Alwaght- If the weather were an indicator of a country's political arena, then the sandstorm that has recently hit Lebanon couldn't be more expressive of its internal turmoil. Clouds of dust and fog are hovering over the country accentuating the blurriness that has been documented over the protests demanding the downfall of the government.
What began as a peaceful and spontaneous flow of protesters in downtown Beirut calling for a solution to the garbage crisis after the government failed to dispose of accumulating wastes due to the closure of the capital's main landfill, but soon morphed into large-scale demonstrations with a whole list of demands.
The grievances of the Lebanese people ranged from issues such as electricity blackouts, water shortages, poor and expensive internet connection, corruption, and the political standoff that has been hindering the election of a new president for more than a year.
Every Lebanese citizen feels the pain of these predicaments but not every concerned Lebanese took to the streets to join the protests and here's why:
1- There was no clear and public manifesto for the protests making many Lebanese feel uneasy about diving into the unknown. The seeming randomness of the protests did not appeal to the majority of the Lebanese society which depends on political parties to represent its diverse populace.
2- Lebanon has long suffered political and security instabilities on top of years of deprivation and lack of basic life necessities and this has in turn sown the seeds of lethargy, hopelessness, and fear of plunging into further chaos among its residents.
3- The sandstorm that has covered the country's surface with dust will soon end, but the government's foreign intervention will take much longer to clean up if and when it is put to a halt. The involvement of several figures who have dubious backgrounds as protest leaders has created a conflict of interest for many people. The majority of the Lebanese suffer from the lack of public service but that does not mean that they would bargain one thing for another or deviate from the path of resistance. Talk of a foreign-backed agenda being implemented in the country of 4.5 million and an area of 10,452 km2 has been circulating with al-Akhbar newspaper insinuating at a Qatari involvement in the demonstrations with the backing of some local news channels after Interior Minister and member of the Future Movement Nouhad al-Mashnouq claimed that "a small Arab state is playing an active role in financing and instigating the protests.”
The "You Stink" campaign organizers also accused “thugs sent by political parties” of permeating the protests to ignite riots and confrontations with security forces who cracked down on protesters.
There is no doubt that most of the movement's grievances and demands are legitimate. Living in a country where electricity, water, and work opportunities are scarce for decades after the bloody 1975 civil war that claimed the lives of 120,000 people and ended in 1990 with the Taef accord is bound to stir up dormant frustration.
But there is a thin line between a spontaneous revolution and a foreign plot to further destabilize the country by taking advantage of the people's grievances. All it takes to avert a clash of interests is to highlight the contours that define this movement.
In a crucial development, the cabinet finally approved a proposal for confronting the garbage crisis put forth by Agriculture Minister Akram Chehyab including meeting one of the protesters' demands by giving municipalities more autonomy through waste management.
"We see that this plan meets the conditions... Tonight the cabinet agreed on an environmental solution path that is sustainable and safe," Chehyab announced.
While this may seem like a step forward in the scene, it is unlikely to be enough to quench the protesters who are thirsty for reforms. The dust and winds of political storms have kept plunging this small country called Lebanon into the eye of the hurricane rendering it nearly impossible to witness a period of political calm.
