Whatsapp tax sparks mass protests in one of the world's most indebted country

Protesters have vented their frustration at several new proposed taxes and other unpopular economic policies. In a state of 'economic emergency,' Lebanon is one of the world's most indebted countries

The Lebanese government on Friday scrapped a a 20-cent (€0.18) daily charge on voice calls made through Whatsapp just hours after announcing it.

The move came after hundreds of protesters took to the streets in anger at the state's handling of economic policies and the tax on calls made through the voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP), used by applications including WhatsApp, Facebook calls and FaceTime. 

Police and security forces fired tear gas at protesters as they tried to push through security barriers around the government headquarters. It was one of the biggest demonstrations the country has seen in years.

Telecommunications Minister Mohamed Choucair said that the 20-cent fee will not go into effect and that the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri had requested the policy reversal.

Protesters demand change 

Despite the backdown, protesters continue to demand economic reform. "We are not here over WhatsApp, we are here over everything: over fuel, food, bread, over everything," said Abdullah, a protester in the capital Beirut.

"We are asking for jobs, for our rights, electricity, water, we are demanding education," said another protester.

Demonstrators gathered in Beirut's Riad al-Solh square, some waving Lebanese flags and chanting, "the people want to topple the regime" and "we need a revolution."

Protesters burned tires to block roads across the country while some civilians on motorbikes ripped out billboards and discarded them into the flames. Some demonstrators also caused damage to shops and street signs. The mass protest is the second in less than a month. 

The Red Cross said they transferred 22 people suffering from respiratory problems due to the police tear gas and that they treated 77 people for various minor injuries on the ground.

Lebanon's interior ministry said about 40 members of is security forces were injured while 60 police officers were reportedly wounded in the clashes.

According to local media, two foreign workers choked to death from a protest fire that spread to a nearby building in Beirut and that rescuers were also in the process of pulling out bodies and dousing the flames. 

'Economic emergency''

The Lebanese government had declared a state of "economic emergency" after the country experienced a stagnating economy exacerbated by a financial crisis.

In another unpopular decision, Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah had announced that ministers would discuss a bill to raise value-added tax by 2 percentage points in 2021 and a further 2 percentage points in 2022, until it reached 15%.

The government is seeking new ways to grapple its widening deficit. Lebanon is one of the world's most heavily indebted countries. mvb/rt (AP, dpa, Reuters)