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| Africa North |
| Benghazi Made Economic Capital of Libya Following Protests and Appeals for Patience |
| 2011-12-14 |
| [Tripoli Post] The Libyans are making full use of their new-found freedom after 42 years under a dictatorial regime when even the slightest protest could get you in trouble and locked into prison. It did not take tens of thousands of protestors in the eastern city of Benghazi long to organise a spontaneous demonstration to express their frustration with the new National Transitional Council leaders. In what has been described as the biggest demonstration in the city since the beginning of the revolt in February that eventually ousted Al Qadaffy from power, the crowds gathered at the central Shajara square and Abdel Nasser Street demanding changes to Libya's interim leadership. Following the protests the NTC declared that Benghazi as Libya's economic capital. The announcement was made at a news conference by Council member Abdelrazzak al-Aradi, who added that adding ministries related to the economy would be located there. Asked if the decision was taken after the protests, Aradi said it was. Reading from a statement, he added: "Since the revolution the people of Benghazi feel they are marginialised and forgotten. Benghazi hosted the revolution for several months, and was one of the factors that enabled its success." "So there will be no marginalisation or exclusion and the economic future that awaits this city and other cities will exceed all expectations. Benghazi will the economic capital of Libya," he said. During the protests on Monday, chants of: "The revolution started in Benghazi" filled the air as they demanded changes. They are impatient for improvements and are putting intense pressure on the NTC, for these changes to come. They did not appear to be too happy with the few changes made and feel that progress is hampered by the presence of former Al Qadaffy regime members in the leadership. They don't want anyone associated with the former regime in a position of leadership. Ordinary people are impatient for improvements, and regional interest groups seem reluctant to hand over to an unelected central government the power they won during the fighting against Al Qadaffy. The leaders of the NTC on their part have been trying to explain that they are trying as best as they could, to get the country back on its feet and to rebuild democratic institutions. NTC chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil himself on Monday appealed to Libyans to give the new authorities time as he outlined plans to help people who fought against Al Qadaffy to lay down their arms and find roles in civilian life, to beef up border security, and to redistribute central government funds to allow regions and cities more autonomy. Abdul-Jalil said: "All that we want from you all is to bear with this transitional government and to be patient. We have been patient for 40 years and I believe that being patient for a while longer with this government is not a long time." Meanwhile, ...back at the chili cook-off, Chuck and Manuel's rivalry was entering a new and more dangerous phase... at a conference on human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. in Tripoli, Fred Abrahams, an official of the New York-based Human Rights Watch ... dedicated to bitching about human rights violations around the world... said the group was concerned by the lack of transparency among Libya's interim National Transitional Council rulers. He said: "We don't know when they are meeting, what they are discussing and some of the new laws are not available to the public." He went on to say that he does not think this is done on purpose. "They are not trying to hide anything. It's a problem of organization, but that is an explanation not a justification," Abrahams added. After the fall of the dictaorial regime, HRW said thousands of people had been tossed in the slammer without legal review. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 See also CHINESE MILITARY FORUM > [Russia Today]BENGHAZI: FROM CRADLE [Birth] TO GRAVE [Death?] OF THE NTC, + its head Mustafa Abdel Jalil. They rly rely Rely REALLY RRREEEEELLLYYYY want the ex-Gaddafi Boyz hanged or jailed, OR ELSE! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-12-14 22:02 |
| #4 Prosperity B Harder. Prosperity be easier than all of the alternatives. Too bad noone believes in it. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-12-14 17:14 |
| #3 Refugees on French and Italian shores (again) in 5...4...3.. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-12-14 14:26 |
| #2 They're moving the Libyan stock exchange to Benghazi, then, or perhaps the income tax authority? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-12-14 09:18 |
| #1 Governing B Hard. Prosperity B Harder. |
| Posted by: lotp 2011-12-14 06:32 |