPM rally in the town finally got underway three hours behind schedule, with dozens of the party's supporters in attendance. Speaking at the rally, Bassil said, "Is it normal that in election time, there is an incident every time we want to tour a region? I put this question to the prime minister, as well as to the ministers of the interior and defense."
• Bassil, a former minister and the son-in-law of President Michel Aoun, is disliked by a broad spectrum of the public. He, among other officials, is accused of being the cause of the serious economic crisis that the country has been experiencing for the past three years.
• On Friday, after a meeting of the Higher Defense Council at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, officials said that the security forces were ready to provide security for the May 15 polls.
• On Saturday, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi made similar remarks. "The forces of law and order are fully prepared to take the necessary measures for stability and calm on the day of the elections,: he said, after a meeting of the Central Security Council. In this context, he stressed “the need to prohibit large gatherings, including sports competitions, which may cause clashes.” He added, “The security forces are ready today, and the intelligence services will be constantly available to inform us.”
• In the runup to parliamentary elections on May 15, numerous security incidents have so far been reported across the country. In some regions, rallies have been attacked and candidates prevented from holding their launch events. Earlier this month, the opposition “Together for Change” list, contesting South III district were surrounded and assaulted in the village of Sarafand by armed individuals allegedly affiliated with the Amal Movement who chanted “This is the land of Berri,” Amal later denied any involvement in the incident.
• Earlier this week, local residents attacked the convoy of Hadi Hobeiche, MP for Akkar (North Lebanon) without causing any injuries.