Libya Speaks- 1st Election day 07.07.2012
07.07.2012
Campaigning in Buslim, one of the poorest areas in Tripoli, Myriam(pictured with pink head scarf) travels round with her campaign posters in one of the the last areas in Tripoli to fall. Buslim, in the shadows, is still largely seen as pro-Gaddaffi. The occasional green flag can be viewed flashing from a tower block, although no one will claim it, and the youth flirt with wearing the colour green as an expression of their alliance.
Myriam Al Tayab lives in Buslim, she is running as a female candidate for the area in the forth coming elections. Myriams family are split, with half her family with the revolution and the other half, having seen no visible change, are still nostalgic, clinging to the ghost that remains of ‘The Brother Leader’.
During the revolution Myriam, whilst 7months pregnant, went to fight against Gaddafi loyalists in Bani Walid, AK47 in hand alongside her devoted husband. Some would call it strength and admire her courage, others label her crazy and wonder about the psychological damage to her child.
But Myriam undeniably has spirit, and buckets of it. When campaigning in Buslim, she did not try to change peoples alliance to Gaddafi, in Free Libya she feels they should be able to have a choice. Instead she explained they would see the change in their own standard of living and from there they will change their own minds. “I will not promise you gold, swimming pools and cash handouts, but I will help improve your standards of living with clean streets, better education for your children, running water and electricity, simple things, essential things. Then you will see with your own eyes how Gaddaffi neglected you”
She also spoke about justice with a fair judicial system and ideals of reconciliation for those on the margins of society and ostracised in Free Libya. One mother( pictured above) expressed how her husband had been taken by a militia, claiming without any reason, and now she has to feed seven children without an income. A familiar story in post revolutionary Libya where everyone’s alliance is questioned and a poisonous paranoia prevails.
Many in this area are choosing to abstain from voting as their protest, this a new freedom in itself, the freedom of choice, something they would not have experienced under the old regime. Myriam has a tough task on her hands in convincing people to give her their vote and is already feeling the repercussions of her efforts.
Many of her posters have been violently defaced, slashes across her eyes, her childs face painted black and one week before the elections her parents home was attacked with a rocket propelled grenade (pictured above), luckily no one was hurt, but this reiterates the risk she takes to participate in this process of democrazisation.
The likely hood of Myriam gaining a seat is slim. Not only because she is running in an area such as Buslim, but that she is a women and an independent, without the weight and security of a party. None the less she is persistent, campaigning everyday. But ultimately she leaves the choice to fate, or rather Allah. ” I am not worried, I am doing my part for my country, and it is in the hands of God as to whether I win, the choice is not mine, I just have to do my part”. Myriam’s charm and spirit is contagious and she is touching on an issue that needs much attention and is becoming one of those buzz words being thrown around: Reconciliation. The difference is, she is out their in the street taking action, rather than just sitting in 5 star hotels talking about it.
16 years ago 1,300 prisoners were shot dead for demanding fair trials. On the first public anniversary of the Abu Salim massacre many families travelled to pay tribute to there loved ones lost.
The protest for the lawyer for their case in Benghazi on the 15th February 2011 was the catalyst for the Feb 17th Revolution, without which we would not be heading towards elections this week. It was an incredibly emotional day.
Boxing in the Shadows.
Under the Gadaffi regime boxing was banned for being too brutal, the very same regime that hung people on national TV.
Since the revolution training clubs are coming out of the dark. Tripoli now has 11 clubs and Benghazi has 9. It is a wonderful way for the youth to channel and focus their energies at these uncertain times.
Horsemen from Misrata train in Martyrs Square today, complete with rains in the colour of the new (old) flag.
Tripoli, Libya.
‘Voice for Her’ Campaign
Hundreds of female candidates of the first elections ever to take place in Libya came together from all over the country on Monday for a historical day celebrating the role of women in Libya, before, during and now, after the revolution.
It was the first event of the Voice for Her Campaign, which supports over 600 female candidates running with parties or as individuals. The scheme was initiated by The Libyan Womens Union and supported by the UNDP.
A shiver ran down my spine as the female candidates gathered together on the steps of the Radison Hotel for an impromptu rendition of the new (old) national anthem before the conference commenced. These women were dressed for the occasion and the conference hall was a sea of multicoloured headscarfs, jewels and kohl. The energy in the room was contagious, with this many strong and often outspoken women in the room, I knew Libya would be in safe hands.
Women and the youth in Libya combined make up 75% of the population. I met so many wonderful characters, but when I discovered one of the youngest candidates, old beyond her years, who was also pregnant, was 25years old, I was hopeful that the bridge between the youth and those currently running the country will be repaired. No more ‘brother leader’ or ‘father leader’, now is time to make way for a more maternal Libya. Libyan interim prime minister, Abdurrahim El-Keib (pictured above), dropped by for an unannounced visit, causing quite a frenzy amongst the press.
Those elected in the elections on July 7th will take the country into its next phase of the process and be responsible for writing the constitution.
لحركة العامة للكشافة والمرشداتا
Scouts in Libya? Who would have known!
The Public Scouts and Girl guide movement was established pre-Gadafi in 1954 and currently has over 20,000 members. It was one of the only independent organisations to withstand the bans on non governmental organisations under the Gaddafi regime due to its neutral stance, and the fact that Gaddafi was once a scout himself. However during the revolution the scouts provided much support for the freedom fighters on the front lines all over Libya.
On Friday, at the Scout Theatre in Tripoli, they held a day for ‘training the trainers’. Scout leaders from all over Libya learnt about the electoral and voting procedure in the forthcoming Libyan Elections.
Election Campaign posters and billboards for parties in central Tripoli this evening.
Some more aesthetically pleasing than others, luckily we are voting for their policies rather than their graphic designers.
The billboards themselves have gone through their own transitional period. Initially plastered with the face of the ‘brother leader’, then the Martyrs of February 17th, and now election campaigns. It was an uplifting sight to see on my walk home. Yes, shock horror, I walked on my own in Tripoli.
The old city is one of my favourite places in Tripoli. To find yourself lost in a timeless labyrinth of winding alleyways, vine draped houses and a pandora’s box full of characters, is my idea of an afternoon well spent.
Whilst there I decided to return to the area where I last met the ‘rubbish boys’ who lived amongst the mounting rubbish piled high within the walls of the Medina. We took tea and spoke of many things, but avoided the ‘elephant in the room’, the steaming tip on their doorstep. The situation hadn’t changed and it reflects a microcosm of a bigger problem that Libya is now facing with regards to environmental issues and refuse.
This weekend I will join the growing NGO Cleanup Tripoli, an initiative started by a group of young active Libyans to make Tripoli a cleaner and safer place. I spoke with one of their members who voiced their frustration at cleaning one day and seeing people throwing their litter and rubbish in that very same place the next day.
The authorities need to take note of these youth groups, and implement not only a clean up on a large scale, but sustainable and long lasting solutions, including an awareness campaign to change peoples mentality towards littering.
Libya this year took part in ‘earth hour’ for the first time, a symbol that after a 42 year void, its environmental conscience is developing.
But whilst Libyan authorities have many issues to deal with in the coming weeks, months, years even, you can understand how issues like this may slip down on the nations ‘to do list’. But if its not addressed now, it could have mass repercussions in the future.
Friday night picnicking in the park. I love the family spirit here, something that lacks a little in English society, but thats just my opinion ;)
Tripoli, Libya.
Libyans came together in Algeria Square in Tripoli on Friday, in protest, to ask the Libyan authorities to review the arrest, abduction and torture of neurosurgeon Dr Hisham Anour Ben Khayal.
View full article and video here:
Back in Libya, on a one way ticket, and I have consumed more tea than a British builder working on the olympic site. Libyans are fantastic hosts and drinking tea or coffee is a national hobby. Its coming out my ears, at least I hope thats what that is.
With the many bombs and attacks at the US consulate, British Embassy convoy, the RED Crescent and the UN, and Tripoli airport in the last week alone, during this time of ‘instability’ before the elections, you would think now, more than ever, is a time for ‘Tea and Sympathy’. However the Libyan psyche is stronger than that. Whilst they admit the country is in chaos, and what country wouldn’t be after 42 years of totalitarianism and over 7 months of war, they are not letting the extremist minorities overshadow the hope amongst the chaos that Libya is now experiencing.
Whilst taking chai this evening (everything topical or political discussed seems to happen over chai or Quhwa) my grandma tutted and gesticulated, in that Mediterranean talking with the hands way, her annoyance at the recent attacks that have taken place. “We won’t let them ruin OUR Libya, they will have to calm down or leave” in that singing Old Tripoli accent. If only it was as simple as that Hani, but she has a point, it makes me think if grandma’s replaced the NTC perhaps Libya would have more of a fighting chance.
All the way from Souk al Juma: possibly the longest flag in the world?
A proud day to be from that district
Libya Feb2011
NazihaArebi:photos
