Lebanese protesters gather in front of a Credit Libanais bank in Saida to protest against nationwide imposed restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad in an attempt to conserve dwindling foreign currency reserves. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — A depositor entered a Credit Libanais bank branch in Haret Hreik, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, on Wednesday attempting to recover his savings, Hasan Jaafar, a founding member of the Depositors Union advocacy group, told L'Orient Today.
The depositor is retired Army Officer Hussein Shukr, who is demanding to retrieve his deposit of LL220 million to pay his children's university fees, according to the state-run National News Agency.
Speaking to Al Jadeed channel's live broadcast, he said that he was not armed but that he did not intend to leave the bank "until he receives all his funds, even if it takes someone getting killed." Shukr is reportedly demanding his entire savings in "fresh" dollars, amounting to $48,000, and his balance from another account in Lebanese lira, which amounts to LL270 million.
Earlier today, Forces of Change MP Cynthia Zarazir entered a Byblos Bank branch in Antelias, Mount Lebanon unarmed to demand part of her blocked savings in order to pay for a surgery, the MP told L'Orient Today by phone. Zarazir said she was demanding the bank pay her $8,500, which is a “small” portion of her total deposit at the bank. She said she wanted the money to cover part of a surgery that she needs.
Lebanon has been seeing a spate of bank holdups by angry depositors demanding to withdraw their own funds with the latest ones taking place on Tuesday. Depositors attempted to forcibly withdraw their funds from the Lebanese Bank for Commerce (BLC) in Chtaura, in the Bekaa; Intercontinental Bank of Lebanon (IBL) in Hazmieh, in the suburbs of Beirut; and Byblos Bank in Sour — only the first and last leading to successful withdrawals.