Security forces abused power during hunger revolution
Lebanon, Politics, 7/9/1997

Two human rights watchdog groups on July 8 denounced what they describe as "security forces" violations of human rights and their failure to abide by regulations in force during a wave of arrests they carried out against Lebanese civilians last week in Baalbek."

The new Human Rights International Mission in Lebanon and the Human and Humanitarian Rights Foundation accused authorities of abusing power and overstepping boundaries with last week's arrest of over 100 civilians.

The detentions followed Friday's mass demonstration in Baalbek called by Sheikh Sobhi Toufeili to protest government policies and socio-economic difficulties in the Bekaa region.

"In the light of information submitted to us, we are obliged to denounce the violence endured by civilians in the villages of Meqneh, Kneisseh, Safra and Riha by the security forces," the statement read.

It also deemed as unacceptable "the justifications given by interior minister Michel Murr when he said the arrests took place because the security forces happened to be there at that time."

"To be effective, the authorities should be present on a continuous basis, and not occasionally", the statement said.

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