Tripoli- Tomorrow, Friday, will be the 12th anniversary of the February 17, 2011 revolution, which put an end to a totalitarian regime that lasted 42 years, despite some achievements that cannot be overlooked, such as the evacuation of foreign forces and bases, the remnants of fascist Italians, the nationalization of oil, and the implementation of the river project. However, it was dominated by long years of suppressing freedoms, hanging university students, persecuting opponents , and confrontations with the inside and outside that did not produce any results except for long years of blockade, disruption of development, the collapse of basic sectors such as education and health, and the destruction of infrastructure, not to mention absurd wars. Libya continues to pay a heavy price for it till today.
This memory comes amid the continuing struggle for power, influence, and political division. However, the Libyan people, who evoke the honorable struggle of the fathers and grandfathers against the hordes of hateful colonialism, are today, stronger in the east, south and west, to adhere to their freedom and the establishment of a civil state, the rule of law and institutions, with peaceful transfer of power, building a new unified Libya.
The critical situation that Libya is experiencing today is not only due to the frantic struggle for power between the parties, it seems that preserving Libya’s independence and preserving its sovereignty is not a priority for them, but also to the negative external interference in the Libyan affairs from global and regional powers and from some neighboring countries that do not care about the blood bill, as far as it is concerned with achieving its interests in plundering Libya’s wealth and resources, and exploiting its strategic location in the middle of the Arab world, in the heart of the African continent, and on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
The battles for freedom, independence, and the establishment of a culture of democracy are not easy battles. Rather, they are a long path of struggle that requires patience and great sacrifices. The Libyan people recently demonstrated that they can be patient, but their patience has limits and red linesm, which is the unity of Libya, its people, and its sovereignty, on all its soil, airspace, regional and economic waters, and harnessing its wealth for the benefit of the Libyan people, their welfare and dignity.
The Libyan people, while commemorating the February Revolution, are pinning great hopes on the national awakening and love for Libya, and they have not lost hope in the brightness of the light and the rise of their people to get out of the bottleneck and the state of political stalemate. Perhaps among the positive indicators are the national reconciliation efforts and the results of the joint military committee meetings (5 + 5) which today sends a glimmer of hope that the Libyan people must support and stand strong behind to expel the mercenaries and foreign fighters who have desecrated Libyan soil and hold those involved in the lawlessness of Libya and its land accountable, and fully restore the rights on the land, air and water without any decrease.
There is no doubt that the revolution of February 17th is a historical moment marked with blood in the contemporary history of Libya, and one must reflect on it and the sacrifices that accompanied it, and also reflect on those who jumped on it and on these sacrifices, and call on them to stop this absurdity so that the Libyan people can start building their present and future seeking the best.
Source: Libyan News Agency