Libya's Acting President Dr. Magerief Resigns

The full speech (by Libya.tv)

Libya's acting president and head of the Libyan General National Congress, Dr. Mohammad Yousef Almagarief, has announced his resignation on the 28th of May 2013 - just over 9 months after he was elected on the 9th of August 2012. Passing the controversial Isolation Law in its present form - without any amendment or due consideration for such sacrifices endured by the early revolutionaries of Libya - is cruel and plain wrong. The president appeared deeply affected by the current tragedy; but also optimistic Libya will return. We wish the president safe farewell and sincerely hope he will return after yet ten-more-years of exile - at home.

The revolutionary president had resigned because he wanted to be the first to implement the unfair law; just as he was among the first to stand up to Gaddafi's regime some 30 years ago - when Gaddafi demolished his home in Benghazi in 1984. The president spoke highly of all ethnic and marginalised groups of Libya, as he was the only high official in free Libya, so far, to openly declare his support for the Berbers' constitutional rights! He has also stressed the need for national reconciliation.

It seems that pressure is mounting beyond expectation, leading to a number of ministers and local council presidents resigning ever since liberation was prematurely celebrated (by some). Brandishing weapons of violence against the law and intimidating officials and assassinating others has nothing to do with revolution. The president said he had "exhausted his energy" to the full; stressing the fact that his voice only counts as "one".

In his speech to the members of the GNC, Dr. Magerief started by outlining four issues that require urgent attention in order to steer Libya away from "square one".

The four issues pointed out by the president are summarised as follows:

1. Legitimacy: the legitimacy of the elected government is the highest authority in Libya and should and ought to have been respected above all.
   
   
2. The Revolution & The Revolutionaries: the president warned that the principles of the revolution may stay the same, but its tools must change in accordance with the goals of the revolution and the legitimate law. Using arms to negotiate or force solutions contradicts the pillars of democracy, he said. He has also noted the most important of all issues currently facing Libya, which is the existence of armed groups operating outside the law, which he has "estimated at tens of thousands". In addition to such groups, the president spoke about other revolutionary groups,  who are among the "true revolutionaries" but somehow declared their allegiance to partisanship instead.
   
   
3. Political Parties & Partisanship: regarding political parties, the president warned that party goals or objectives should not come before the benefit (or interest) of Libya itself. He also noted the need to "politicise" the administration, and protect Libya's robbed funds from being diverted out of the country.
   
   
4. The Media & Its Role: without a doubt, the president had said, the media had played an important role during the revolution; but after the revolution had ended some media groups and independents deviated from their course, in the name of free speech, and began their disinformation campaigns to confuse the Libyans and create a state of instability, according to the wishes and the goals of other (unnamed) groups; leading to many Libyans, he said, to withdraw themselves away from the political dialogue taking place.

Following these issues, the president had some recommendations to the current transitional government of Prime Minister Ali Zidan, including:

1. The government needs to acknowledge that its mission is temporary.
2. Implement Security.
3. Control the arms circulating in Libya.
4. Improve the standard of living, especially of the poor.
5. Youth education and training and facilitating marriage.
6. Develop women's rights and issues to the best.
7. Tackle drugs.
8. Put a stop to health deterioration and environmental degradation.
9. Fight financial corruption and its associated issues, which he says are infesting the society from within.
10. Administration improvements.
11. National Reconciliation, which he says is the most important issue the Libyans and the government need to address to steer away from "square one".
12. He also advised people to think before "acting", and make sure they do not end up "pawns" on others' chess board.

More on Law 13/2013 (Isolation Law) and the GNC (the General National Congress) at Temehu.com

Temehu's Libyan Visa Update (14)

The overall advice is: stay away from Libya for the time being. As noted previously, adventure travellers, taking risks by nature, may enjoy a mix of anxiety and tranquility to nurture their desire to experience the real thing; so long as they are insured and warned of the lurking danger. Armed gangs or militia outlaws could appear anywhere and strike without warning. 

Tourist and transit visas still are suspended by the Libyan transitional government; and all our visa services remain suspended until the ban is lifted. Please note that due to the volume of enquiries we may not be able to respond to all the emails we receive. Apology in advance.

• Security And Safety: the security situation is worsening, despite the government's claim to the contrary; and the bombing campaign that was affecting mainly Benghazi has now reached the capital Tripoli. The Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan, in his recent press conference (aired by Libya.tv, via Alwataniya), said his police and security forces have diffused a number of car bombs and that the diplomatic community was informed. No doubt the government is having difficulties finding a way out of the inflicted chaos, largely due to lack of exit strategy. But as time has demonstrated, time and time again, peace and pursuit of science are the only principles for lasting stability and prosperous success.
  
  
• Attack on Foreign Visitors: the Libyans' worst fear is here - the attack on foreign visitors including women was officially acknowledged to have taken place in Benghazi [21], when a British family was violated by an armed group acting outside the law [22]. It is such groups that are now roaming "liberated Libya", seemingly and practically unstoppable by the law. 
  
  
• Checkpoints: generally speaking checkpoints are manned by armed officers working for the government, but there is also the possibility of being stopped by an armed gang or rebels at a fake checkpoint. Undercover cameramen from Solidarity Press traveled from Tripoli to Benghazi to investigate the conditions in which checkpoints operate. The team have discovered that there are 18 checkpoints between Tripoli and Benghazi, as follows: 5 points in Mesratha, 2 in Sirte, and 1 point for each other town between Benghazi and Tripoli. They have also discovered that there was no proper search for identity documents in any of the checkpoints, except in Mesratha where checkpoint officers conduct vigorous checks on identities and vehicle documents, as well as search the vehicles for concealed weapons [23]. The correspondents said the security forces manning the checkpoints were from the Security Support Units & Military Police (جهاز الإسناد الأمني وإدارة الشرطة العسكرية).

• Libyan Tourism: the Tourism Committee at the GNC continues to discuss the ministry's development plan for 2013. However, it is not known what the ministry can achieve with a budget of one million dinars (around £500,000) - the amount assigned to the Ministry of Tourism by the current 2013 Budget of 66.8 billion Libyan Dinars. Libya Herald says the amount given to the tourism ministry is, "the lowest sum awarded to any ministry this year" [24].
  
  
• On Saturday the 9th of March 2013 the minister of tourism, Ikram Imam, held a meeting in Benghazi with the managers of a number of tourism companies and tourist offices from Cyrenaica, to discuss the current state of tourism in Libya. Like the minister's earlier meetings with similar organisations and companies in Tripolitania and Fezzan, the ministry reviewed the "action plan" of the ministry to create "the necessary atmosphere" for the development of sustainable tourism in Libya, such as "updating" the institutional structure of the ministry "in preparation for the start" to take the necessary steps to activate or stimulate domestic tourism and raise the quality of tourism services in the region. And like most other ministers, the tourism minister did refer to the "difficulties" the ministry had endured under the rule of the previous transitional government, such as the non-activation of the General Board for Tourism (as reported by Temehu.com long before the new ministry was created) and also the government's withdrawal of the Board's direct terms of reference, leading to, the minister said, obstructing the work of the ministry in relation to the "supervision" and "follow-up" of its projects. 
  
  
• A number of managers, however, have expressed their "dissatisfaction" with the ministry's performance, and accused the ministry of not providing the necessary support and services required to enable Libyan tourism companies and organisations to fulfil their role in "activating" this vital  sector of Libya's promising economy - just as the ministry itself blamed the previous transitional government for not doing enough to re-activate tourism in Libya. They have also demanded from the minister to provide "opportunities for young Libyans" to effect and run Libyan tourism investment projects abroad, in order to benefit from the opportunity to develop their abilities and expertise in the field of tourism - just as foreign companies (including some from dictatorial states) are eagerly urged to participate and even lead. Why not, they asked, why not? At the end of the meeting, the minister expressed her "understanding" of the complaints put forward, and confirmed that the ministry "will strive to address" all the "obstacles" and proposals [17]. Understandably the minister goes away, meeting with other tourism officials from other towns, regions and states, re-reviewing her "plan" for activating tourism that never gets activated.
  
  
• There is no doubt that tourism companies and organisations in Libya had suffered from the day the war began. Without any due support or compensation from the government to offset the loss sustained during and after the war, many Libyan tourism companies were forced to close and lay their staff, due to their inability to cover the incurred costs. Many Libyan tour operators gathered at the tourism board and demanded news regarding the saga of the "Libya Visa" and activation of tourism, without of which they cannot survive. In contrast, the Libyan transitional Prime Minister, Dr. Ali Zidan, had confirmed on the 21st of February 2013 that Libya will compensate the Turkish companies that were forced to stop their activities during the war, and that these companies will be offered "incentives" to encourage their return to Libya [10] - something most Libyan companies patiently still are waiting for. 
  
  
• Tourism companies, civil society organisations and charities interested in tourism from Fazzan (southern Libya) have expressed their deep disapproval of the current policies of the Tourism Ministry, which they say do not benefit the nation at this particular stage, and even condemned the current policies of the ministry as a "waste of state funds". In a protest staged in Sebha, on Thursday the 14th of February 2013, they demanded from the GNC's Tourism Committee and from the Ministry of Tourism to stop wasting Libyans' money by participating in international exhibitions that do not serve the interests of the public at the present time, and instead called for the government to focus on the "inner workings of the country" [7]. They have also spoken of "financial transparency" and the establishment of a "Higher Council for Tourism" to oversee the development of tourism infrastructure in the southern region, which they said was previously neglected. Such calls for transparency were voiced before by the Board of Tourism itself, as reported in one of our earlier updates, but nothing was heard of the matter since.
  
  

• Land Borders: the president of the Department of Cooperation and Relations at the Immigration Department, Nasreddin Ghellab, has revealed on Thursday the 7th of February 2013 the creation of an electronic system to document the entry and exit of all foreigners. The system was said to be linked to all land, sea and air entry points as well as to the Libyan embassies. The new system will enable any patrol unit to confirm within seconds  whether the provided documentation is legitimate or not. Work is also underway to link this system with the "residency system" to confirm the legality of any foreign resident in Libya. The projects are the personal efforts of the engineers, the technicians and the officers of the Immigration Department, he said [1]. 
  
  
• Local Egyptians have blocked the road leading to the Libyan border in a protest against the new visa regulation, which requires from all Egyptian nationals to obtain Libyan visa from the Libyan embassy in Cairo before heading for the border [8]. Around ten days later, LANA reported that  the movement across the Emsaad border has returned to "normal" on the 7th of March 2013, after the Egyptian drivers were issued with temporary Libyan visa (lasting for 10 days), while at the same time maintaining the earlier requirement of Libyan entry visa to be obtained from the Libyan embassy in Egypt from all other Egyptians [15]. However, on the 30th of March 2013 LANA has issued a warning to all Libyans to avoid travelling to Egypt via the land border, and instead urged all traveller to fly to Egypt [19]. The warning came after violence broke out again in the Egyptian side, when protesters destroyed one of the custom offices [20]; leading to a number of Libyan families being stuck at the border (inside Egypt), unable to return to Libya after they were prevented from doing so by some Egyptian groups that do not belong to the Egyptian authorities, unless they raised the green flag and called Gaddafi's name, Solidarity Press said [21]. 

Read the full update at: http://www.temehu.com/news-Libya.htm


References:

1. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/13489/رئيس_قسم_العلاقات_والتعاون_بمصلحة_الجوازات_والجنسية_يعلن_عن_إنشاء_منظومة_تعنى_بتوثيق_حركة_دخول_وخروج_الأجانب_لليبيا
2. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/13499/وكيل_وزارة_العمل_والتأهيل_في_الحكومة_المؤقتة_يعلن_عن_إيقاف_إلاجراءات_المتعلقة_باستجلاب_العمالة_الأجنبية_إلى_ليبيا
3. presssolidarity.net/وزارة-الخارجية-تمنع-دخول-إي-جنسية-تحمل/
4. qurynanew.com/48734
5. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/13930/اجتماع_مشترك_بين_الجانبين_الليبي_والمصري_بمنفذ_امساعد
6. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/14097/مصلحة_الطيران_المدني_بوزارة_المواصلات_والنقل_تعلن_أن_الحركة_الجوية_سوف_تستمر_بصورة_طبيعية_في_المنافذ_الجوية_العاملة_في_ليبيا
7. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/14201/العاملون_بالشركات_السياحية_بالمنطقة_الجنوبية_يعبرون_عن_استنكارهم_لسياسات_وزارة_السياحة_في_هدرالأموال_التي_لا_تعود_بالفائدة_على_الوطن
8. qurynanew.com/49212
9. egyptindependent.com/news/egyptians-protest-libyan-border-over-new-visa-rules
10. presssolidarity.net/ليبيا-تعتزم-دفع-تعويضات-لشركات-تركية-ع/
11. libyaherald.com/2013/01/31/in-a-few-weeks-security-will-be-fine-and-companies-will-be-back-prime-minister-ali-zeidan/
12. libyaherald.com/2013/02/21/protestors-forced-out-of-congress-attempt-to-besiege-pms-office/
13. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/15729/إصابة_ثلاثة_عناصر_أمن_خلال_محاولتهم_إخلاء_مقر_المؤتمر_الوطني_العام_من_الجرحى_المعتصمين_داخله
15. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/16150/عودة_الحركة_الطبيعية_بمنفذ_امساعد_البري
16. libyaherald.com/2013/03/07/interpol-database-passport-checks-start-at-tripoli-airport/
17. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/16307/وزيرة_السياحة_تجتمع_ببنغازي_بعدد_من_مدراء_الشركات_والمكاتب_السياحية_بالمنطقة_الشرقية
18. libyaherald.com/2013/03/11/tunisian-libyan-southern-border-crossing-closed-following-clashes/).
19. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/18349/وزارة_الداخلية_تنصح_المواطنين_بعدم_السفر_إلى_مصر_عبر_الطريق_البري
20. qurynanew.com/50526
21. lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/18250/المجلس_المحلي_بنغازي_يستنكر_حادثة_الاعتداء_على_عائلة_بريطانية_في_بنغازي
22. libyaherald.com/2013/03/28/kidnap-and-sexual-assault-of-aid-convoy-britons-in-benghazi/
23. presssolidarity.net/البوابات-الأمنية-بوابات-بلا-تفتيش-وعم/
24. libyaherald.com/2013/04/16/congress-committee-on-antiquities-and-tourism-meets/
    

Alarm: Attacks on Libyan Oil Facilities: Mellitah, Ghani, Dahra And Jalu 59:

The Libyan government has declared, long time ago, that it has established a special force to protect Libyan oil installations, called the "Petroleum Facilities Guard", or the "Oil Installations Guard", and reportedly made of 15,000 guards. This issue was further debated after the tragedy at In Aminas Gas Complex - next door, to which the Libyan government responded by saying that security measures are implemented across Libya to ensure the safety of such important government installations as well as Libya's guests.

Yet despite this formidable force and the false assurances thrown at the media, there were 4 attacks on oil and gas installations in Libya in the past 3 weeks alone, plus the reported protests from Zueitina and from Jalu 59, and all the other attacks on oil installations forgotten from 2012 - more than enough for any concerned government to be alarmed, rather than sit back and condemn the attacks as "unacceptable" after they take place.

This is like the Special Security Force set up by the GNC to protect the GNC, only to see the GNC being repeatedly attacked; gradually reducing many Libyans to doubt the current leadership's capabilities to lead out of the quagmire, before tyranny reappears. 

Not only that, but also it has emerged now that certain militias are in fact part of this Petroleum Facilities Force - something the Libyans had always opposed to, and instead called for the government to dismantle all militias, without exception, and establish one unified force. Worse still, they say "blackmail" does not work, but then even the protesters who occupied the GNC itself, for a full month, were recently bargained with by agreeing to all their demands (except compensation), including no less than 2,000 monthly-wage "for life" [1]. Such deals, Libya Herald says, "the average Libyan could only dream of" [2]. 

Between October and December 2012 Zawya Refinery Plant, in western Libya, was shut down at least 4 times in three months, by unchallenged protesters, costing the wounded country massive loss in revenues, apparently because the government had failed to provide "war amputees" and the "wounded" with medical treatment for the injuries sustained during the war; for which the government was later reported to have responded by agreeing to send them to Germany for medical treatment. Please do not try this at home; since the expected consequences usually can be no more than what Bin Mokhtar's chosen men had met in In Aminas. Such soft responses, however, from the current transitional government of Libya may be excused to avoid "bloodshed", as the leaders say, but then "where" and "when" can one draw the line? When enough is enough?

1. Overall, there were a number of disruptions to a number of oil installations and terminals since liberation was officially presumed, mostly calling for "more regional autonomy" and improved living conditions; with some activists calling for the NOC Headquarters itself to be re-instated to Benghazi - where it was before Gaddafi was installed.
   
2. 20 March 2013: al-Ghani Oil Field: according to Reuters, armed rebels from the "Jawdran Brigade" had attacked el-Ghani oil field. The field belongs to Libya's Harouge Oil. Salah Ali, the commander of "Jazira Militia" (part of the government force guarding the field), told Reuters that the rebel force arrived with "around 150 to 180 pickups mounted with weapons" and that they "brought men from other brigades from other towns" [9]. Two days later, Libya TV said the attack took place in the Zella well, where al-Jazira militia was involved in the armed clashes using RPG, 105 and 106, leaving one well damaged, the offices of government forces burnt, and two injuries. According to one speaker in the Libya TV report, Ibrahim Aljadran had attempted to negotiate with al-Jazira militia to hand over the protection of the field to the Petroleum Facilities Guard before the clashes broke out, but the militia refused.
   
3. 18 March 2013: Dahra Oil Field: armed clashes broke out at the Dahra field between oil protection guards and the attacking armed rebels. The field is operated by the Libyan company Waha Oil. Reuters says its source said the "feud was over who would guard the facility" [8]; and that "an exchange of fire could also be heard at the nearby al-Ghani field". Two days later, Reuters reported the militias were involved in the attack, as well as in the attack that followed two days later at al-Ghani field (see above, 20 March 2013).
   
4. 15 March 2013: Jalu (Gialo): 100 protesters from Jalu were protesting at Jalu 59, also belonging to Waha Oil, since the 11th of March 2013. They have blocked the entrance and prevented trucks from entering the oil field, which Reuters says its Waha source said have resulted in five drilling sites being affected and output being disrupted, and that two more sites will be affected if the protest goes on [6]. The news that Jalu 59 was closed as a result of the protests, LANA said, were denied by the Oil Minister Abdelbari Alarusi on the 16th of March 2013 [7].  Apparently the protesters were not happy with Waha Oil not "using locally hired vehicles and drivers at the field". Berber, Tebu and Arab locals from the rich zone have in the past complained about the state of poverty in which they still live, and about their communities being deprived of their share of the local resources channelled elsewhere.
   
5. 15 March 2013: Sirte:  a bomb was discovered along Gas Line Valve 17 - 375 kilometres (خط الغاز صمام 17 – 375 كيلو متر), located 60 km west of Sirte [5]. The bomb was successfully defused by a unit from Zawya's Martyrs Militia (part of the Libyan army), which later said an environmental, humanitarian and economic disaster would have cost the country billions had the bomb went off. Coming just over 10 days after the armed clashes at Mellitah Gas Complex, and 3 days before the attack on Dahra Oil Field, the government must do more than condemn such attacks, and make sure all gas and oil installations are 100% secured, if any lessons were learnt from In Aminas. There simply can be no excuse, whatsoever, for the authorities to leave such dangerous attacks take place.
   
6. 28 February 2013: Mellitah:  the incident at the Mellitah Gas Complex was reported as clashes between local militias competing for control over the gas complex, which is far from the truth. Solidarity Press says clashes broke out between forces from Zuwarah and "forces deviating from the law" from Zintan, and that the armed clashes broke out inside the gas complex itself before spreading to the outside [10]. The incident was in fact started by four people from the area of ​​Zintan, in Nafusa Mountain, miles away in Sabratha; where four Zintanis were involved in a shooting incident, before they fled towards Zuwarah, where they were met by a local man. They asked him to take them to the hospital, which he did; but upon arrival at the hospital, it became apparent to staff that one of them was "drunk" and troublesome. When the Directorate of National Security was informed, they discovered that the directorate had already issued an arrest warrant for the four Zintanis who were involved in an incident in Sabratha. When the four Zintani were arrested, the news reached Zintan (or other Zintanis nearby), who then demanded the release of the four Zintani offenders. When Zuwarah's security directorate refused to give in to their demands, Zintani armed men set up a fictitious check point outside Mellitah, on the following day, and took 8 hostages from Zuwarah, hoping to trade them for the four Zintanis wanted by the police. This is the account given by Zuwarah's Commander of the Eastern check point of Libya Shield, in a video interview [11]. He adds that the Ministries of Interior and Defence were informed and that the Zintani kidnappers were informed that they cannot trade hostages because the Zintani defendants were handed over to the Authorities. This apparently, he says, had angered the kidnappers, who turned up on the following day and began shooting at them right outside the complex and even began beaten civilians.
   
   According to another report, also on the following day, it was agreed in a meeting attended by Zuwarah's local council and GNC member, Zawya's GNC member, Sabratha's local council and a number of dignitaries from Serman and Zuwarah that a committee should meet with Zintani tribal leaders to mediate a peaceful solution to the problem. Zuwarah Media Centre [12] says the convoy was attacked by Zintanis before its meeting in Mellitah, and that after it became apparent that one fighter from Zuwarah was killed, Zuwarah's members decided to pull out of the delegation and let the rest of the group negotiate the same agreed conditions. These conditions are as follows: immediate ceasefire; eviction of all Zintani militias from Mellitah; exchange of hostages; and handing over of Mellitah to the Petroleum Facilities Guard.  However, according to Ossan [13] and other sources, Zuwarah's military force intervened to release the hostages, and that shooting broke out after a Zintani military force arrived to rescue the four Zintanis detained by Zuwarah's directorate of security, and began shooting indiscriminately including at civilians, killing Rawad Assanousi Alhasayri, from Zuwarah, and injuring 7 more people, 3 of whom were seriously wounded - one of whom died on the 16th of March 2013, named by Zuwarah Media Centre as Ala Aribi Abodieb [11].
   
   The gas complex was closed down for safety reasons, but work was resumed on the 3rd of March, after the Libyan army took temporary control of the complex [14]. It is not clear why the government and the Petroleum Facilities Guard are not protecting such important sites.
   
7. 22 December 2012: Zueitina:  protesters broke into Zueitina Oil Port and commanded the manager to shut down operations, as they demanded from the transitional leaders to provide them with "jobs" [3].
   
8. 13 November 2012: Sidra: staff at the Sidra Oil Terminal, of Waha Oil Company, went on strike, and threatened the central management in the capital Tripoli that they will stop all production and export unless their demands were met. One member of the port's trade union, Awed Bakori, told Solidarity Press that the demands are not "personal" but were "legitimate demands" affecting all employees, such as increasing the allowance for shifts (currently stands at about 10 dinars); complete their health insurance; reduction of working hours from 12 hours a day; fulfil all the promises made by the company in Tripoli; give some local powers to the company's representative at the port; reconsider car insurance for employees; improve transportation routes leading to the port; and re-activate procedures for "pension", which they say is given to foreign workers but not to them [4].
   
9. 05 July 2012: Ras Lanuf, Sidra and Brega:  armed Cyrenaicans shut down at least three major oil terminals, including Ras Lanuf, Sidra and Brega. The protesters said the strike will continue for 48 hours, unless the government responds to their demands, which include equal numbers at the General Assembly. The strike has reduced Libya's oil output by about 300,000 bpd.
   
   

References:

1. http://www.presssolidarity.net/مجلس-الوزراء-يمنح-جرحى-الثورة-مرتبا-ثا/
2. http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/03/05/damaged-gnc-building-vacated-by-squatting-amputees-finally/
3. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/26/libya-oil-port-idUSL5E8NQ3D320121226
4. http://www.presssolidarity.net/البكوري-سنوقف-الإنتاج-والتصدير-بمينا/
5. http://www.presssolidarity.net/عناصر-الجيش-تفكك-قنبلة-عن-خط-الغاز-صما/
6. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/18/libya-oil-waha-idUSL6N0CAE2620130318
7. http://www.lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/16927/وزيرالنفط_والغاز_في_الحكومة_المؤقتة_ينفي_الأنباء_التي_تناقلتها_بعض_الوسائل_الإعلامية_حول_إغلاق_حقل_جالو_59_للنفط
8. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/18/libya-oil-waha-idUSL6N0CAE2620130318
9. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/libya-oil-idUSL6N0CCJPF20130320
10. http://www.presssolidarity.net/هدوء-حذر-بعد-مُواجهات-مُسلحة-في-مُحيط-ش/
11. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=558123480878648&set=vb.100000430035906&type=2&theater 
12. https://www.facebook.com/notes/مركز-زوارة-الإعلامي-zuwara-media-center/مساعي-وقف-اطلاق-النار/486584658055844
13. http://ossanlibya.org/?p=32265#more-32265 
14. http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/03/03/enis-mellitah-gas-plant-reopens-after-temporary-closure/

Libyan Visa & Safety Update (13)

The spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Magdi al-Arafi, was reported to have announced that the land border with Egypt will be closed for all foreigners, except Egyptian nationals. Foreign nationals who have entry visa to Libya must now travel to Libya by air [1]. 

The Ministry of Interior was also reported to have decided on the 22nd of January 2013 that all foreign visitors to Libya now require Libyan entry visa, without exception, including Tunisian and Turkish nationals who previously did not require visa. [2]. All work applications submitted by Libyan companies will now have to be submitted to the Interior Ministry for approval and identification, as well as to determine if such workers are in actual terms "needed" in the country. 

The official website of the Ministry of Interior (http://moi.gov.ly/) does not seem to provide any news regarding this matter (as of the 27th of January 2013), and government officials are yet to confirm the reasons for the sudden decision.

It was reported however that the decision was intended to tighten security measures against organised trafficking in "human beings" and illegal cross-border "culture". New Quryna [3] has speculated the unconfirmed rumours that some "Syrians and Iranians" were implicated in spreading "Shia" in Libya, after undisclosed number of Syrian and Iranian nationals were arrested with fake passports. 

Coming just a few weeks before the February anniversary, the sudden decision may well come as a precaution to prepare for a peaceful celebration. Two days later, violence broke out in Egypt to celebrate the 25th of January revolution, which many Egyptians say has failed to deliver their hopes and expectations and even made the situation worse than before. With many Libyans feeling about the same, the precaution is necessary; but leaving the border open for Egyptian nationals may not necessarily prevent any of the aforementioned speculations.

Benghazi: two days later, on the 24th of January 2013, Germany Netherlands and England urged all their diplomats and nationals to leave Benghazi immediately. Reuters has said that the German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters that "The warning was made because of a series of bits of information", which he declined to reveal because "security is the most important thing" [4]. The stability of Libya and the security of the Libyans themselves begs for such "information" to be shared with the Libyan authority, and if transparency is on the table, with the whole world.

Devastated Libyan Interior Ministry was flabbergasted, to say the least, when it was reported by LANA to have not received any notification from the British Foreign Office (FCO); and its humble request for an "explanation" from the British Embassy was met with no answers [5]. The deputy interior minister for security affairs was also astonished by the allies' decision when he suggested the British could have withdrew their nationals discreetly, without creating such "unjustifiable" provocation [6]. 

According to Libya Herald, however, the British embassy felt it was not "an over-reaction" [3]; even though Air Malta was reported elsewhere to have cancelled its scheduled flights to Benghazi in response to the "advice" given by the British FCO. Regarding the sensitive bits of information, it was reported by Libya Herald, five days later (on the 27th of January 2013), that the British Ambassador Michael Aron has said that "the Libyan government . . . [has] the same information that we do”; and that “We understand that the majority in Libya and Benghazi are against terrorism" [9].

Italy has already withdrew its diplomatic staff from Benghazi last week, after its consul was reported to have been attacked but was unhurt. Spain on the other hand had advised its nationals in Algeria to be "vigilant" when venturing outdoors; with Australia urging its community not to fight in Syria neither for nor against the "Lion"; and with Japan closing its embassy in Mali.

Summary:

• Tourist visa still is suspended.
• Transit visa still is suspended.
• Business visa on arrival is now (said to be) available only from the embassy.
• Tripoli airport remains open to foreign nationals, with Benghazi airport remaining an optional risk, with the Libyan government stating that security measures are implemented in the city.
• Land border with Egypt is closed for all foreigners except Egyptian nationals.
• Unpredictable land border with Tunisia remained open only for Libyans and Tunisians (once proper documentation is provided), until the 27th of January 2013, when LANA [8] reported that the border is now open for travellers in both directions, once more.
• Southern borders are closed after declaring the region a military zone, with prime minister Zidan is out to blast outlaws exploiting Libya's fragile and unfolding tragedy.
• Security remains a (predictable) consequence, rather than an issue, ever since the presumed liberation was declared prematurely while homes were still being shelled.
• Road accidents are on the increase.
• Crime and corruption is sky rocketing, with shoulder rockets rather than with tiny pistols, with some branches, according to Libya Herald and others, rising by nearly 500%, such as theft and murder [7]; as well as financial corruption, officially blamed for admitted "lack of bureaucracy".
• The Libyan Sahara remains out of range, perhaps for a some time to come.
• The Libyan leaders however, and seemingly their foreign friends, remain unable to even draft a constitution, build a government, reinstate the army, form a police force, establish security, or even effect the illusive and all inclusive protection of civilians.

References:

http://www.lana-news.ly/Para/news/view/12055/وزارة_الداخلية_تصدر_تعميما_يقضي_بمنع_دخول_الأجانب_للأراضي_الليبية_عبر_منفذ_أمساعد_البري_وتستثني_حاملي_الجنسية_المصرية
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/23/major-visa-changes-planned-tunisians-turks-and-jordanians-will-be-affected/
http://www.qurynanew.com/48039
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-britain-benghazi-threat-idUSBRE90N0JM20130124
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/24/quit-benghazi-advice-is-overreaction/
http://www.presssolidarity.net/وكيل-وزارة-الداخلية-التحذير-البريطان/
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/09/murder-rate-up-500-in-two-years/
http://www.lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/12413/إعادة_افتتاح_المنفذ_الحدودي_رأس_اجدير_أمام_حركة_المسافرين_في_الاتجاهين
http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/01/27/british-ambassador-explains-decision-to-withdraw-from-benghazi/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/20/david-cameron-algerian-hostage-crisis

The Berber New Year 2963 Promises Constitutional Recognition

The Report of Libya al-Hurra TV (قناة ليبيا الحرة ) 

The forum was held on the 12th of January 2013, at the Rixos Hotel, Tripoli -- just one day before the unofficial Berber New Year (13 January 2963). The new year is celebrated as a public holiday by the Berbers of Libya, even though they still campaign for the event to be declared "official holiday". 

The constitutional forum was attended by a number of GNC members including Libya's acting president, Dr. Magarief, Berber GNC members, the deputy minister of culture, the president of the World Amazigh Congress, representatives from various political parties including the heads of the NFA and the Justice & Development party, representatives from a number of embassies, the European Union and the UN, Berberists from Egypt and Tunisia, and hundreds of Libyan Berbers and Arabs.

The Berber representative of the Berber-speaking areas in Libya has called for the establishment of "The Supreme Council for the Amazigh of Libya", to represent a united leadership which can assist the Berbers to achieve their goals. 

The Berbers have made it clear that they will never accept a constitution that does not include "justice", "equality" and "complete citizenship"; and that their constitutional rights are not subject to "voting" or "referendum", because they are legitimate rights for all Libyans regardless of "language" or "doctrine".

Dr. Magarief has, once more, demonstrated his wholehearted support for Tamazight ('Berber language') to be constitutionally recognised, and stressed that he "personally" believes there is a unanimous agreement among Libyans that the Imazighen and the Tebu together with the Arabs form a fundamental component of the Libyan society.

The Deputy Culture Minister, Awatef Atashani, has also expressed support for Tamazight to be recognised by the constitution, and stated that the Berbers' right is not only a political right but also a "legal", "cultural" and "historical" right. Hopefully the ministry's website will mention Libya's indigenous culture by "name", instead of the usual marginalisation displayed by most government and private institutions.

This without a doubt signals a historical step forward; and the fact that government representatives and international organisations had finally began to respond to the Berbers pleas to join the debate is a great victory the patient Berbers are proud to achieve.

To read more about Libyan constitutions, and for the five recommendations delivered by the president of Zuwarah's Local Council, Dr. Tariq Attoshi,  please see: http://www.temehu.com/constitutions.htm

Libyan Visa Update 12:

1: Visa:

(1.1): Tourist Visa:

The tourist visa is still suspended. Some Libyan companies are "talking" about the likelihood of the tourist visa being reinstated very soon, and although there is no official confirmation of the rumours, the Libyan minister of tourism, Ikram Imam, had revealed on the 5th of January 2013 that there will be an "adjustment" and a "simplification" of the visa and tourist procedures [1]. Let us all hope that the saga of the "Libya Visa" is simplified and adjusted to stay that way for good this time.

Upon her return to the capital, she further held a meeting with the departments of the tourism ministry from across Libya, on Monday the 7th of January 2013, to explore the means for them to commence implementing the "work plan", or the "strategy", proposed by the Tourism Ministry to the GNC.

The strategy apparently includes creating a "distinctive" tourist identity to put Libya on the map of international tourism, and to provide quality service according to the values and traditions of Libya [2]. According to Solidarity Press [3], there are 23 offices in Libya which are currently implementing the programs of the tourism ministry.

(1.2): Business Visa:

The expensive business visa is still available for those wishing to do business in Libya. However, it was reported that the number of business visas processed by the immigration authorities in Tripoli shortly after the suspension of tourist and transit visas shot up to 200 business visas per day. As a result the authorities have introduced strict procedures to process the business visa on arrival. By the end of 2012 it became apparent that the one-month business visa on arrival has been suspended, and now it is available only via Libyan embassies.

(1.3): Fake Visas:

History is abundant with examples of products and services banned by the law only to proliferate underground, where corruption, greed and absence of law empowers the emerging warlords. The member of Benghazi's Local Council, Tareq Bouzriba, told Solidarity Press that the problem starts at the Libyan embassies, especially those in Egypt, Tunisia and Chad. By refusing the visa application the embassies force workers to pay 6,000 pounds for the visa elsewhere, instead of the 50 Egyptian pounds they need to pay the embassy [6].

The illegal network appears to involve flying out blank visas from Libya to be sold where others are ready to pay. In one of the recent incidents the Egyptian authorities arrested a Libyan passenger at Cairo Airport after arriving with 492 blank visas [7]. Another group, reported on the 26th of December 2012 to have been arrested by the Supreme Security Committee (SSC), appears to have made a copy of the official "plate seal" and also copies of the stamps used to approve Libyan visa approvals [8]. On the 24th of October 2012 three Libyans were arrested with 684 fake passports in Bangladesh [9]. Three African women were arrested in Tripoli on the 3rd of January 2013 for possessing a fake Ministry of Health "stamp", used to issue forged "health certificates", required by immigrants in order to enter Libya [10]. And on the 8th of January 2013, LANA reported that an armed group attacked the "Work & Training Bureau" in Ejmeil and stole the official stamp of the bureau, after intimidating staff [21].

2: Land Borders:

The land borders of Libya have been hit with "frequent closures" and the occasional "trouble" ever since liberation day. Each "closure" seems to have a different reason including transporting vehicles across both borders without any documentation; transportation of humans without ID's or passports; clashes over personal and social matters; and trafficking in alcohol, narcotics, petrol and weapons as well as in outdated and poisoned food. In conclusion, it is impossible to predict what will happen next, or when the borders will re-turn to their pre-war state.

(2.1): Western Borders: Ras Ejdir:

The Ras Ejdir border has been through quite a number of closures in the past 14 months, the last of which has ended on the 10th of December 2012, when the border was reopened once more. The border was closed again on the 13th of December 2012, only to be partially re-opened on the 15th of December 2012.  After his meeting with the Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali, on Monday the 7th of January 2013, the Libyan Prime Minister Dr. Ali Zidan had ordered the border to be fully re-opened. The earlier partial closure was applicable only to lorry and truck drivers. However, according to Radio Tataouine [20], violence continues in Bengerdan - a Tunisian village close to the Libyan border, for the third day running, and that the border is still closed as of the 8th of January 2013 despite the aforementioned decision to re-open the border by the Libyan PM.

(2.2): Eastern Borders: Musaid:

The situation at the other end of the coastal highway is not much different. On the 17th of December 2012 the Egyptian government closed its border with Libya after a confrontation between locals and Egyptian police. Seven people were injured in this latest incident. The reason, apparently, is the same as the reason causing the trouble at Ras Ejdir border with Tunisia, namely the refusal to pay the custom duties required from cross-border traders. The traders were reported to have attacked the Egyptian police with stones, leading to the latter retaliating with tear gas [14]. Attacks on Libyan drivers inside the Egyptian border were also reported a number of times. The Libyan border point itself came under attack several times including being shot-at by "arms" criminals and "human" traffickers. 

(2.3): Southern Borders: Fezzan:

The transitional government had declared south Libya a "military zone" and temporarily closed its borders with Sudan, Niger, Chad and Algeria. By the 19th of December 2012, Libyan Air Force was already combing the border areas, ready to execute the order given by the Prime Minister's government to "blast" outlaws.   

3: Safety: 

Still without a constitution and without an elected president, an effective army or a police force, the situation remains "fluid" and "unpredictable". It has now been more than fourteen months since the presumed liberation of Libya and yet there is no sign of law or order taking place; just a glimpse of  the promised prosperity and the illusive peace. 

Just the usual "leaders" and the "people" blaming each other for their mistakes, and for the chaos, violence, and corruption, flourishing before their eyes while suspended in a state which the Libyans call الإنفلات الأمنى ('total-failure & collapse of security').

No doubt, progress was (being) made, but the slightly improved security in Tripoli, the seat of all 'decisions' and power, has witnessed an increase in violence in Cyrenaica -- the region seemingly being punished for attempting to share power with the capital; while Fezzan has been declared a "military zone" by the leaders of "liberated" Tripoli in December 2012, when at last the transitional prime minister gave the stark warning to "blast" outlaws taking advantage of Libya's tragedy along the southern borders [18].

To read the full Libyan visa update 12, please see http://www.temehu.com/news-Libya.htm


References:

[01]: http://www.presssolidarity.net/باشا-إمام-تعقد-اجتماعا-مع-أصحاب-الشركا/
[02]: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.470429562993101.97717.413549328681125&type=1
[03]: http://www.presssolidarity.net/باشا-إمام-تجتمع-بمديري-المكاتب-السياح/
[06]: http://www.presssolidarity.net/بوزريبة-مشاكل-العمالة-في-ليبيا-تبدءا-م/
[07]: http://www.presssolidarity.net/ضبط-راكب-ليبي-بحوزته-492-تأشيرة-دخول-ليبي//
[08]: http://www.libyaherald.com/2012/12/26/ssc-arrests-passport-counterfeiters/
[09]: http://www.libyaherald.com/2012/10/24/three-libyans-arrested-in-dhaka-with-684-fake-passports/
[10]: http://www.presssolidarity.net/إدارة-الهجرة-تقبض-على-افريقيات-يقمن-بت/
[14]: http://www.presssolidarity.net/السلطات-المصرية-توقف-عمل-منفذ-السلوم/
[16]: http://www.libyaherald.com/2012/11/22/tripoli-no-more-dangerous-than-tunis-says-danish-government-minister/
[17]: (http://www.libyaherald.com/2
[18]: https://www.youtube.com/v/7ghPXUpxOkk?hl=en_GB&version=3&rel=0"
[20]: http://www1.radiotunisienne.tn/tataouine/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8172:2013-01-08-19-05-16&catid=190:2012-07-26-08-24-50
[21]: http://www.lana-news.ly/ara/news/view/10735/العاملون_بمكتب_العمل_والتأهيل_بمدينة_الجميل_يعلقون_العمل_حتى_اشعار_أخر_بعد_قيام_مجموعة_مسلحة_بالهجوم_عليهم