VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Dozens of demonstrators in Beirut, Lebanon, were injured after security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrations against the government on Saturday (18/01) night, local time. Clashes were inevitable when the demonstrators tried to approach Martyr’s Square, which has been the rallying point for demonstrators over the past few months.

The demonstrators came from various directions and cities in Lebanon and moved towards the heart of the capital city of Beirut. This protest was carried out to call for a change in the political and financial system in Lebanon.

Rami Khouri, a professor of the American University of Beirut, as quoted as saying by Al Jazeera on Sunday night (01/19), said that the demonstration was carried out as a form of dissatisfaction among the Lebanese people to the government.

“This new government of alleged technocrats was really just a smokescreen for the old ruling oligarchy elite, so protesters are really upset,” Mr Khouri said.

Rami Khouri said earlier there were also demonstrations at Alhamra, a famous business and shopping center in Beirut. At that time the demonstrators tried to damage the window of the bank and a number of ATMs. He added that at this time, people had difficulty even taking their own money. If they can, they can only take the money in a very limited amount.

The people were very angry and frustrated because many of them had lost their jobs, had difficulty paying children's school fees, or paid surgery costs at the hospital. Even though the people are still active in living their daily lives, tensions are rising in Lebanon at the moment. (AL JAZEERA)