Several buses carrying approximately 500 partisans of Sheikh of Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque Ahmad al-Assir, headed on Thursday morning to Kfardebian’s slopes to enjoy the snow and practice winter sports.
Sheikh Assir supervised personally the trip’s preparations in Sidon since the early morning hours.
However the Sheikh and his partisans were met with discontent by the residents of Kfardebian who blocked the roads, describing his visit as provocative. The residents also said that they will be bringing bulldozers to erect a snow mount on the road path to ensure that Assir and his followers do not reach their destination.
On the other hand, security measures were enhanced to ensure a safe path for the Sheikh and his supporters with the LAF removing vehicles that were placed to hinder Assir's attempts to cross through the town.
Confrontations arose between the LAF and the residents as the security forces attempted to reopen the road by force. 2 people were reportedly injured. Accordingly, the demonstrators moved 100 meters back from the original site.
A Manar reporter was also injured in the confrontations, LBCI sources said.
The Kfardebian road was later reopened with Assir's convoy allowed passage to the snow slopes where he held prayers. At around 4:30 pm, he left Kfardebian amid tight security measures.
Reactions:
Former MP Farid Haykal al-Khazen arrived to the protest site in an
attempt to calm the situation. The head of the Kfardebian Municipality
Jean Akiki had arrived earlier as protesters and security forces
clashed, denouncing the escalatory approach of the residents and urging
the LAF to reopen the road.
“Yesterday, we did not call for demonstrations against Assir’s visit; on
the contrary, we welcomed it. However, both his conduct and the size of his
convoy were provocative," he said.
For his part, Deputy President of the Kataeb party Sejaan Azzi asked
whether the buses were searched prior to their departure. Azzi wondered
why the Sheikh had insisted on bringing 500 partisans along with him
given the tensions prevailing in the country.
"Why is he provoking strife when he himself blocked the road to South Lebanon for twenty days?" he asked.
In turn, FPM MP Farid Elias El-Khazen said:"We don’t wish that the
Kfardebbian protest be exploited for inciting strife in the country".
For his part, MP Youssef Khalil called for the isolation of the Kfardebian protest from politics to prevent its exploitation by Lebanon’s “enemies”.
LBCI sources said that Sheikh Assir insisted on taking the road the demonstrators are blocking, although there is an alternative route available.
For his part, Sheikh al-Assir told LBCI that he trusts the security forces, adding that there is no political party mobilizing the protesters.
According to the Sheikh, FPM leader Michel Aoun denied having any information about the movements.
In this regard, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel confirmed to LBCI that he has contacted MP Aoun who asked FPM supporters, if any are present, to immediately leave the site of the protests, stressing that all Lebanese citizens are entitled free movement throughout Lebanese areas.
Aoun added that an excuse for another "Ain el-Remmeneh bus" should not be given, referring to the infamous incident that sparked the uproar of the Lebanese Civil War back in 1975.
During a phone call with LBCI, Charbel urged Kfardebian residents to reopen the road and said that he depends on their mindfulness to take the right decision.
Subsequently, the Army Command called on citizens to fully respond with measures in order to preserve public safety and the right of every citizen to navigate within various regions.
In a special communiqué today, it said it had to
intervene to remove obstacles to traffic and secure every one's free
access in and out of the village. It also urged media outlets to assume
full responsibility in deflating the incident and restoring calm and
order.
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