Families of Arsal Captives Block Beirut's Banks Street after Reopening Dahr al-Baydar Road
Families of troops and police abducted in August from the border town of Arsal reopened the vital Dahr al-Baydar road on Wednesday following days of protests, moving their sit-in to downtown Beirut where they blocked the busy Banks Street.
Their moves aim to pressure the government to exert more efforts to secure the release of their loved ones.
“This protest is only the beginning,” one of the troops' relatives told MTV in downtown Beirut.
“This is not the only location and we will escalate our steps in several regions,” he added.
TV footage showed the families sitting in the middle of the street, next to two tents. They were surrounded by members of the Internal Security Forces.
“We have reopened both lanes of the Dahr al-Baydar road and we will now take painful measures against the government, starting with rallying in Riad al-Solh,” the families declared earlier in the day in Dahr al-Baydar.
The square is located in front of the Grand Serail, the government's headquarters.
“We urge the Lebanese people not to harm Syrian refugees, but instead pressure the government to release our sons,” demanded the families.
The relatives of the hostages have repeatedly accused the government of not exerting enough efforts to release the hostages, who were kidnapped from Arsal in the wake of clashes with Islamist gunmen from Syria.
Three of the captives have since been executed, a few have been freed, while the rest remain held.
Their families have resorted in recent weeks to blocking roads in an attempt to urge the government to step up efforts to release them.
Earlier, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour stated after meeting with the families that a Qatari mediator who was in involved in the negotiations is still taking part in the efforts, denying claims that he has abandoned his mission.
The minister stressed the need to take all possible measures to release the captives, which includes holding negotiations.
Some political powers in cabinet have rejected holding negotiations with the Islamists.
“These positions should be reconsidered as we believe that restoring the dignity of the state lies in releasing all the captives,” explained Abou Faour.
“The state is serious and committed to holding negotiations,” he stressed.
“It is ready to hold direct mediations,” he revealed.
M.T./Y.R.
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