We Are All Libya

[MedleyMisty]

Who are we helping? Who are we supporting?

This is who. This is the Libyan Interim National Council's vision for the future of their country.

http://ntclibya.org/english/libya/

The interim national council hereby presents its vision for rebuilding the democratic state of Libya. This vision responds to the needs and aspirations of our people, while incorporating the historical changes brought about by the 17 February revolution.

We have learnt from the struggles of our past during the dark days of dictatorship that there is no alternative to building a free and democratic society and ensuring the supremacy of international humanitarian law and human rights declarations. This can only be achieved through dialogue, tolerance, co-operation, national cohesiveness and the active participation of all citizens. As we are familiar with being ruled by the authoritarian dictatorship of one man, the political authority that we seek must represent the free will of the people, without exclusion or suppression of any voice.

The lessons of our past will outline our social contract through the need to respect the interests of all groups and classes that comprise the fabric of our society and not compromise the interests of one at the expense of the other. It is this social contract that must lead us to a civil society that recognises intellectual and political pluralism and allows for the peaceful transfer of power through legal institutions and ballot boxes; in accordance with a national constitution crafted by the people and endorsed in a referendum.

To that end, we will outline our aspirations for a modern, free and united state, following the defeat of the illegal Gaddafi regime. The interim national council will be guided by the following in our continuing march to freedom, through espousing the principles of political democracy. We recognise without reservation our obligation to:

1. Draft a national constitution that clearly defines its nature, essence and purpose and establishes legal, political, civil, legislative, executive and judicial institutions. The constitution will also clarify the rights and obligations of citizens in a transparent manner, thus separating and balancing the three branches of legislative, executive and judicial powers.

2. Form political organisations and civil institutions including the formation of political parties, popular organisations, unions, societies and other civil and peaceful associations.

3. Maintain a constitutional civil and free state by upholding intellectual and political pluralism and the peaceful transfer of power, opening the way for genuine political participation, without discrimination.

4. Guarantee every Libyan citizen, of statutory age, the right to vote in free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections, as well as the right to run for office.

5. Guarantee and respect the freedom of expression through media, peaceful protests, demonstrations and sit-ins and other means of communication, in accordance with the constitution and its laws in a way that protects public security and social peace.

6. A state that draws strength from our strong religious beliefs in peace, truth, justice and equality.

7. Political democracy and the values of social justice, which include:

a. The nation’s economy to be used for the benefit of the Libyan people by creating effective economic institutions in order to eradicate poverty and unemployment – working towards a healthy society, a green environment and a prosperous economy.

b. The development of genuine economic partnerships between a strong and productive public sector, a free private sector and a supportive and effective civil society, which overstands corruption and waste.

c. Support the use of science and technology for the betterment of society, through investments in education, research and development, thus enabling the encouragement of an innovative culture and enhancing the spirit of creativity. Focus on emphasising individual rights in a way that guarantees social freedoms that were denied to the Libyan people during the rule of dictatorship. In addition to building efficient public and private institutions and funds for social care, integration and solidarity, the state will guarantee the rights and empowerment of women in all legal, political, economic and cultural spheres.

d. A constitutional civil state which respects the sanctity of religious doctrine and condemns intolerance, extremism and violence that are manufactured by certain political, social or economic interests. The state to which we aspire will denounce violence, terrorism, intolerance and cultural isolation; while respecting human rights, rules and principles of citizenship and the rights of minorities and those most vulnerable. Every individual will enjoy the full rights of citizenship, regardless of colour, gender, ethnicity or social status.

8. Build a democratic Libya whose international and regional relationships will be based upon:

a. The embodiment of democratic values and institutions which respects its neighbours, builds partnerships and recognises the independence and sovereignty of other nations. The state will also seek to enhance regional integration and international co-operation through its participation with members of the international community in achieving international peace and security.

b. A state which will uphold the values of international justice, citizenship, the respect of international humanitarian law and human rights declarations, as well as condemning authoritarian and despotic regimes. The interests and rights of foreign nationals and companies will be protected. Immigration, residency and citizenship will be managed by government institutions, respecting the principles and rights of political asylum and public liberties.

c. A state which will join the international community in rejecting and denouncing racism, discrimination and terrorism while strongly supporting peace, democracy and freedom.

I am sure, utterly sure, that NATO is letting them die because they are the most awesome people on the planet.

That's why there's all the slander in the media, the accusations of Al Qaeda and extreme Islamists, the whispers of "Who are we helping anyway?" and the effort to get people to turn their backs on the Libyan people.

Because their plan for their future does not fit in with the plan of the war pigs and the corporations and the dictators. And if they got that sort of government, it might give the rest of us ideas.

I say let it give the rest of us ideas. Let it inspire us. Let us adopt it as the vision for the whole planet.

The war pigs want to globalize poverty and pain and terror and violence and death.

I say we globalize democracy.

World War III has already started. And we are all warriors. No one is a bystander. No one gets a get out of jail free card. Everyone is drafted, by virtue of being alive at this moment of history.

Do everything that you can to not give your money to the war pigs. Shop local. Eat local. Bank local.

Turn off your TV. The Libyans keep asking for someone to take out Libyan State TV, to stop the brainwashing, that if Libyan State TV was taken out it would be a huge help to the revolution.

The day will come when we storm Fox's studios. But until then - don't participate. Don't let them colonize your mind. Turn your TV off.

We are all Libya. And until we recognize that and work together and show global solidarity in the pro-democracy movement, we will continue to live under the dictatorship of the multinational corporations and the war pigs.

[sad sally]

1. Globalize democracy? Sounds like the New World Order.

Pope Paul VI wrote in the Encyclical titled, POPULORUM PROGRESSIO, in a section called "Toward an Effective World Authority," Such international collaboration among the nations of the world certainly calls for institutions that will promote, coordinate and direct it, until a new juridical order is firmly established and fully ratified. We give willing and wholehearted support to those public organizations that have already joined in promoting the development of nations, and We ardently hope that they will enjoy ever growing authority. As We told the United Nations General Assembly in New York: "Your vocation is to bring not just some peoples but all peoples together as brothers. . . Who can fail to see the need and importance of thus gradually coming to the establishment of a world authority capable of taking effective action on the juridical and political planes?


call me a tin-foil hatter...

[virgogal]

2. We're going to storm Fox studios? I'll be darned.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. A manifesto written in Fairfax Va perhaps?

WTF is this nonsense.

[Shiver]

5. What part of this is nonsense?

Reading through it, it actually sounds like a very nice idea. Would love to see it implemented.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. I'd like to see it implemented in the USA first!

(fat chance)

[EFerrari]

12. A good question. Egyptian revolutionaries

didn't have a web site like this. :)

[tiny elvis]

18. no. the site is done in both of the world's languages

[Distant Observer]

21. Nailed it! Sadly. But it does not look like a something rising out of the Desert Dunes of Libya

Looks cooked up just like the current "action."

[Name removed]

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[Kalun D]

13. Not To Mention

that the bombing isn't helping anyone in Lybia

They are using depleted uranium munitions. I don't care what side these people are on they are all going to be adversely affected for years to come.

Over 10,000 US soldiers have died from Gulf war 1 due to "gulf war syndrome" which is DU poisoning.

[David__77]

14. Well, I was. And this "Gaddafi-baiting" is like a new McCarthyism.

The argument is being made that if you oppose this intervention, you are abetting genocide. That is MORE extreme than most of the right-wing arguments against anti-war people back in Bush's time.

[Name removed]

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[Raksha]

7. K & R

Re "We are all Libya. And until we recognize that and work together and show global solidarity in the pro-democracy movement, we will continue to live under the dictatorship of the multinational corporations and the war pigs."

Some of us recognize that already, and hopefully everyone else isn't too far behind.

[Turborama]

19. +1

& K&R

[Fool Count]

8. One can find all the same words in Qaddafi's Green Book.

Wordy declarations mean very little in that part of the world. Libyan Interim National Council knows very well whose bombs and bayonets will eventually
bring it to power, so they also know what words they must use to keep those bombs falling. Are we supposed to be impressed with that? They should put
a stronger effort into impressing their own compatriots into accepting and sharing their goals and vision. If they accomplished that, there would be no need
for any foreign involvement at all.

[sabrina 1]

17. Nice post, thank you ~

[PurityOfEssence]

15. I've don't like the religious wording of 7d, especially since they recently said "secular"...

d. A constitutional civil state which respects the sanctity of religious doctrine and condemns intolerance, extremism and violence that are manufactured by certain political, social or economic interests. The state to which we aspire will denounce violence, terrorism, intolerance and cultural isolation; while respecting human rights, rules and principles of citizenship and the rights of minorities and those most vulnerable. Every individual will enjoy the full rights of citizenship, regardless of colour, gender, ethnicity or social status.

I just re-read the Wikipedia Article on the government in light of seeing this for the first time, and I no longer see the word "secular" there. I'm pretty damned sure I saw it before, but it certainly isn't there now.

The "respects the sanctity of religious doctrine" jumps out at me, since I'm no fan of most organized religion. The last sentence guarantees full rights of citizenship regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or social status, but it doesn't say "religion", which trips my wire. Yes, there can be a religious element in "ethnicity", but it's a very tenuous interpretation.

Am I being too paranoid here?

The women's rights and other guarantees are wonderful, but this raises questions, especially when I'd seen claims of an intent to form a secular government, and I see nothing of the sort here.

Yes, it talks of a "civil government", but it's one that respects "the sanctity of religious doctrine", and although it condemns "intolerance, extremism and violence" it's condemning these things that spring from "political, social or economic interests", but NOT from religious interests...

Maybe they're just shying away from things to keep a disparate coalition together, but what is to lead us to believe that this won't be used as tacit understanding that a theocratic--albeit rather progressive and pluralist one--government was what was intended? It will surely be used by the theocrats we know are in the mix, and if religion is an issue with citizenship, well then, who knows.

Just thinkin'...

[Iterate]

20. Big social movements like this don't stay put.

It may have started as cosmopolitan, urban, and Arab, but the population of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are young and cosmopolitan as well. A democratic uprising (or the Green Revolution 2.0) will rob the US of its friends as well as enemies. India is prone, as is China eventually. And at some point it will come back onto US shores, so what you may think of as radical now, may come to be see as matter of fact, but with each nation making its own variety of change.

I'm part way there with you now, local, local, local (except coffee -haven't figured that one out yet). No car, TV off, and I can say I highly recommend it.