FPM Organizes ‘Flash Lights’ March over EDL ‘Occupation’
Free Patriotic Movement supporters on Thursday staged a march from Ashrafiyeh’s Sassine square to an area near the Electricite du Liban headquarters in Mar Mikhael to protest what they called the “occupation of state buildings.”
An FPM official had told An Nahar and As Safir dailies that the protestors “will hold flash lights in their peaceful march as a civilized message of rejection of the occupation of government buildings in Ashrafiyeh.”
The protest was aimed at sending a message to EDL’s contract workers, who have been staging a sit-in at the state-run firm’s headquarters in the past three months, that the FPM rejects the obstruction of the work of state institutions and the deterioration of public service.
“This occupation is a crime punishable by law,” the official said, adding that the judiciary should pursue the contract workers and the security forces should “find the appropriate way to end the takeover of a public institution.”
But the workers’ sources did not heed the pressure, saying they are ready to go to court anytime and anywhere.
The workers are demanding full-time employment and asking the government to pay their salaries of the past three months. They have occupied the reception area on the ground floor of the EDL building.
EDL’s management has warned that the company is at risk of collapse over lack of maintenance work, which is leading to severe power shortages, and the failure of the workers to collect bills.
Parliament approved a bill that would allow the workers to become full-timers but Christian blocs, including the Change and Reform bloc of FPM leader Michel Aoun, objected to it for creating a sectarian imbalance in the institution.
The draft-law is awaiting approval by parliament’s secretariat.
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