Lebanese Back on the Streets

Yup!!!

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Lebanese are back on the streets... protesting injustice and cruelty! The banners are up... the drums are rolling... and the screams can be heard for blocks!
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So, what is the new source of this injustice and cruelty?
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Well... it is not Syria... nor is it Israel. Those two guys have been around for quite some time now! There is nothing new about them.
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Neither is it the US or France... Somewhat confusing, I know...
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So what is it???
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My dear friends and compatriots… Lebanese have come together again and broken down sectarian barriers to protest against the cruel and inhumane behavior of that evil country known as Ethiopia!
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Ethiopia!!!
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So what has Ethiopia done to deserve universal Lebanese wrath? It has refused to export our maids and servants to us!
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Rumor is now rife… a militia is being formed in Lebanon to defend its citizens from Ethiopian aggression, and to conduct raids against the Evil Ethiopian regime as a means of pressuring it to export our maids!

Residents of Beirut staged a demonstration in front of the Ethiopian consular offices on Thursday [13 April] to protest over the delayed arrival of Ethiopian workers who were supposed to be in the country in accordance with an agreement recently reached between the Lebanese and Ethiopian governments.

The Ethiopian and Lebanese governments agreed on 1 February 2006 for the export of Ethiopian workers to Beirut, Lebanon. According to the agreement, 8,000 Ethiopian men and 30,000 women will be exported to Beirut. About eight agencies have been set up and each of them has deposited 37,000 dollars in Beirut and 25,000 dollars in Ethiopia to effect the accord. Our sources reveal that four organizations have been established in Ethiopia to legally link employees to employers.

Although 1,250 workers were supposed to be exported to Beirut in February and March in line with the agreement, the Ethiopian Ministry of Workers and Social Affairs has delayed the process saying it would take care to avoid similar problems that occurred in the past.

Sources confirm that the agencies in Beirut complained over the delay after they had collected money from employers and deposited huge money hoping that the worker would arrive in time. Residents also staged a demonstration in front of the Ethiopian consular offices in Beirut and were dispersed by security forces.

According to the agreement reached between the two countries, the Ethiopian male workers would be employed in construction, guarding and driving; replacing Koreans who are leaving Beirut.

Following the agreement signed in February 2006, Lebanon has lifted a ban it imposed on Ethiopian workers on 1 July 2004 not to enter the country.

Source: BBC Monitoring International Reports - Translated from: The Reporter website, Addis Ababa