An open letter urging the Lebanese diaspora and International community to support the uprising

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Demonstrators carry the national flag  and banners during an anti-government protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
Demonstrators carry the national flag and banners during an anti-government protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho

Ya Libnan obtained a copy of the following   letter that was addressed to  The Lebanese Diaspora,
and  The International Community, urging every member to play a role to strengthen the uprising in Lebanon .

For almost a week, the people of Lebanon have been staging an extraordinary revolt against their politicians.Schools, universities and offices have been closed as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have poured into Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut and other locations across the country to protest against those who have handsomely profited while steering Lebanon into an economic abyss.

The protests were triggered by a tax on WhatsApp voice calls that the government quickly ditched.But the government could not contain the anger of a population that is sick and tired of economic stagnation, endemic corruption and a lack of basic public services.The Lebanese economy is currently staggering under one of the highest debt levels in the world and there is little room for manoeuvre.

What has been striking is that the protests have cut across the sectarian lines that have plagued Lebanon for decades.

In his open letter Tarek Amine ( A Proud Lebanese) , is urging every member  of the community  to send a letter to his/her House Representatives and Senators asking them to recognize the right of Lebanese people to a just regime and to urge congress to pass resolution to support the demands of  Lebanese people

“To:  The Lebanese Diaspora,
      Friends and Colleagues,
      The International Community,

Dear All,

Lebanon is witnessing an unforeseen and unprecedented uprising against poverty, chronic corruption, government dysfunction and theft of its resources.  For the first time the People of Lebanon are breaking all sectarian and religious barriers and rejecting the status quo that has been governing their lives for over thirty years.
Lebanese citizens are protesting across Lebanon from the north to the south, from Tyre to Tripoli, from Beirut to Balbaak, calling for allegiance to their country and its flag, not to political parties. People are revolting against ALL ministers, ALL parliament members, ALL politicians, calling for the ousting of the entire Ruling Class.

I am calling on every person who cares for the future of Lebanon and who believes that the Lebanese are entitled to a life of dignity under the rule of law to play a role to strengthen the uprising.  Every person should send a letter to his/her House Representatives and Senators asking them to recognize the right of Lebanese people to a just regime and to urge congress to pass resolution to support the Lebanese people in their quest for:

1.  Demand the Lebanese authorities and Lebanese army to protect demonstrators and  not to be dragged into violence.  It is their duty to prevent the armed emergence of  political parties to terrorize and suppress people, and to prevent any bloodshed

2.  Declare that current goveroment has lost legitimacy to represent the People of  Lebanon

3.  Support the creation of a new limited goveroment of subject matter experts and  technocrats for a transitional six month period to:
a.  Organize early election in accordance with the election law of Fouad Boutrous’s  2006 Commission, and
b.  Manage financial crises through rescheduling public debt, and recovering  money  smuggled by politicians abroad, and
c.  Mobilize the judiciary to prosecute and hold the Ruling Class accountable for  the theft of public funds

To my non-Lebanese Friends and colleagues – We need your voice of support as well. We need your  governments to stand by the People of Lebanon who are clearly calling for justice and are refusing to be governed by corrupted politicians. 

Tarek Amine
A Proud Lebanese “

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