By Isaac J. Martín

Beirut, Nov 22 (EFE).- In the heart of the protests in Beirut, a purple tent has been erected by the Sabaa political party seeking to overthrow the government that has led the country into one of its worst crises.

The centrist, secular party was formed three years ago during a time sectarianism divided the country into 18 recognized religious communities.

Malek Kabrit, legislative coordinator of the group, told Efe the aim is "fighting corruption".

"First, we are going to wash the dirty rags at home," Kabrit said in Martyrs' Square, the core place for the demonstrations that started in the streets of Lebanon on 17 October.

The movement was sparked by a government initiative to impose a fee on messaging apps such as WhatsApp, which was later withdrawn.

It has turned into a peaceful demonstration throughout the country calling for the fall of the entire government.

Kabrit, 54, said Sabaa's foundation is "anti-corruption and human rights" for all.

"We only deal with Lebanese issues, not international causes," he added.

"What makes us different from the rest is that we are horizontal, not vertical.

"This means that others seek first the regional, then religion and, third, tradition and culture.

"We are from Akkar south to Baalbeck. We are only one Lebanon."

The revolution in the Mediterranean country has distinguished itself because the Lebanese have grabbed their flag, and not that of any party or religious affiliation, to wave it in the streets, moving away from the sectarianism that has plagued the country since the end of a 15-year civil war in 1990, and whose scars are still present on the walls of its buildings.

A level of pacifism has been seen since the beginning of the marches, stained by the death of a person shot by the Lebanese army last week.

Kabrit said: "There is not much difference between us and other parties such as the National Bloc.

"We are similar, intellectual people, same image, same cause.

"I don't think we are very different. We put our money and our heart."

Naji Bou Khalil is a member of the executive committee of the Lebanese National Bloc, one of the oldest parties in the country, but left politics after the party decided not to be part of the civil war in 1975.

Its founder Émile Eddé emigrated to Paris after trying to end his life up to three times, Naji told Efe from the party headquarters, not far from Martyrs' Square.

The smiling young man, who was one of those who relaunched the party in February 2019, seeks to have "a civil, modern government without sectarian quotas," he said.

The current government is governed by a system in which the president must be a Christian, the prime minister Sunni Muslim and the president of parliament a Shiite.

The rest of the seats are distributed among the other communities.

"The demands are basic and unified, which helps us to maintain unity in the streets," he said, sitting in the small courtyard of the headquarters of the republican, secular party.

He added they have "high hopes that Lebanon will change through this revolution".

Those who have taken the reins of the marches have been women asking for rights that have been deprived to them, such as passing on Lebanese nationality to their children through a current colonial law, as well as students from universities.

"The difference between us and other independent parties in the revolution is the story... but I don't want to see the differences, but rather on the positive side that maybe these groups were not able to work together before," he said.

"Today, it is showing that we can coordinate to some extent and we are improving." EFE

© 2019 EFE News Services (U.S.) Inc., source EFE Ingles