|
Books on Libya
|
Update No: 050 - (30/01/08)
Libya Tackles Migration…amid Curious Rumors
In January, Libya having secured closer relationships to Europe and wanting to
play a bigger role in a Mediterranean political – economic arrangement
proposed by France’s president Sarkozy, has tackled the problem of migration
with greater impetus. Libya has given itself a month to expel all illegal
migrants. The European Union (EU) countries with shores on the Mediterranean
have long complained that many irregular migrants from all over Africa leave
from the Libyan coast. In fact, Libya has often adopted sudden and harsh
deportation or confinement measures against African migrants, despite Libya’s
pretensions of leading African countries into a Union. Nevertheless, this time
Libya appears more determined to challenge the illegal migration problem. The
collection and deportation of all illegal migrants, estimated of numbering some
two million, has started “without exception” said the Libyan administration.
Libya’s government has instructed housing authorities to destroy migrants'
makeshift homes on the outskirts of Tripoli and other coastal cities. While some
international humanitarian agencies like Amnesty International and UNHCR have
expressed concern over the move, citing mostly the failure of the Libyan
government to distinguish between asylum seekers and ‘economic’ migrants.
Italy, which is the main destination for many of the migrants, and other EU
countries are likely satisfied that Libya has decided to tackle the problem.
Italy recently signed an accord with Libya to try to seal the Mediterranean. The
accord provides for the Libyan military departments to receive training and
joint patrolling arrangements. Apart from European pressure, Libya has internal
motivations to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants. Libyan officials and
average citizens blame migrants for spreading crime and reducing employment
opportunities for young Libyans. Reuters reported that Mohamed El-Lamoushi, head
of the information department at the Libyan prime minister's office, insisted
that the expulsion of migrants was “an internal Libyan matter” and that
Libya would fill any labor needs from external sources through accords Libya had
recently signed with labor-exporting countries. Foreigners who want to enter
Libya must have legal papers and documents. El-Lamoushi noted that Libya has
signed agreements with African, Arab and Asian countries to make the labor
available on demand. The problem of illegal migration increased in the 1990’s,
when under stress from international sanctions and low oil prices, it sought and
needed cheap labor to help sustain the economy. The current illegal migration
has been fueled by the revival of large construction projects and public works
resulting from high oil revenues.
Odd Rumors: perhaps Israeli disinformation?
Meanwhile, while Libya continues its drive to curb irregular migration, a
curious report has been spreading concerning Seif ul-Islam al-Qadhafi. Even as
many believe Seif is the chosen successor to lead Libya, he has been implicated
in a group of foreign and Iraqi fighters responsible for explosions in northern
Iraq, according to a security chief for Sunni tribesmen who rose up against
foreign islamist fighters (“al-Qa'ida”). The tribesmen have accused the
young Qadhafi of being behind a blast that killed at least 38 people, wounding
another 225, on January 23 in a Mosul slum. The next day, a suicide bomber
killed the provincial police chief and two other officers as they surveyed the
blast site. Mosul military officials accused the Seifaddin Regiment, made up of
about 150 foreign and Iraqi fighters who slipped into the country several months
ago from Syria, of perpetrating the attack, adding that Seif al-Islam al-Qadhafi
was leader of the group. The accusing officer, one Colonel Naief, insisted on
the veracity of his claims, which came from reliable sources “maintained by
his Anbar Awakening Council within the ranks of al-Qa'ida in Mosul and
elsewhere”. The US military did not comment on Colonel Naief's claim.
The claim of Libyan involvement is not out of the question. The Washington Post
recently reported that US military commanders had recognized a more important
role played by North African fighters in suicide and other bombing attacks
inside Iraq. The US military officials also said that 19% of the foreign
fighters in Iraq came from Libya, that is almost half of the 40% of foreign
fighters believed to come from North Africa. However, the claim that Seif ul-Islam
is behind the attacks is very odd. Saif Ul-Islam, Qadhafi's eldest son from his
second wife, has played the role of the ‘heir apparent’, having also been
touted as the figure that most actively pursued Libya’s international
rehabilitation. Seif has a progressive image, he heads a Qadhafi foundation for
external aid which, has also helped release hostages and, in as diplomatic and
veiled a tone as possible, effectively criticized Libya over the Bulgarian
nurses debacle a year before the medics were released, earning praise for his
own role in securing their release.
In other words, Seif al-Islam, seems an unlikely figure as a sponsor of
terrorism. Indeed, Colonel Naief was unable to explain how or why Seif ul-Islam
would sponsor a group of fighters in Iraq. One possible explanation is that the
story has been widely peddled by Debka-file, an Israeli-based website, well
known for spreading odd stories and potentially a vehicle for disinformation..
Debka-file proffered an explanation for Seif ul Islam’s alleged patronage of
terrorism but the logic does justice to the website’s dubious reputation. It
holds that Seif became angry at his father because, it is alleged, his father
has chosen his younger brother, Mutasim-Billah, as the true successor. In
retaliation, Seif began sponsoring this terrorist regiment in Iraq. The story
gets better, as also according to Debka, Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak and
U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice prefer Mutasim-Billah, which prompted
the Colonel to honor this requests.
It is rather curious that a story (with such short legs), would receive so much
media attention, even as the very same media has reported on Seif ul-Islam’s
role in working toward Libya’s rapprochement with the United States. The
motivation for the story might well be that Syria vetoed a UN Human Rights
Council resolution condemning the launch of Qassam, home made rockets, from Gaza
to Israel. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman had criticized the UN
humanitarian affairs chief on Thursday for failing to acknowledge the suffering
caused by Palestinian rocket attacks against Israel from Gaza. The UN
undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs John Holmes had earlier
criticized Israel's decision to shut all border crossings with Gaza had led to a
humanitarian crisis and was "collective punishment" for its 1.5
million people.
Oil News
Libya Expects important investment from the UAE toward an oil refinery. Two
UAE companies announced they would invest about USD1 billion to renovate and
upgrade Libya’s biggest oil refinery situated at Ras Lanuf. National Oil
Corporation (NOC) of Libya has formed a consortium with UAE's TransAsia Gas
International and Star Petro Energy to renovate the export refinery in a 50-50
joint venture. Currently, the refinery processes 220,000 barrels per day. The
agreement provides for a five year plan envisaging an increase of capacity and
marketing, while the later phases are expected to expand the refinery and
introduce new technology for converting fuel oil into high-value foodstuffs.
« Top
|
