Unrest in Lebanon in 2011 - the events that took place in Lebanon under the influence of the Arab spring [1] . The main demand of the protesters was reduced to political reform, directed against the policy of confessionalism in Lebanon . Protests broke out in early 2011 and almost faded away by the end of the year. The conflict between Lebanese supporters and opponents of al-Assad also flared up , which continues to this day.
Unrest in Lebanon (2011) | |
---|---|
A convoy of the Lebanese army patrolling Tripoli a few weeks after the riots. | |
A country | Lebanon |
date | January 12, 2011 - December 15, 2011 |
The reasons | the policy of confessionalism, the fall of the government of Saad Hariri , the formation of the government of Najib Mikati , observance of the day "Nakba" |
Basic goals | political reform, the resignation of the government of Najib Mikati |
Killed | |
Injured |
Content
Prerequisites
Political system
Lebanon is a parliamentary republic within the framework of the general principle of confessionalism , a form of consociationism , in which places in government are pre-distributed among representatives of various religious communities. The Lebanese Constitution guarantees the right of Lebanese citizens to choose their own parliament, but from the mid-1970s until the 1992 parliamentary elections , civil war excluded the exercise of these rights of citizens. According to the constitution, direct parliamentary elections should be held every 4 years. The last parliamentary elections were held in 2009 , [2] about 6 months before the formation of a new government. The parliament , in turn, elects the President of Lebanon every 6 years without the right to be re-elected for a second term. The last presidential election before the start of the protests, the presidential election took place in 2008 . The president and parliament elect the prime minister . Lebanese political parties are grouped around the March 8 Coalition or the March 14 Coalition . (The progressive socialist party of Lebanon, Walid Jumblatt, is supposedly independent, but in reality he is leaning towards the Coalition on March 8, having left the Coalition on March 14 in due time).
The Lebanese population is roughly divided into Sunni , Shia, and Christian (most of which are Maronites ). Due to demographic problems, due to the possibility of another outbreak of inter-religious clashes, the census of the population of Lebanon has not been conducted since 1932 . Since then, the government has given only rough estimates of the composition of the population of Lebanon. [3]
New government in 2011
On January 12, 2011, the current government of Lebanon collapsed after Energy Minister Gibran Bassil announced that all 10 opposition ministers had resigned after several months of warnings from Hezbollah that she would not remain inactive while accusing members of the organization of the murder of former prime minister by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Minister Rafic Hariri [4] Preliminary accusations of this were made as expected on January 17 , [5] State Minister Adnan Sayed Hussein appointed by President Michel Suleiman , [6] also resigned, bringing the number of ministers removed to 11, which meant the fall of the government. The New York Times suggested that the resignations followed the failure of negotiations between Syria and Saudi Arabia to lift political tensions in Lebanon and thereafter. as Prime Minister, Hariri refused to convene an emergency cabinet session on the withdrawal of cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon . [7] [8]
According to the Lebanese Constitution, President Suleiman was to form a new government. [9] The Coalition on March 8 came out in support of Najib Mikati for the post of Prime Minister, who was to become a Sunni (although most Sunnis are supporters of the Coalition on March 14).
Only on June 13 a new government was finally formed.
Protests
February 27
External video files | |
---|---|
Hundreds of demonstrators call for a revolution in Lebanon on YouTube |
On February 27, hundreds of Lebanese marched along the old demarcation line in the capital Beirut, protesting against the religious system of Lebanon. The peaceful sit-in went on in Sayda . [ten]
March 6
As a result of the demonstration on February 27, about 8,000 people marched to the next, marching from Dora to Beirut as part of the campaign to "overthrow the sectarian regime", calling for the creation of a secular state. Similar protests took place in Baalbek and Sayda . [eleven]
March 13
The action was organized by the Coalition on March 14 , in which several hundred thousand people marked the beginning of the Cedar Revolution 6 years ago. The main slogans of the action were the disarmament of Hezbollah and support for the ideals of the revolution. [12]
March 20
Thousands of Lebanese went on the third in a row rally against the sectarian political system of Lebanon. [13]
June 17th
In inter-religious clashes in Tripoli, 7 people died and 59 were injured on Friday , June 17 . Armed clashes broke out as a result of a rally in support of the Syrian protests of 2011 between militants in the Jabal Mohsen (populated mainly by Alawites who supported the Syrian regime) and Bab al-Tabbaneh (mainly Sunni supporting Syrian opposition) districts. [14]
June 26th
On June 26, hundreds of people again came out demanding the abolition of the principle of confessionalism in the Lebanese political system to the building of the Lebanese parliament. [15]
October 12
On October 12, according to the local press, the largest strike in the history of the country was appointed. [16] The General Confederation of Labor demanded, among other things, an increase in the level of wages. The government acceded to these demands, [17] and the strike was canceled. However, the union of teachers decided in any case to hold a rally, thus the Lebanese education system was temporarily paralyzed. [18]
December 15
5,000 protesters took to the streets of the center of Beirut as part of a passing teacher strike. [nineteen]
The invasions from Syria (2011-2012)
On October 5 and 6, 2011, the Syrian army briefly invaded Lebanon (killing 1 person), which led to instability in the Mikati government. [20]
New invasions by the Syrian troops occurred in December 2011, with a large number of Lebanese killed. Then the Syrians invaded Lebanon (also Turkey) in March 2012. In addition to the March clashes in Tripoli between the Alawites and the Sunnis, a number of Syrian army incursions into Lebanon increased the risk of an uprising by the Syrian population of Lebanon. These clashes intensified in May-June 2012, leading to casualties and hundreds of injured.
See also
Portal " Lebanon " | |
---|---|
Portal " Politics " |
- Cedar revolution
- Riots in Lebanon (2015)
Notes
- ↑ Lebanese protest against sectarian political system , Reuters (February 27, 2011).
- ↑ Pro-Western coalition declares victory in Lebanon . The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ Lebanon Population . Country-studies.com.
- ↑ Hezbollah and allies topple Lebanese unity government (12 January 2011). The appeal date is January 12, 2011.
- ↑ Hariri indictments set for Monday - Middle East . Al Jazeera English.
- ↑ Bakri, Nada . Resignations Deepen Crisis for Lebanon (12 January 2011). The appeal date is January 12, 2011.
- ↑ Lebanese government falls , The Hindu (14 January 2011).
- ↑ US welcomes Hariri indictment - Middle East . Al Jazeera English.
- ↑ " http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=169956&language=en (not available link)
- ↑ Lebanese protest against sectarian political system , Af.reuters.com (27 February 2011). The appeal date is March 6, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_125693#axzz1G0xiKbQd
- ↑ http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=125927#axzz1GUpYlbcn
- ↑ Meris Lutz . Lebanon: Thousands rally against sectarian leaders (Eng.) , Los Angeles Times (20 March 2011).
- ↑ Lebanon ... Perils of the Syrian Quake Aftershocks . (PDF).
- ↑ Rally for secularism commences in Beirut , www.nowlebanon.com (26 June 2011). Archived June 28, 2011. The appeal date is June 26, 2011.
- ↑ Largest general strike looms | News, Politics . The Daily Star (11 October 2011).
- ↑ Site Suspended - This site has been stepped out for a bit Archived April 25, 2012.
- ↑ Site Suspended - This site has been stepped out for a bit Archived May 23, 2012.
- ↑ "Teachers threaten to step up strike action" . The Daily Star (15 December 2011).
- ↑ March - 8 MPs slam local reaction to incursion by 'sisterly state' . The Daily Star (7 October 2011).