19 March 2007
BEIRUT: The youth association Offre Joie (Joy of Giving) organized a human chain over the weekend, in which hands and Lebanese flags connected Martyrs Square to Riad al-Solh Square despite intervening barbed wire and metal fencing.
Under the banner "Let's Build Bridges and Meet," Saturday's human chain was one of the largest and certainly the most visually symbolic of all the nonaligned, third-party movements that have occupied Beirut weekends recently.
"There remains an obstacle in Beirut and this obstacle is standing between people," said Lama Bou Raad, a volunteer with Offre Joie. "The heart of Beirut has been divided by people from two political sides. So we planned a human chain to link the two spaces."
The two main squares of Downtown Beirut have been divided by razor wire and barricades since the opposition launched a sit-in around Riad al-Solh Square on December 1. The human chain stretched from the grave of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Martyrs Square to the heart of the opposition protest.
Whereas past human chains and peace rallies have taken place along the Green Line, which divided Beirut during the 1975-1990 Civil War, this was the first alternative demonstration to enter Downtown Beirut since the opposition began its camp-out around the Grand Serail building.
An 18-meter-quilt of Lebanese flags covered the barbed wire in front of the Al-Amin Mosque to connect the people standing on either side. Guitarist Paul Abi Rashid played Lebanese folksongs.
Bou Raad said that opposition members had been supportive and helpful during the organization of the human chain, with a few donning a white t-shirt - representing neutrality - and joining the chain. However, many gathered just to watch.
"Good," was the concise answer by one Hizbullah onlooker, when asked what he thought of the human chain. However, smiling, he insisted that he had ruled participation out. "It's not my party," he said.
Over 30 children from the village of Abbassiyeh, near Tyre, did participate in the chain, singing along to the folk songs. Abbassiyeh was one of many villages Offre Joie helped following the summer 2006 war with Israel.
"Offre Joie is from all and for all confessions. Each one of us has our own beliefs but we are coming together to oppose this barrier of hatred," said Zahi Bridi. "Yes, we spoke to the army before but there was no problem with the event. They have been extremely helpful."
"Offre Joie began in 1985 to build bridges broken by the Civil War. We're repeating that same message today," said Bou Raad, as the Lebanese national anthem blared from speakers. Doves and orange, yellow, blue, green and white balloons were released into the sky.
