by Madhurima Bhattacherjee
As we have seen, that the backbone of the civilians have become enough hardened to withstand the whip of the leader after four decades. But Tunisia and Egypt have set an example rather a warning bell to all the bully perpetrators who have made the civilian life utterly miserable. The common people are no more prepared to endure the hegemony. Now it’s the turn of Libya and its head Muammar al-Gaddafi. After Asmaa Mahfouz, it was Jamal al-Hajji, a writer, political commentator and accountant who took the leading role through the internet in late January for shaping the Libyan anti- government movement. Gaddafi, who had supposedly predicted the outrage of the angry mob, had met with political activists, journalists, and media persons in early February and had warned them that they would be "held responsible" if they participated "in any way in disturbing the peace or creating chaos in Libya"
Fight for Democracy and Crisis
In the evening of 15th February, around 200 people embarked on demonstrating in front of the police headquarters in Benghazi, the second largest city of the Country subsequently after the arrest of human rights activist Fethi Tarbel. Later, as many others joined the campaign, it summed up to around 500-600. But the crusading effort of the police ruptured the protest causing as many as 40 injuries among the campaigners. In Al Bayda and Az Zintan, hundreds of protesters demanded "the end of the regime" and set ablaze the police and security buildings. In Az Zintan, the picketers set up tents in the town centre.
On the 16th of February, the gripe sustained in Benghazi as hundreds of protesters assembled at Maydan al-Shajara and security services tried to dissolve the crowd using water cannon. Thereafter, the police left and the protesters closed Jamal Abdel Naser Street. There was an estimated crowd of more than 1,500 people attempting to storm the internal security building in Al Bayda. The protesters set fire to two cars and scorched the headquarters of the traffic police. In the resultant clashes with police six people died and three were injured. In Al-Quba, over 400 protesters with set fire to the police station. Darnah and Az Zintan also recorded protests, but without injuries. Alongside, pro-government rallies of several dozens of partisans and Tripolitanian people also took place.
17th February was "Day of Rage" for the Libyans. The National Conference for the Libyan Opposition confirmed that "all" groups opposed to Gaddafi both within Libya and in exile planned the protests in memory of the demonstrations in Benghazi on 17 February, 2006 that were initially against the Muhammad cartoons of Jyllands-Posten , but which turned into protests against Gaddafi. In Benghazi, the government released 30 prisoners from jail, armed them and paid them to fight against protesters. Several demonstrators were killed by snipers and gunfire from helicopters. Approximately, 14 people were killed that day. In Ajdabiya and Darnah at least ten and six protesters were killed by police, respectively. Protests also took place across Tripoli and Zentan, where a number of government buildings including a police station were put on fire.
18th Feb recorded the assembly of thousands of anti-government protesters in front of the Benghazi courthouse. Thousands of demonstrators had poured out onto the streets in Benghazi and other eastern cities. Police and army personnel later reportedly withdrew from the city after being overwhelmed by protesters. Some army personnel also joined the protesters after which they took control of the local radio station. In Al Bayda, reports indicated that the local police force and riot control units joined the protesters. Unconfirmed eyewitness reports suggested that two officers who were accused of shooting protesters were hanged by protesters. The govt. of Libya initially restricted access to the Internet in the country for quite a few hours, but later imposed a further comprehensive and persistent shutdown in the system. In reaction to the mass killing in the Libyan protests, Malcolm Smart, director of Amnesty International for the Middle East and North Africa said on Friday, "This alarming rise in the death toll, and the reported nature of the victims' injuries, strongly suggests that security forces are permitted use lethal force against unarmed protesters calling for political change." He added, "The Libyan authorities must immediately rein in their security forces. Those responsible for unlawful killings and excessive force -- both the direct perpetrators and those who gave the orders -- must be identified and brought to justice.”
By the early hours of the fifth day, dissenters in Benghazi managed to seize the airport. Meanwhile, the opponents had warned civilians of carnage by the government unless the international community applied pressure. Witnesses in Libya reported helicopters firing into crowds of anti-government protesters. The army departed from the Al Bayda. Artillery, helicopter gunship and antiaircraft missile launchers were used to kill protesters. Protests were also reported in Misurata. According to the New York-based group Human Rights Watch, the number of people killed in Libya, in the three days of protests mounted to 84 whereas opposition groups later put the number of dead at over 120. The security forces of Benghazi were in their resided in the barracks while the city witnessed a state of civil mutiny.
Protests mounted on February 20, indicating expansion of the unrest from the Eastern half of the country into Gaddafi's center of power. Hospitals confirmed that they have run out of provisions and doctors estimated the death-toll in Benghazi to be between 200 and 300. After the people of Benghazi thrashed the police and captured several key military barracks local military brigades joined the protesters. By this time, protesters in Benghazi numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Reports also came forward of pro-Gaddafi militia by the Elfedeel Bu Omar compound "being butchered by angry mobs." Further military units were reported to have defected in order to protect protesters. Several senior Muslim clerics and tribal leaders from around Libya called for an end to the bloodshed by the regime, and for the government to step down. A large spontaneous protest occurred in Tripoli by night where the protesters quickly overran police. One tribal leader threatened to block oil exports.
The United States Department of State, through the American Embassy, issued a travel caution to US citizens due to the persistent unrest in the country. The European Union called on the government to cease the use of force and to answer the protesters' complaints. Clashes escalated in Tripoli during night time, with protesters trying to take over Green Square. Witnesses reported snipers firing into the crowds, and Gaddafi supporters driving around the square shooting and running demonstrators over. Protesters burned a police and security forces' station and the General People's Congress' building.
Saif al-Islam, son of Muammar Al-Gaddafi called for a "general assembly" on the 21st to talk about their grievances. In Benghazi, demonstrators captured the streets, and looted weapons from the main security headquarters. They hoisted the flag of the country's old monarchy from above the chief courthouse instead of the Libyan flag. Air Force warplanes and attack helicopters launched air strikes on protesters, reportedly targeting a funeral procession and a group of protesters trying to reach an army base. As in the reports, the People's Hall in Tripoli, which serves as the meeting place for the General People's Congress, had been set on fire. It also stated that the state television building was smashed up by activists and that minimum one Tripoli police station was smoldered. Navy warships were reported to have instigated bombardment of residential areas resulting in numerous casualties. Banks and other government buildings were looted all through the day as the city's death toll rose to at least 61.
Some people reported that they were provoked to spin for the pro-Gaddafi rallies outside Libya. Some rumors splattered that Gaddafi had fled either to the town of Sebha or to Venezuela. British Foreign Secretary William Hague also said that he had received information about the same thing but Venezuelan govt. officials denied reports that Muammar Gaddafi had left Libya and was on a plane bound for Caracas.
Gaddafi gave a glimpse on state television in which he praised the rain that kept him from addressing the youth in Green Square. He also said that "I am in Tripoli and not in Venezuela. Do not believe the channels belonging to stray dogs."
Gunfire was also reported through the 21-22 February night. Loyalist soldiers were reported to have continued some bombarding to keep soldiers away from the protests. Fighter jets were reported to have targeted army ammunition depots in order to prevent troops from joining the protesters.
The former British Foreign Minister David Owen said that a "military intervention" via a no-fly zone was immediately necessary. Though the Austrian Army reported the closure of airspace around Tripoli, but later apologized for the supposedly wrong statement. The Austrian Defense Ministry spokesman Michael Huber said: "One of our sources said that initially that it (airspace) was closed, but then another later confirmed otherwise. Our plane was able to leave."
Eyewitness reported that thousands of African armed forces were flown into Tripoli to settle the uprising. In a second "speech" within 24 hours, Gaddafi blamed foreign media for the unrest and says that Libyans want "people with beards" in power, stating that "we deserve Libya". He rejected stepping back but argued that he would "die as martyr". Gaddafi announces transformation but states that they will be put into place after Libya is vacated "street by street" and security is re-established by police and army.
International Reaction
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a statement said that bombs against civilians "if confirmed, would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law and would be condemned by the secretary-general in the strongest terms." He later issued another statement saying he was "outraged."
US President Barack Obama said that he was "deeply concerned" by the violence. Later, US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, stated that "Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed." Senators Jon Kyl and Mark Kirk said that "we urge the president to speak out clearly in support of the Libyan people."
Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a Sunni cleric of Egypt and the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, issued a ‘fatwa’ on 21 February for the assassination of Gaddafi saying that "whoever in the Libyan army is able to shoot a bullet at Mr. Gaddafi should do so."
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