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Explosion in Lebanon today, another tomorrow?
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by FunkyOzzi | February 13, 2007 at 11:58 am
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Back-seats of 2 mini-vans have been planted with bombs Tuesday morning, causing the buses to explode at around 9:30 am in Ain Alak situated in Mount Lebanon, north east of Beirut, resulting a toll of 3 casualties and more than 20 injured. This terrifying event occured one day before the 2 year anniversary of the Prime Minister Rafic Hariri's assassination, which also killed his bodyguards, his chauffeur, Minister Bassel Fleihan and pedestrians.
This tactic is not a stranger for Lebanon. Trying to inflict fear and chaos just one day before and especially one day before what is supposed to be a day bringing together a large mass of people to attend the memorial, is a work of those same criminals who did the previous assassinations and explosions, however who haven't noticed that this only makes people more determined, and wanting to find the truth and oppose them more than ever.
Fear has certainly spread among a large section of the Lebanese, among the government supporters including political parties such as Future movement, Lebanese Forces, The Phalange, Progressive Socialist Party, and others who will attend tomorrow's anniversary in order to commemorate the assassination of Hariri that happened on Monday, February 14, 2005.
People are scared from a potential riot, similar to what happened on Tuesday January 23, and Thursday January 25. The majority of Lebanese do not want another war, the July war between Hezbollah and Israel had enough negative impact on the country's infrastructure, tourism, human casulaties and an amazing brain drain that continues to be. Those who said they will never leave Lebanon, have given up for a safer and a more secure dream - find a job abroad, raise the family and be able to feed them.
Opposition have been camping in Martyrs' square and Riad El Solh square in Downtown Beirut since December 1, 2006, in order to topple the Siniora Government, which recently supported the International Tribunal in the assassination of Rafic Hariri.
The demonstrators tomorrow will be at the same place as the opposition campers, the Lebanese Army has order to divide between the two in order to prevent from another riot, fights and killings. Will the army succeed? Will the Lebanese people control their frustrations? Will the politicians escalate the situation or just keep it a day to remember Rafic Hariri. Answers, tomorrow!
Crowd Power
FunkyOzzi
Beirut, Lebanon
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 12:27 on February 13th, 2007
Lilane thanks so much for your continued attention to the news for us.
Do you have any way to upload photos or ask others to contribute?
We now know that tomorrow will be a very important day - and we are looking forward to your contributions tomorrow. We all wish you and your loved ones safety and peace.
- reply
FunkyOzziat 12:38 on February 13th, 2007
Dear Mark,
I am uploading pictures as we speak, and of course wouldn't mind if any one else has more pictures to add.
Best of Luck,
Liliane from Lebanon
at 16:23 on February 13th, 2007
Liliane many thanks for uploading your photos. I am curious about many things about the actual explosion site:
What kind of neighborhood did this happen in? What is Ain Alak like? was this a commerical neighborhood or residential or both? Whenever I see something like this I always want to know about the people who live there and what this kind of catastrophe means... also I am curious about what sort of camera you use and the technological infrastructure in Beirut. Do you have a good internet connection? Does it take you a long time for this kind of participatory news? Is there anything our community can do to help you do your work?
Again, many thanks for this - stay safe!
- reply
FunkyOzziat 06:45 on February 14th, 2007
Hi Mark,
The explosion occured in a christian neighborhood, it is near the village Bikfaya, from which the Gemayels are. Recently on November 21, 2006, Pierre Gemayel has been assasinated in Jdeideh, whose hometown is Bikfaya. It is not a commercial one, as it is in the mountains, but of course it is city-like, and especially during summer, where people spend their vacation.
I use a Canon Powershot A510, pretty modest. As for the connection I use, it's pretty slow (here at home), however I have a relatively fast (still slow compared to canada's and US's connection) at work.
Stay tuned for a new article today about what happened in Downtown beirut and exclusive pictures, and hopefuly videos if I was able to upload them.
Sincerely,
Liliane