Libya Bravely Fights Gadhafi In Quest For Freedom-Deaths Over 200, As Security Forces Fight Back
Posted: Sunday, February 20, 2011
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
CAIRO – Libyan, February 20, 2011. Just minutes ago, it was reported by Associated Press that Security Forces opened fire on mourners at a funeral for anti-government protesters in Benghazi. Just yesterday, commandos and foreign mercenaries, who are loyal to leader, Moammar Gadhafi attached demonstrators with rifles, knives and other heavy weaponry. One doctor at a city hospital counted 200 dead in his morgue alone since unrest began six days ago.
Two days ago, demonstrators are staying in contact through the social media. They had previously stated that they are controlling parts of Libya’s second city, Benghazi. Also through social network, it was reported demonstrators had manged to prevent government planes bringing reinforcements from landing at the airport.
Right now, the country is closed to western journalists (as was told on social media).
"The response of the people and the Revolutionary Forces to any adventure by these small groups will be sharp and violent," a statement from the Revolutionary Committees, the Gaddafi loyalists who notionally run the country, said on the website of a state newspaper, Green March.
This is a brief history of Libya provided by Infoplease.com: On Sept. 1, 1969, 27-year-old Col. Muammar al-Qaddafi deposed the king and revolutionized the country, making it a pro-Arabic, anti-Western, Islamic republic with socialist leanings. It was also rabidly anti-Israeli. A notorious firebrand, Qaddafi aligned himself with dictators, such as Uganda's Idi Amin, and fostered anti-Western terrorism.
Read more: Libya: History, Geography, Government, and Culture — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107722.html?pageno=2#ixzz1EVRDCFvX
Gerard K. O'Neill, 2081 gave this quote, which I believe is appropriate for now:
Here is my advice as we begin the century that will lead to 2081. First, guard the freedom of ideas at all costs. Be alert that dictators have always played on the natural human tendency to blame others and to oversimplify. And don't regard yourself as a guardian of freedom unless you respect and preserve the rights of people you disagree with to free, public, unhampered expression.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)The turn of events have been very interesting with all the other countries following suit after Egypt's revolution. I pray Libya sees the light soon and peace and democracy restores all over middle-east.
It's too awful for words, Fran, the price some people have to pay to free themselves - or so that others can be free. I think Gaddafi will be overthrown, but at such a cost to so many.
Excellent report Ms. Larson. Thanks to the WWW their seems to be a yearning for freedom from tyranny across the globe that the old guard is finding hard to ignore, much less resist. Peace.
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