BEIRUT: Electricite Du Liban said Wednesday it
could no longer carry out maintenance work in the field and would only be able
to resume once the “occupation” of its headquarters by the company’s striking
contract workers ends.
“We, directors of Electricite Du Liban,
announce that we can no longer carry out any maintenance and repair work as we
have no way to access the needed equipment and tools at the central
headquarters [in Beirut] and because of the occupiers’ seizure of all the
equipment including vehicles and diagnostic tools at said buildings,” the
company heads said in a statement.
“We cannot return to carrying out our duties
before the premises have been vacated by their occupiers and before the
security situation has returned to normal and we can safely carry out our work
without restrictions and away from any threats or terrorizing that targets our
dignity and safety,” the statement added.
On Monday, EDL officials were denied entrance
to the company’s premises in Beirut’s Mar Mikhael and said they were ready to
give the contract workers full-time employment at EDL when Parliament’s secretariat
approves the draft law.
The standoff between Energy Minister Gebran
Bassil, who is an Free Patriotic Movement official, and EDL contract workers
has escalated in recent days, and neither side seems willing to back down from
their terms.
The contract workers, who have been striking
for several months, are seeking full time employment at EDL and Parliament has
passed a draft law to that effect but it has yet to be given the approval of
the assembly’s Secretariat.
Strike action by the contract workers, which
includes occupying the premises of EDL’s headquarters and preventing staff from
entering, has resulted in power cuts in several parts of the capital.
Admitting a conflict does exist between the
Amal Movement, which backs the contract workers’ demands, and the FPM,
Hezbollah’s deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Tuesday his party is working
tirelessly to reconcile the rival groups in the Cabinet and called on the
government to work harder to reach a resolution.
Christian parties oppose
employing the contract workers at EDL, arguing that this would upset the
sectarian balance within the state-run company.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Aug-01/183002-edl-says-maintenance-not-possible-with-ongoing-occupation.ashx#axzz22OD0d0aY
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