Suleiman Visits Kuwait Sunday as Cabinet Slams EDL Contract Employees’ Actions
Cabinet criticized on Wednesday the Electricite du Liban contract employees’ recent protests, saying that they have violated the principles of peaceful demonstrations.
Information Minister Walid al-Daouq said: “Anyone who will deign to violate the law will be arrested.”
The minister announced the cabinet’s decisions after a session at the Baabda Palace headed by President Michel Suleiman.
He continued: “A decision has been taken by the cabinet for the state to firmly impose its authority after the contract employees violated the principles of peaceful demonstrations.”
“The employees have taken more privileges than others,” he stressed.
The contract employees escalated their protests on Tuesday as they held a sit-in at the company’s headquarters in Beirut’s Mar Mikhael area.
A dispute occurred between the Internal Security Forces after the riot police demanded protesters not to leave the sit-in hall and to stop using loudspeakers.
They have been demonstrating for the past four weeks against the cabinet’s failure to approve their full-time employment.
Cabinet also discussed the latest proposals over replacing the Jal el-Dib bridge, saying that the issue will be addressed during the next cabinet session.
In addition, an agreement was reached to rededicate L.L. 150 billion for development projects in the northern city of Tripoli.
Daouq revealed that Prime Minister Najib Miqati will travel to Turkey on Wednesday afternoon.
He will be accompanied by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.
Suleiman had announced at the beginning of the cabinet session that he will visit Kuwait over the weekend “to encourage tourism in Lebanon” after the Gulf country issued a travel warning.
Kuwait was among four Gulf countries that advised its citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon and urged its nationals currently present in the country to leave due to the unstable security situation.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain issued similar travel warnings after deadly clashes erupted between pro- and anti-Syrian groups in Beirut and the northern city of Tripoli.
Suleiman informed the cabinet that he will head to Kuwait on Sunday on the first leg of his tour to the Gulf.
He said the visit is aimed at “consolidating bilateral relations and encouraging tourism in Lebanon.”
Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour has already held talks with the ambassadors of the Gulf states, asking them to review these decisions.
“The situation in Lebanon does not justify them," he said.
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