Toufeili's disobedience ends peacefully in the Bekaa

Breakaway Sheikh Sobhi Toufeili's call for disobedience was peacefully controlled by the army's security forces, in Hermel (Bekaa) yesterday. Citizens from 75 villages blocked the streets at 6:00 a.m. with rocks, cars, agricultural bulldozers and burning tires. Demonstrators, including farmers, women and children, shouted: "We are hungry, we want to eat, we are thirsty, we want to drink."

The army succeeded in reopening the roads and removing the obstacles without the use of violence. 23 citizens were arrested. Toufeili announced the end of the riots at noon, when gunshots were heard on the Brital road. He declared that a bigger operation was called for, without specifying a date. The hunger revolution's council decided, meanwhile, to forbid all ministers and deputies from other areas from entering the Bekaa until their demands are met.

In addition to the rallies, Toufeili called in July for civil disobedience, such as withholding taxes and utility payments, to force the government to improve economic conditions for its citizens.

On Sunday, Toufeili threatened to escalate the protests and promised to continue action until his demands are fulfilled. These are mainly free education, medical care and development projects.

Lebanon's Bekaa Valley is among the poorest regions in the country. It boomed during the lawless years of the civil war when it was a center of hashish growing and trafficking, But the government cracked down on hashish after the war.