Al-Sarraj militias shoot bullets, Tripoli demonstrates despite the ban
The demonstrators, who moved in large numbers from the heart of the Martyrs Square in Tripoli, arrived at the Cabinet headquarters on Sikka Road, while numbers of them gathered in front of Al-Sarraj’s house in the Al-Nofleen area, amid tight security in front of the house.
Yesterday evening, Wednesday, for the fourth consecutive day in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, demonstrations began against the government of Fayez al-Sarraj, demanding its departure, despite the curfew imposed by the authorities for a period of 4 days, starting from 6 p.m. yesterday, and the demonstrations extended to reach al-Sarraj’s home, while the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord described The protests were “riots” and he pledged to resolve them, while the Libyan Bar Association condemned the attack on the right to peaceful protest in Tripoli.
In a remarkable development that may upset the balance of the equation, a number of members of the Sarraj government defense ministry joined the ranks of the demonstrators who advanced in military uniform to the headquarters of the Sarraj government.
The gunmen demanded that the police not to attack the demonstrators, but the police prevented them from moving forward.
Sources among the protesters say that only a few out of about two thousand armed Sarraj forces appeared in the square, and everyone is ready to join the August 23 movement, and they went to the squares without weapons to deliver a message to Sarraj about the need to respond to the people’s demands.
This comes after the Libyan people revealed the failed plan to kidnap peaceful demonstrations. The terrorist organizations (the Brotherhood and the Libyan Fighting Group) pushed their members yesterday, Tuesday, in parallel demonstrations to circumvent the true demands of the demonstrators. Chases took place between the two sides that ended with the expulsion of the “Brotherhood” despite the launch of Militia bullets and wounding some protesters.
More than 50 activists have disappeared
For its part, the Libyan Bar Association condemned the attack on the right to peaceful protest in Tripoli.
She stressed that she would not remain silent on the attacks on protesters, warning against an attempt to terrorize peaceful demonstrators.
Yesterday, Libyan human rights sources confirmed the disappearance of more than 50 activists participating in the Tripoli demonstrations.
The sources, who preferred not to be named because of the seriousness of the situation in Tripoli, confirmed that elements of the Interior and Dafa al-Sarraj carried out a widespread campaign of random arrests against peaceful protesters in Tripoli.
The gathering of wise men and notables in the western region “the coast and the south”, the central region, and Greater Tripoli demanded the Presidential Council during a meeting held in the city of Gemayel yesterday, Tuesday, to lift the suffering of citizens and provide them with the requirements of daily life.
The Interior of Tripoli imposes conditions
And the Interior of the Government of National Accord announced in a statement yesterday that it will take all necessary measures regarding any gatherings that do not comply with the legal conditions for demonstrations, according to the law regulating the right to demonstrate.
It also called on the committees responsible for the protests to go to the relevant security directorates to obtain the necessary permissions to demonstrate, so that the security authorities can protect the demonstrators.
It claimed that the demonstrations had deviated from their peacefulness and that it was a crime to “encroach” on the protesters’ home.
The head of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Sarraj, held an expanded security meeting yesterday.
The media office of the council stated that during the meeting, the security situation in all regions was discussed, and what the council described as the “riots” that occurred in the capital, Tripoli, and knowledge of all its dimensions, and the implementation of security control measures and ensuring the safety of citizens, in addition to discussing the implications of the spread of the Corona pandemic, Emphasizing the need for full and strict implementation of the recommendations of the specialized medical committees.
Williams calls for a rally around the homeland
On the other hand, activists from various parts of Libya stressed the need to combat corruption sponsored by the Government of National Accord, which deprives them of their most basic rights, during a hypothetical meeting with the acting UN envoy to Libya, Stephanie Williams.
Activists also stressed, during the meeting, the right of civilians to demonstrate peacefully without being killed. For her part, Williams called on representatives of civil society and Libyan youth groups to rally around the homeland, and give priority to national interests and the principles of good governance.
The Special Representative also welcomed the activists’ statement on 18 August, in which they confirmed their support for the launch of the international review of the two branches of the Libyan Central Bank in Tripoli and Al-Bayda.
