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By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 15 November 2013:
Hassan Lamin, former GNC member from Misrata who resigned and fled to live in London as . . .[restrict]a result of threats against him from armed militias condemned all regionally-based militias within Tripoli calling for them to join the official security forces as individuals.
Speaking live tonight on Libya Al-Ahrar TV, Lamin condemned the use of force by the Gharghour-based Misrata militias against peaceful civilian demonstrations.
Moreover, despite the 13 dead and 130 injured reported by LANA, Lamin urged that these peaceful civilian demonstrations continue saying ‘’whatever happens, happens’’.
Lamin justified his stance for continued peaceful civilian demonstrations on the bases of the weakness of the state. ‘’The GNC reflects the contradictions of Libya. It reflects extremists, it reflects warlords and it is incapable. Therefore it is up to the general public’’, he said to effect change.
Lamin, speaking from the relative safety of London, felt that the Libyan revolution was not complete and that it needs to ‘’happen again’’. Regards the fear and strength of the militias he said that ‘’none of these militias are stronger than Qaddafi’s. We overcame those, so we can overcome these again’’.
The former GNC member from Misrata said that the present situation with regards to the various armed militias all over Libya could not continue. They must be ended he said, adding that ‘’a strong state is a prerequisite for development and progress in the new Libya’’ and that there could not be a strong state with the continued presence of militias.
Responding to militias claims that they were stationed in Tripoli to either protect Tripoli or Libya, Lamin condemned this ‘’façade’’. If this was their real aim, he added, referring to all the incidents of kidnappings, carjacks, robbery and clashes between militias – they had ‘’failed’’.
If these militias really wanted to secure Libya, he added, then why don’t they go to Libya’s various porous borders.
Lamin was at pains to point out, however, that any so-called Misrata militias present in Tripoli do not represent the city of Misrata. [/restrict]
