The head of the confederation of public drivers and transport unions Bassam Tleis declared that the sit-in organized by taxi drivers was only the first steps in a series of moves to be declared one after another, and said that all

Bassam Tleis to Al-Manar Website:
Sit-In First Step… Open-Ended Strike Possible
Our Demands Are Evident, Not Impossible
Government Is Ours; Stability Our Interest
Government Should Adopt Transport Plan
We Want Execution of Declared Agreement
Security Forces Must Chase Fraudulent Vans

The head of the confederation of public drivers and transport unions Bassam Tleis declared that the sit-in organized by taxi drivers was only the first steps in a series of moves to be declared one after another, and said that all options remained open, including an open-ended strike.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Manar Website, Tleis spoke of three basic demands for the taxi drivers: the immediate implementation of the agreement signed with the drivers under the previous government, the insertion of the national transport plan in the first cabinet session’s agenda and the pursuit of fraudulent vans and taxis.

While rejecting the policy of procrastination adopted by the successive governments with the taxi drivers, Tleis stressed that the drivers were not heading towards a crisis with the government, noting that the syndicates could not be committed to stability under Saad Hariri’s government more than Najib Miqati’s government, which he described as their government per excellence.

SIT-IN ONLY FIRST STEP
The head of the confederation of public drivers and transport unions Bassam Tleis told Al-Manar Website that the preparations for the sit-in to be organized on Thursday were completed, and said that the strike and marches were still ongoing. He said that the gathering sites were set in Beirut as follows: Musharrafieh, Cocody, Airport road, Cola, Hamra street, Phoenicia, Dawra and Museum, in addition to four marches that would be launched in Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, South and North. He stressed that this sit-in was only a first step, which would be followed by a series of steps to be declared soon.

Asked about his expectations for the sit-in, Tleis said he was not seeking to count the number of participants who would take part in the sit-in. He said that all taxi drivers were urged to participate, but stressed that whoever takes part in the strike would be serving his own interest, although he admitted that those who won’t participate would be represented by their colleagues. “The outcome, if reached, would include all taxi drivers, not only those who participate,” he explained.

PUBLIC DRIVERS’ BASIC DEMANDS
Answering a question about the message that would be delivered by the taxi drivers during the sit-in, Tleis pointed to three basic demands for the public drivers, and said they would not suspend protests before achieving them. He noted that the first demand would be the implementation of the agreement signed on 18/5/2011 under the previous government, related to a payment of support to the drivers of trucks, tanks, buses and tourist cars. He noted that the second demand was the insertion of the national transport plan at the top of the first cabinet session’s agenda, while the third demand related to the pursuit and prosecution of all fraudulent cars and vans.

Tleis rejected Finance Minister Mohamad Safadi’s justification for the delay in implementing the agreement reached between the taxi drivers and the previous government, and wondered about the reasons that prevented Minister Safadi to inform the public drivers that such agreement needed the finalization of a draft law, if it was true. He recalled that Safadi was a minister in the government of Fouad Saniora which approved an amount of 200,000 Lebanese pounds for the drivers, a thing that did not require a draft law at the time.

OUR DEMANDS NOT IMPOSSIBLE!
Tleis said he understood that any treasury advance needed a draft law, but wondered about the reasons of all the delay that took place. He noted that Minister Safadi had previously approved the agreement and even modified its mechanism and that Prime Minister Najib Miqati was also aware of it. He wondered whether it was necessary to wait for MP Nawwaf Moussawi to submit a proposal in this context.

“Why are we always the ones to be blamed? Why do the syndicates and drivers have to assume the responsibility? Until when would we have to continue with this policy of procrastination?” Tleis wondered.
He also went on to say: “If we suppose that such mechanism really requires a draft law, then what about our other demands? What about the transport plan and the necessity to include it in the cabinet’s agenda? Does it require a draft law, given that the premier said he was convinced with it but refused to raise it at the first cabinet session? What about the security forces’ duty to limit the irregularities and fraud in the sector? Are our demands really impossible?”

WE’RE READY FOR ALL OPTIONS…
Answering a question about fears that the sit-in could turn to violent clashes given its political sensitive timing, Tleis said: “This government is our political government per excellence, and everyone knows our position in politics.” He confirmed that taxi drivers were not heading towards a crisis with the government, but noted that the public drivers’ moves were not politically affiliated. “We had no political motives behind our moves under PM Saad Hariri, despite our political differences,” he emphasized. “In case the government approved the transport plan in its Wednesday’s session, we would have suspended the sit-in,” he pointed out, as he stressed the taxi drivers were committed to stability.

Asked finally about the potential future moves to be adopted by the public drivers, Tleis said that all options remained open. He spoke of general strikes that could last for more than one day, and stressed that the open-ended strike remain a possible option, in the imminent future.