Libya Opposition sets out post-Gaddafi vision
Libya opposition sets out post-Gaddafi vision
Andrew Woodcock, Daniel Bentley and Gavin Cordon, Press Association – today
Representatives of the Libyan opposition today set out their vision for a democratic country after dictator Muammar Gaddafi has been removed from power.
A delegation from the transitional Interim National Council (INC) was in London for today’s international conference, led by special envoy Mahmoud Jabril, who met British Prime Minister David Cameron for talks in 10 Downing Street.
In a statement entitled “A Vision of a Democratic Libya”, the INC said it was committed – following the defeat of the “illegal” Gaddafi regime – to a “civil society that recognises intellectual and political pluralism and allows for the peaceful transition of power through legal institutions and ballot boxes; in accordance with a national constitution crafted by the people and endorsed in a referendum”.
Every adult citizen would have the right to vote in “free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections as well as the right to run for office”, it said.
It said the state would “respect the sanctity of religious doctrine and condemn intolerance, extremism and violence” and “denounce violence, terrorism, intolerance and cultural isolation”.
Unveiling the opposition document at a press conference in London, the INC’s UK coordinator Guma El-Gamaty said: “The Libyan people have been suffering for 42 years under sheer tyranny and repression and dictatorship.
“The real aspirations of the Libyan people are to be free, to live under a constitutional democratic system, where there is rule of law, all essential freedoms are guaranteed and people can fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.
“That is the hope. That is the vision.”
Mr El-Gamaty said the INC aimed to “facilitate that process through a transition period until we reach a permanent state where there is a constitution crafted by the Libyan people”.
The constitution will produce a framework for a new democratic civil government in Libya, he said.
“We have had enough of tyranny. We have lost a golden chance over the last 42 years to develop our country and utilise the huge resources Libya had to have proper development, proper prosperity and real freedoms,” said Mr El-Gamaty.
“Now, once hopefully Gaddafi is out, this chance will be possible again and the Libyan people are determined to achieve it.”
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Stamp your feet and be steadfast. The Italians are envious. – from timesofmalta.com
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110328/local/maltas-first-immigrants-this-year-to-arrive-this-evening
Ivan Attard
The expected tsunami of illegal economic opportunists has started. The government will do best to stamp its feet and hold steadfast and in its resolution not to be intimidated by the bureaucrats in Brussels and the envious Italians! And the Maltese had better learn the lesson from the inhabitants of Lampedusa who have been OUTNUMBERED by these hordes and have had their tourism industry OBLITERATED! It is time to be tough – really tough!
1949 GMT Aid workers say shortages of food, water and medicine in areas caught up in the six-week-old civil war have reached dire proportions.
In Libya’s third largest city Misrata, the main hospital has been inundated with wounded and residents say water supplies and electricity have been cut off. Libyan officials deny deliberately cutting power and water to the city.
“The humanitarian situation is catastrophic. There is a shortage of food and medicine. The hospital is no longer able to deal with the situation,” Sami, a rebel spokesman, said by telephone.
“We are very concerned (about Misrata),” said Eman Moankar, a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross operations in eastern Libya. “The consequences of this fighting is a worry for us.”
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article2964737.ece
Daphne, will you please publish the details of the organisations collecting aid for the Libyan people? Given the situation as outlined above by the aid workers, it may be a good idea to append these details to your every post on Libya.
SOS MALTA FOR LIBYA
APS – 20000245111
HSBC – 006070932050
BOV – 40013974950
online – http://www.sosmalta.org/donate_now
or send a donation to SOS Malta, 10, Triq il-Ward, Sta Venera SVR1640.
ACCOUNTS MANAGED BY MALTA’S CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT
HSBC 078-002391-050
Bank of Valletta 40018758443
Lombard Bank 01440800001
APS Bank 20000889551
Banif Bank 00083224181
ACCOUNT MANAGED BY ARAB EUROPEAN FORUM (NGO) Bank of Valletta 4001 9753803.
There are some words missing in that vision. Words like pluralism of ideas and a legitimate opposition. One must not forget that what Libya did not have, and could not have, was pluralism and opposition.
The availability of elections is not enough, as demonstrated by some countries, like Iran. Elections could still yield a dictatorship.
And the existence of large assemblies, or pseudo parliaments, such as the Chinese system, still do not make a democracy.
“LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) – France said it was ready to discuss arming Libyan rebels with its coalition partners, although this was not part of the United Nations mandate, its foreign minister said on Tuesday.”
I’ll be damned, they’ve been reading Baxxter’s book.
Stop blowing your own trumpet.
Baxxter, I hope your book does not have a green cover.
Actually I did publish a book, available on Amazon and all. Unfortunately it’s about a rather technical subject and not likely to be on any airport paperback list.
I don’t know why anyone would say that I’m blowing my own trumpet. I’ve predicted everything play by play these last three months: the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions which ran out of steam and turned into yet more political bickering, the uselessness of a no-fly zone, the need for air strikes, and the inevitable boots on the ground, as per the article posted by Daphne today.
Beat that, Anthony Manduca.
Gaddafi counter-offensive is in full force. Benghazi may be under threat by tomorrow. This is proof that the No Fly Zone is useless against land forces. News channels now all saying that rebellion cannot succeed without Western military help.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/03/201132994454514581.html
I wouldn’t consider Al Jazeera as representative of ‘all news channels’ or even any news channel.
Just remember what they not too long ago reported about ‘all assets needed for enforcing a no fly zone are already stationed in Malta’, or that Malta is actively helping NATO against Libya and as evidence of that let us hear a recording of a very mundane and standard communication between a NATO AWACS plane and our ATC.
I once thought that Al Jazeera is a reliable news channel, but that was only because I had never watched it.
http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/2011/03/29/a-tribute-to-journalist-and-colleague-sabah-al-bazee/
Tough situations need tough measures – if the west intends “going by the book” then all those missiles are going to be a real waste of good money and a proof of failure – Misurata in now on the list to be followed by Benghazi.