Despite tensions that built up before the Friday preceding Libya’s second anniversary of the beginning of the revolution that toppled Mummar Gaddafi, the day passed without violence. The government took some precautionary measures to ease any possible friction.
A GNC delegation, headed by its Chairman Mohammed Magariaf and Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, went to Benghazi and met with civil society organizations and the federal forces on February 8-9, barely a week prior to planned demonstrations.
Despite tensions that built up before the Friday preceding Libya’s second anniversary of the beginning of the revolution that toppled Mummar Gaddafi, the day passed without violence. The government took some precautionary measures to ease any possible friction.
A GNC delegation, headed by its Chairman Mohammed Magariaf and Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, went to Benghazi and met with civil society organizations and the federal forces on February 8-9, barely a week prior to planned demonstrations.
The meeting resulted in promises to meet the demands, assuring their legitimacy, guaranteeing the right to peaceful protest, and warning of vandalism. Magariaf used the federalist name “Cyrenaica” during the meeting to reduce tension among the attendees.
After listening to organizers, Magariaf said he agreed with them, but he had reservations on some “terms”, stressing that he had wanted to visit the city a while earlier: “I wanted to meet with you and listen to you long ago and in better circumstances, but it was not possible because I was busy.”
Federalists withdraw
Hours prior to the expected movement, the federal forces announced their withdrawal from the February 15 event, granting the government and GNC a respite until the end of March, a move that was welcomed by those who feared this day and considered it a patriotic step in the right direction. Observers however, described it as “tactical” and early withdrawal to avoid any vandalism by any party that might have blamed the federal forces.
The federalists considered their meeting and negotiation with GNC as a recognition by GNC that they are a large and important current, especially after Zeidan had said, “The federalist sound has faded.” They attributed this fading to wresting the approval of their first and most important demand, the GNC decision to “elect the Constitution Constituent Committee.”
Adopting the ideologies of federalist forces, writer Alaa Dirssi described the government’s step as “mature” and preceding that of those “stationed in the capital”, because it was necessary to “distant themselves in a day full of suspicion and mistrust.”
The statement made by the federalist forces on Ro’ya TV Channel, which belongs to them, “has had many political proportions,” according to Essam Jehani, a leader of the federalist forces, who explained that “The call was tough, and therefore was not taken in a hasty manner but it took some time to be crystallized. After deliberations and discussions with some national and political figures, the statement decision was made in consensus in a democratic way by voting, which made us be reassured of its implementation.”
Armed children
Security preoccupation and fear that prevailed before February 15, especially after some of the former regime-supporting pages announced through social networking websites, like Facebook and Twitter, their intention to carry out vandalism and target security forces on that day; which, prompted the government to announce a tight security plan that was evident in streets. There was an extensive presence of Libya’s Shield brigades belonging to the army and also security committees were deployed at crossroads.
In the Sabiri area, north of Benghazi, there was even a security point managed by about seven children aged 12-14, carrying light firearms. Furthermore, activists also talked, via social networking websites, about security points managed by children in the capital, Tripoli, as well as in the city of Zliten, east of Tripoli.
Activist Timor Abdulaziz, from Benghazi, said this phenomenon “is very negative,” stressing that it was the first time he witnessed this “disaster” from the outset of the revolution and demanding the punishment of those responsible. “Those who have made children stand in security points and take up arms in Tripoli should be investigated,” he said, adding that he had seen children at more than one point.
However, neither the Ministry of Interior nor the local authorities made any relevant statement with regard to the armed children.
Celebrations and protests
On the evening of February 15, despite the withdrawal of many federalist organizations and forces that had called for protest, Tahrir Square, in Benghazi experienced protests on that day. Thousands demonstrated and cried out slogans summarizing their demands, most importantly dismissing the Chief of Staff, Yousef Mangoush, unifying the ranks and discarding differences and divisions created by ideologies and political parties.
Protesters also shouted against GNC Chairman Mohammed Magariaf and Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, demanding “the return of the extorted institutions,” which were transferred from the city to Tripoli after the September 1969 coup. As for the political isolation demand, however, there were supporting and opposing slogans. Liberals, Islamists and some public figures participated in the demonstration.
Away from the square
At the end of Friday sermons, hundreds of people in various areas of Benghazi, under a sky colored with fireworks, drove their cars decorated with the national flag through the streets to celebrate.
“The end of Gaddafi’s rule is the best thing that has ever happened and the rest of the revolution’s goals will be realized successively,” said a woman in attendance. She criticized those who wanted to “spoil the celebration.”
