The Libyan rage

The fighting in Sirte is uncalled for. Though the aim of the rebels and especially that of the National Transitional Council is to ensure that the last of the fiefdom of Muammar Gaddafi is won, the exercise of warfare is costing the Libyans dearly.

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Published: Mon 26 Sep 2011, 9:07 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 7:03 PM

It is now a well-admitted fact that Gaddafi is history and Tripoli has fallen. What more international acknowledgement there could be from the fact that the interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril addressed the United Nations General Assembly and officially called on member states to unlock the country’s frozen assets. Thus any adventure to push the war-torn country into a renewed phase of militarism is unwarranted. What impact will it make on the political horizon and governance business if a few pockets of the landmass are still under the influence or control of rebels? Certainly, not much!

At the same time one has to keep in mind that the North African country is a heterogeneous tribal society and it would be naïve to believe that all and sundry would play flute to a singular political tune. On the other hand, while there are no reports of any popular resistance or attack on sensitive installations from the Gaddafi loyalists, opening up new fronts by gatecrashing in pro-ex regime sympathisers would be seen as political victimisation and an extension of warlordism.

In the same vein, the continuation of air raids from NATO is quite disturbing. One is at a fail to understand what distinction have the allied forces made when they knock out installation from, say 30,000 metres, high in the sky or sitting in cozy monitoring rooms offshore. This has literally come as a disaster to be shamefully dubbed as collateral damage of human lives and assets. At this point of time, as Libya is no more in a straight-jacket warfare business, the French and British war gear is highly advised to desist from testing the patience of the nation. All that the uprooted Libyans demand after six months of upheaval and four decades of dictatorship is nation building and development. It is here that the interim government and the international actors should come into action and rebuild a democratic and pluralistic Libya. Witch-hunting and that too in the tribal terrain for people who idolise Gaddafi for reasons of culture and personal affection is a silly business in the seriousness of good governance.


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