Smoke rises in the streets of Beirut near the Grand Serail during the mobilization of retired military personnel to prevent the Cabinet from convening, on Sept. 10, 2024. (Credit: DR)
"I'll tell you the truth: if we had seen a minister, we would probably have heckled or threatened them... or worse. We can no longer hold on," warns retired General Georges Nader. Speaking with a trembling but determined voice, the 67-year-old retired army officer asserts that until the protesters' demands are addressed, the government will not meet.
Nader, who rose at dawn to block the Cabinet meeting with dozens of fellow retirees from across Lebanon, recounts, "When we arrived at the Serail, we saw three ministers fleeing inside. They didn't speak to us." Proud of having forced a postponement of the scheduled cabinet meeting, he adds, "Any future session where our demands are not on the agenda will be blocked. The ministers will not enter the Serail. It's not up to them to decide; they must do their duty!"
The Cabinet meeting scheduled for today was postponed indefinitely, according to a statement from the office of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati released early in the afternoon. Aside from Mikati, only four other ministers were able to reach the Grand Serail this morning. The rest were blocked from entering by several dozen retired military personnel and protesters who obstructed access with burning tires.
'We're keeping an eye on them'
"I only receive LL6,300,000 in pension per month, which amounts to %70. How am I supposed to live on that?" Nader shouts over the phone. "My children who live abroad help me by sending money. It's a disgrace and a humiliation inflicted on us by the ministers," he continues amid the clamor and chaos outside the Prime Minister's office. "We've been on the streets for seven years!"
In addition to having their issues placed at the top of the agenda, the retired military personnel are demanding "the publication of a salary adjustment plan 48 hours before any future Cabinet session." In a statement, they called for an increase in their pension benefits and a raise for all public sector salaries.
Former General Sami Rammah, a close associate of former commando chief Chamel Roukoz, also voiced his frustration: “Mikati dares to be surprised and ask why we are here? It’s a disgrace! He promised at the beginning of the year that the salary scale would be reviewed, but nothing has happened!” said Rammah, who lives on $400 a month.
“We managed to block the session, and we’ll do it again. We won’t hesitate to be even more forceful; we’re keeping an eye on them.” he added.
Retirees’ Association under scrutiny
In a statement issued during the day, caretaker Industry Minister George Bouchikian expressed his “regret” over the protests and stated that “this issue is part of our concerns and is included in the 2025 budget articles.” He confirmed that Nicolas Mezher, a former officer representing the Retirees’ Association, had been contacted but was blocked by the protesters from entering the Grand Serail.
“They refuse to let General Mezher in so we can negotiate with him, even though we have proposals. Who are we supposed to talk to? If no one wants to discuss with us, what will come of it?” asked the minister, without detailing the “proposals.” He also defended that Lebanon “can no longer afford to borrow” and criticized the blocking of Cabinet sessions, as did Mikati’s advisor Fares Gemayel on al-Jadeed.
“We canceled the Cabinet meeting. Does this benefit the country? On the contrary, it’s harmful,” Bouchikian said.
Sami Rammah responded sharply: “The Association that includes General Mezher does not represent retired military personnel and conspires against their rights. We cannot trust them at all; they cooperate with the corrupt government.”
He, who claims to have served the state for 40 years, condemned a government that “has taken no action” to help his peers. “We’re already old, retired, and some are ill… and on top of that, we are poor.”
This budget will bury us alive
However, retired military personnel were not the only ones protesting on Tuesday. Former high school teacher Mohammad Qassem, a long-time member of the Teachers’ Association, urged the public to mobilize. “The government is violating the laws and must be held accountable,” he said. “There must be a specific article in the 2025 budget concerning us, or we will suffer again. There is a 33 percent deficit in this draft, and they will make us pay, I’m sure.”
For the 66-year-old former teacher, the protests will continue relentlessly. “They need to revise the 2025 budget, or they will face the Lebanese people. This budget is unacceptable; it amounts to burying us alive,” he exclaimed.
As for Mikati’s promises? “We don’t believe a word of it; it disappears 30 minutes after being said. He’s like Pinocchio; his nose grows longer every time he speaks.” According to him, dialogue with officials is broken, and things might worsen. “They will be held responsible for the escalation that will come.” All the veterans contacted to support this escalation, although they refuse to specify their actions… for now.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
