Report from Liberated Benghazi , Libya
by TRNN
A cross the border from Egypt there is a new
sovereign country ruled by revolutionaries. After 42 years under the
rule of president/colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, the Libyan people are in
full revolt and are now firmly in control of the eastern part of the
country. In the liberated city of Benghazi, the stronghold of the
opposition, the people have formed a deep sense of community.
This is a
revolution without leaders and tens of thousands of volunteers. People
collect donated food, some coming in from neighboring Egypt and Tunisia,
and safeguard it in a warehouse before distributing it for free to the
population. The shops and restaurants surrounding the city now serve as
communal kitchens for the revolution.
UNIDENTIFIED
(SUBTITLED TRANSLATION): I cook every day, sometimes rice, sometimes
macaroni, sometimes kiksou, sometimes beans. It tastes good and everyone
is well fed, thank God.
HAFIZ: Foreign journalists were
seldom seen here. Now they are welcomed with open arms and report
freely. The first independent newspaper in liberated Benghazi [was]
named after the February 17 uprising that led to the government's ouster
from this city.
UNIDENTIFIED (SUBTITLED TRANSLATION): The
newspapers and magazines could not discuss the regime, and freedom of
the press was non-existent. He had cut them completely. Journalists that
attempted to be free disappeared. Not just them, but their immediate
and extended family would vanish.
CROWD (SUBTITLED TRANSLATION): Dear God!HAFIZ:
But liberating eastern Libya of the Gaddafi regime came at a heavy
price. It's estimated over 1,000 civilians were killed when the regime
responded to the peaceful protest with extreme violence. Some of the
images we have obtained are too gruesome to broadcast. The hospitals are
still packed with patients with gunshot wounds. After the violent
battle for the eastern city of Benghazi, there's no turning back for the
people here. You're hearing them screaming, "The people of Zawiyah will
join us." They're counting on the other cities in the West to join them
in a fight against a leader who has ruled this country for 42 years.
Libya's second-largest city has become the unofficial capital of this
uprising, and thousands of protesters continue streaming in from the
surrounding region. Gaddafi has called the pro-democracy demonstrators
"extremists" and "members of al-Qaeda", but people here refute those
claims as absurd.
UNIDENTIFIED: We don't have radical
people. Our Muslims are moderate. We are--we will be--I am sure we will
inspire a lot of Arab nations, I am sure, and also Muslim nations. Libya
will inspire the world! Libya will inspire the world! Libya! Libya!
SISTERS (SUBTITLED TRANSLATION): God is Great!
HAFIZ:
These sisters lost their father when he drove his car into Gaddafi's
military barracks. The crash was the turning point in the battle for
Benghazi, as thousands stormed the building, liberating the city. They
call them martyrs, and the memory of how and why they died fuels this
revolution. The celebration of eastern Libya's freedom continued late
into Friday night, as people were elated to hear of Libyans revolting in
other parts of the country. Many here believe it's a matter of days
before the force of people power makes history once again in the latest
and bloodiest Arab uprising to rock the region since the beginning of
the year. Jihan Hafiz for The Real News in Benghazi, Libya.
End of TranscriptDISCLAIMER:
Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a
recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete
accuracy.
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