Protestors gather in front of the immigrant statue near Beirut's port to show support ahead of Parliament's meeting and apply pressure for justice for the victims of the port explosion. (Credit: L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — Around 60 people, among them families of the victims of the Beirut port explosion, are gathering in front of the immigrant statue, Tuesday morning, to support opposition MPs before the first Parliament session scheduled at 11 a.m.
Here’s what we know:
• The demonstrators will march from the immigrant statue in front of the port, to the Parliament in Nejmeh Square. More people are expected to arrive at the scene, according to our correspondent.
• One of the demonstrators, Rabah Daou, said that they “are present in support of the Oct. 17 revolution MPs and will march from the immigrant statue to the Parliament,” adding, “we will continue the journey together, them [MPs] from inside the Parliament and us from outside of it to fight the [political] system together.”
• Among the people demonstrating is MP Ibrahim Mneimneh (Opposition/Beirut II), who said that the Beirut port blast case is a priority file for him and his colleagues within the opposition. “It’s a moment of change to see opposition MPs in the Parliament… We [opposition MPs] are doing this symbolic stand to say that this is a primary issue for us,” he said.
• The Parliament is meeting today to elect a new speaker, deputy speaker, and heads of committees.
• Almost two years ago more than 200 people died and thousands were injured when ammonium nitrate blew up in the port of Beirut, affecting much of the city and marking one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. The local investigation has been stagnated by politicians involved in the case and the victims have received no justice yet.