What started out as a Worker's strike turned into gunfire between Hezbollah and Gov't

[ArabRASH]

"Tensions have been rising since Wednesday after a strike called by the main labour union to press the government for a salary increase got under way.

The demonstration quickly degenerated into violence, with rival supporters exchanging gunfire."


Only in fucking lebanon does a workers' strike to increase minimum wage turn into an armed conflict between Hezbollah and the government.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3EB4700B-752C-4737-BD0A-5784517E1550.htm

[ManyAntsDefeatSpiders]

Things like this are very disheartening...

At least it didn't go the way (http://ipsnews.net/pictures/workers1.jpg) the Palestinian GFTU did (http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41445). :(

[Devrim]

This sort of thing has happened in Lebanon before. The general strike in January 2006 followed a similar pattern. The teachers/public sector strikes in Palestine in Summer 2006 also ended up in gun fights between different factions.

I think that it shows clearly the weakness of the working class in these countries, and how easy it is for them to get pulled behind different bourgeois factions.

Devrim

[AGITprop]

There needs to be a message brought to the working class there, of class solidarity.

Right now, this has turned into a fight between Shiite and Sunni factions.

[Severian]

I think that it shows clearly the weakness of the working class in these countries, and how easy it is for them to get pulled behind different bourgeois factions.

It's not clear from news reports that the labor federation did anything to support Hezbollah or any other bourgeois faction. Reportedly, they simply called a strike to demand a minimum wage increase - I don't think that's getting pulled behind a bourgeois faction.

I mean, it's not their fault if Hezbollah chose to endorse their action.

But you're probably right that it reflects the weakness of the working class, that when Hezbollah comes out in support of the strike, it's perceived as the main force involved, it's able to swamp the character of the action. Then you have a sectarian Sunni reaction to the involvement of the sectarian Shi'a party, and the whole situation heads downhill from there.

The other thing it reflects: how the whole confessional, i.e. religion-divided, political and electoral setup in Lebanon is a tremendous obstacle to working-class unity and any kind of social progress.

[ArabRASH]

Working class unity is non-existent here in Lebanon. The workers care more about whether they're shiite or sunni than whether they're working class or bourgeois. It's pathetic. Anyway this has broken out into a full scale civil war. Tonight the General secretary of the Lebanese communist party is going to make a speech regarding the situation. Although he has shown some hezbollah sympathies, he's the only person that has never been scared to be critical of ALL parties, including hezbollah. Hopefully his speeech will encourage some working class unity.

[Colonello Buendia]

and we wonder why the middle east is in dire straights, if the working classes cannot unite and fight their reactionary governments as a class then they're screwed, they're fighting on grounds of religion, which is absurd when the real divisions among people are left either unnoticed or at least ignored.

[Zurdito]

BBC claims Hezbollah has taken control of West Beirut.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/homepage/d/int/news/uk/1/-/news/1/hi/world/middle_east/7391600.stm

[ArabRASH]

They have. I can't leave my house. I left Beirut three hours before it started, luckily(my house is fifteen minutes away). My friends in beirut say it's ridiculous, and one of my friends had to kick out these three guys trying to snipe on top of his building. Shiite-sunni factional fighting is so stupid. Fucking religious shitheads. Gen sec of the LCP postponed his speech, he couldnt reach the venue where it was taking place due to the fighting.

[Faux Real]

The thing is it's not religious sectarianism, it's clearly a governmental decision that is provoking all factions and sects against the near non-existent state government.

[Devrim]

That is a very bizarre statement 'Banned in Algeria'. I don't think that anyone else sees it like that.

Devrim

[ArabRASH]

Hey guys, just updating you on the latest developments. Hezbollah yesterday burnt down a TV station in support of the gov't, and have complete control of West Beirut(the place where i spend most of my time). A bunch of brave journalists are protesting outside of the burnt tv station for freedom of the press. I'm not sure they'll live. It's really a shame i've always supported hezbollah and defended their possession of arms as they said that their sole purpose is for defense against Israel. But, apparently not. the USA promised they were going to intervene, but i'm sure that will do nothing but cause more trouble, and then make hezbollah believe they're fighting a holy war against the Americans and Israelis. Very complex situation, hoping it will end soon. Cheers comrades.

[An archist]

Lebanon always seemed to me to be quite a stable country in the middle east, fucked up situation. Don't get yourself killed.

[Andres Marcos]

Be safe, and inform us of the situation. This is certainly very disheartening.

[Devrim]

Lebanon always seemed to me to be quite a stable country in the middle east,

I would say it is one of the least stable.

Devrim

[ArabRASH]

Yes, it certainly isn't stable. In 2005 ,ex PM Hariri was killed in a car bomb. In 2006, Israel attacked us. After the war, hezbollah and the gov't began fighting, because hezbollah wanted to be more involved in the gov't, and the gov't feared hezbollah wanted to bring in Syrian influence to the gov't. And its been like this ever since...haha

Fighting calmed down, spread a bit to the north, which is pretty far from me. Hopefully everything will be back to normal tomorrow.

My friend Ayah lives ten minutes away from me right in the smack middle of beirut. She recorded what was happening from her balcony check it out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MrUuT4alieE