Owners of Old Rent Law Buildings Block Mathaf Road in Protest against Suleiman's Appeal
The owners of old rent law buildings staged a sit-in on Wednesday in Beirut's Mathaf area in protest against President Michel Suleiman's appeal against the draft-law.
The owners slammed his action, comparing him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman judge who ordered the execution of Jesus Christ.
“We will stop any maintenance activities at the buildings and no longer pay taxes because our buildings are occupied,” they added.
The protesters then blocked the road with burning tires, vowing that they will not leave the streets until the new rent law is approved.
Suleiman on Monday asked the Constitutional Council to look into the constitutionality of the new rent law.
Earlier this month, the president rejected signing the new rent law, saying: “Any law that does not grant social justice will be unfair against a certain segment of the people.”
Old rent law buildings tenants meanwhile staged a demonstration in Riad Solh Square in Beirut to thank the president on his stances on the law.
“We do not oppose the owners, but the money-hungry officials,” declared one of the demonstrators.
The parliament passed in April the controversial draft law regarding rents, which calls for an increase in rents over a six-year period until they reach 5 percent of their current value.
The old rent law pertains to rent contracts carried out before 1993.
Tenants of old rent law buildings have slammed the draft law, saying that it will force many of them to leave their houses because they would not be able to afford the new rent.
The owners of the buildings, on the other hand, say that the law paves the way for better ties with tenants.
Several demonstrations have been staged in protest against the law, with the General Labor Confederation calling on Suleiman to refer it back to the Joint Parliamentary Committees for further discussions.
M.T.
S.D.B.
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