Renters, GCC Take to the Streets, Warn of Escalation over New Rent Law
A group of renters in the Beirut neighborhood of Ashrafieh blocked the streets leading to Sassine Square in the area on Saturday afternoon, protesting the new rent law.
The protesters took to the streets to call for a “fair bill.”
"We are not denying the rights of the (houses') owners, but we rented these places with legal contracts, we did everything we had to do during the war, and we paid taxes,” the head of the renters' committee said during the protest.
"We are asking for a fair rent law, not a bill that would make us forcefully leave our houses,” he added, assuring that protests will continue and expand to include other regions in the country.
Later on, security forces reopened the streets in Sassine, but protesters continued their march towards Le Gabriel hotel in Ashrafieh.
"We demand President Michel Suleiman to reject the law,” they shouted.
"And we tell MPs that if the law was enforced, we will cast our objection in the parliamentary elections,” they warned.
Renters in the Beirut neighborhood of Wata al-Msaitbeh also blocked the roads in the area few days ago, protesting the same law.
Earlier in the day, the General Labor Confederation slammed the same draft law endorsed by the parliament regarding the renting fees, calling on Suleiman to refer it back to the Joint Parliamentary Committees for further discussions.
“Citizens have the right to have a guaranteed access to housing,” the GLC said after a meeting at its headquarters.
Head of the GLC Ghassan Ghosn urged, in a statement following the meeting, Suleiman to refer the endorsed draft-law back to the parliament's joint committees.
He also called for the formation of a national committee comprised of tenants, owners, senior legal, economic and social officials to establish a comprehensive national housing policy.
The GLC also called on tenants to participate in a national meeting that will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday to establish a plan to guarantee their rights.
On Tuesday, the parliament passed a controversial draft law regarding rents, which has been previously opposed by renters, who argue that many won't be able to afford it, prompting them to leave their homes.
The new law stipulates an increase in rents over six-year period until they reach 5% of their current value.
The old rent law pertains rent contracts carried out before 1993.
S.D.B./ H.K.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/125301 |