By Ashraf Abdul-Waha.
Tripoli, 20 September 2013:
Plans by a Benghazi-based political group for massive demonstrations across the country tomorrow, Saturday, aimed at . . .[restrict]solving Libya’s political turmoil by toppling both the government and Congress and placing all power in the hands of the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court appear unlikely to gain much support.
The group, named “The Movement of the Martyrs to Revive the Nation”, is led by political activist Muhamed Abu Qaeqis who has attacked the government and Congress, alleging corruption and mismanagement as well as accusing it of responsibility for the poor security situation.
“There may be some turnout in Benghazi”, said one political analyst in Tripoli, “but civil society organisations in Tripoli are not interested.” That was not, he said, because such organisations were not concerned about the security situation but because they viewed the movement as federalist – a view seemingly confirmed by the fact that it has listed the demonstration locations under the headings Cyrenaica, Fezzan and Tripolitania.
The demonstrations, plans for which have been circulating for some weeks, are slated to take place tomorrow afternoon in Benghazi, Tobruk, Sebha and Tripoli.
Political apathy is seen as another reason for a low turnout. In Tripoli in particular, where the massively disruptive recent power and water cuts significantly failed to produce any serious street response and where 500 people at a demonstration is considered a massive turnout, apathy is a notably powerful force.
The government of Ali Zeidan, notably less beleaguered than a fortnight ago, is not expected to feel threatened by the demonstrations. [/restrict]
