"We’re not going to tolerate this nonsense any more" - Hundreds of protesters force Libyan militias
18 replies, posted
[img]http://imgkk.com/i/0bji.jpg[/img]
[url]http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/05/10/protestors-force-out-ministry-militiamen/[/url]
[quote]Militiamen who have been besieging the Foreign Ministry this evening fled when hundreds of pro-democracy supporters arrived at the building to demonstrate their support for the government.
Around 200 demonstrators had marched from Algeria Square along the Corniche to the Ministry but were quickly joined by others along the way, overwhelming the couple of dozen or so militiamen who were still mounting their siege outside the Ministry buildings.
Earlier in Algeria Square, around 400 anti-militia protesters brought traffic to a halt. Placards read: “With our blood we will defence the legitimacy of the government”, “No to bringing down the government with arms” and “Get rid of the guns in your hands and start building Libya”.
Over at the Ministry, numbers grew to around 800. There, the cries of opposition to gun-law continued, again interspersed with calls against Qatar as well as demands that Chief of Staff Yousef Mangoush be dismissed. Many held him responsible for the actions of the militiamen, some saying that he had proved incapable of stopping them, others saying that he was complicit in fomenting them. Many others accused either the Muslim Brotherhood or Salafists of being behind the sieges and the attempt to bring down the government by force.
Shortly after the demonstration was largely over, several pro-militia supporters moved into the area, chanting “No to Azlam (a reference to those whom they say supported Qaddafi). One pushed a journalist out the way and then grabbed a demonstrator’s sign and tore it up. Another shouted to a woman protestor: “What are you doing here? Go home, you whore!”[/quote]
For anyone who hasn't been following: Militias shut down several government ministries [url=http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1267013]about two weeks ago[/url] demanding a law which would ban senior ex-Gaddafi officials from public office. [url=http://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1268490]It was passed[/url], but some of the militias stayed in place and said they also wanted the Prime Minister to resign. At this point everyone, [url=http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/05/08/zeidan-gets-backing-from/]including other militias[/url] started to request that they go fuck themselves with a rake, and I was expecting something like this to happen since Friday seems to be the standard day for mass protests in the Arab world.
The reason the militias were able to pull this shit is that the government [url=http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/05/08/i-will-not-use-force-zeidan/]refuses to use force[/url] against demonstrators even if they're complete fuckwads.
Libya is awesome, and I have no doubt that it will become a great country to live in
Libya: saying fuck you to extremists since 2012
[QUOTE=OrionChronicles;40602419]Libya: saying fuck you to extremists since 2012[/QUOTE]
2011, I think, actually.
As much as I feel that these militias should have no future in Libya, I can't help but see the Libyan government's reluctance to use force against them as a positive sign for Libya's future. As opposed to some of the actions taken by the Egyptian government.
ho man this is awesome
another step forward for libya
If only Egypt turned out that way too
[QUOTE=proch;40603142]If only Egypt turned out that way too[/QUOTE]
Funny how that goes. Shitty, bloody armed revolution -> Good country. Peaceful, popular revolution -> Shit country.
[QUOTE=Riller;40603156]Funny how that goes. Shitty, bloody armed revolution -> Good country. Peaceful, popular revolution -> Shit country.[/QUOTE]The more you lost to get something, the less you will want to give it up.
[QUOTE=Lizzrd;40603236]The more you lost to get something, the less you will want to give it up.[/QUOTE]
But... Armed revolutions tend to make shitty countries. Just look at France.
[QUOTE=Lizzrd;40603236]The more you lost to get something, the less you will want to give it up.[/QUOTE]
Egypt didn't really "give it up" so much as they misplaced their trust very badly.
My favourite part is that even people opposed to the Prime Minister showed up
[quote]“I don’t like Zeidan”, said a protestor, “but he was appointed by a democratically-elected Congress. We must support him”.
Others agreed. “I don’t want him removed this way”, said one of them. “It must be Congress that decides.”[/quote]
[QUOTE=Riller;40603156]Funny how that goes. Shitty, bloody armed revolution -> Good country. Peaceful, popular revolution -> Shit country.[/QUOTE]
I have a feeling Syria won't turn out that way.
[QUOTE=Riller;40603156]Funny how that goes. Shitty, bloody armed revolution -> Good country. Peaceful, popular revolution -> Shit country.[/QUOTE]
It also depends on the country.
Syrian rebels are a bunch of dickwads, so even if their revolution was bloody, the rebels in charge won't be great either.
There was also [url=http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/05/10/benghazi-protestors-support-government-condemn-qatar/?utm_source=feedly]a large protest[/url] in Benghazi with largely the same themes
[t]http://imgkk.com/i/rr49.jpg[/t]
Let's see if these bastards can do 90
[QUOTE=Riller;40603316]But... Armed revolutions tend to make shitty countries. Just look at France.[/QUOTE]
You have to do the revolution right. If it's indiscriminate, uncontrolled violence fueled by emotion, you're going to have a hard time building a stable country afterwards. If you have a well disciplined, rational opposition with minimal infighting and collateral damage, you're looking at a higher success rate.
"Revolution, like Saturn, devours its own children" comes to mind
Every time I read a story about Libya it makes me love them even more.
I have great hope for this country's future.
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