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The Lebanese Revolution: How Did It All Start?
Some of us may have forgotten (due to the sheer volume of news) that merely one week ago, wild fires erupted across multiple Lebanese areas and villages, swallowing everything in their way.
Forests, homes, schools, universities, roads, and more were completely engulfed in the flames, leaving little behind.
People were evacuated from their homes, not knowing if they’ll have anything to return to.
According to the cell management crisis at the Grand Serail’s operation room, the fires amounted to a total of 460, and were described as some of the worst in the country’s history.
The government’s response?
Additional taxes!
Shortly after some of Lebanon’s most hellish nights in recent years, the Lebanese government agreed to enforce a 20 cent/day fee on every WhatsApp user (and other VOI applications), which translated into approximately $6/month per user, adding to the already sky high fees citizens pay for telecommunication. The fee was proposed as a patch solution to cover the cabinet deficit.
Contrary to how international media framed the story, the protests were NOT simply fueled by the proposed WhatsApp fee, but it was definitely the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Upon the announcement of the government’s proposal, citizens began taking to the streets to protest against the detrimental financial situation and horrible living conditions, corruption, etc.
Even after the government vowed to not enforce the tax, protests broke out across the entirety of Lebanon, all the way from the North to the South, with one chant in mind: Kellon Ya3ne Kellon.
Forests, homes, schools, universities, roads, and more were completely engulfed in the flames, leaving little behind.
People were evacuated from their homes, not knowing if they’ll have anything to return to.
According to the cell management crisis at the Grand Serail’s operation room, the fires amounted to a total of 460, and were described as some of the worst in the country’s history.
The government’s response?
Additional taxes!
Shortly after some of Lebanon’s most hellish nights in recent years, the Lebanese government agreed to enforce a 20 cent/day fee on every WhatsApp user (and other VOI applications), which translated into approximately $6/month per user, adding to the already sky high fees citizens pay for telecommunication. The fee was proposed as a patch solution to cover the cabinet deficit.
“”.
#اجا_وقت_نحاسب pic.twitter.com/N4ozuNdv5H
Contrary to how international media framed the story, the protests were NOT simply fueled by the proposed WhatsApp fee, but it was definitely the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Upon the announcement of the government’s proposal, citizens began taking to the streets to protest against the detrimental financial situation and horrible living conditions, corruption, etc.
Even after the government vowed to not enforce the tax, protests broke out across the entirety of Lebanon, all the way from the North to the South, with one chant in mind: Kellon Ya3ne Kellon.
