Benghazi protesters demand justice be restored
Reuters | 2012-03-03 18:17:00
BENGHAZI, Libya - Hundreds of Libyans protested outside the main courthouse
in Benghazi on Friday, demanding that a militia which had occupied the
building during the revolution leave and allow judges to return to work.
The militia, one of dozens set up during the 2011 uprising that ousted
Muammar Gaddafi, has been using the courthouse as its headquarters and wants
it to remain a symbol of the revolt that began in the eastern coastal city.
Libyans, tired of lawlessness and keen to see the justice system back up and
running, have been demanding in vain that militias lay down their arms and
the rule of law be restored.
"We are with the judiciary and with the court. We want the court back and we
don't want the judiciary to be marginalised," said Ghalia Bouzaakouk, one of
the protesters.
Since Gaddafi's overthrow last year, the National Transitional Council has
struggled to impose its authority over the country. The militias set up to
fight Gaddafi's forces have largely refused to disarm and join a national
security force and the proper rule of law has yet to be established.
Former rebels hold thousands of detainees and the NTC has struggled to have
them transferred to state custody from where they could be put on trial.
A group of about a dozen men armed with knives, who protesters believe were
hired by the militia, tried to disperse the crowd that gathered in the
square outside the courthouse, a focal point of protests during the
revolution.
"Attacks against protesters are a crime in every sense of the word. These
are definitely hired thugs," said Saad al-Mgasbi, an employee in the
attorney general's office.
"What does it mean for them to occupy the court? From my perspective it is
standing in the way of the revolution."
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
_______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
