By Sami Zaptia.
London, 24 February 2016:
Following on from the abandoned attempt by the House of Representatives (HoR) to vote on the . . .[restrict]Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tobruk yesterday as a result of the coercive activities of about 10 dissenting Federalist members, a hundred members signed an unofficial document supporting the GNA.
The document was notable in that it had signatures of members spread across the political and geographical divide of Libya showing a remarkable degree of consensus.
Former boycotting HoR member for Tripoli’s Suq Al-Juma, Mustafa Abushagur, posted on his Facebook page that members were “intimidated” in an attempt to prevent the reaching of a quorum.
He said that ‘’when about 94 members had signed into the official register, the dissenters removed the register. They then went and surrounded the president and the chaos started’’. He added that the dissenters claimed that a quorum was not reached when in fact ‘‘there were over 120 members present but some were unable to register their names’’.
“When the chaos increased, the president of the HoR withdrew and after that the lights were put out forcing everyone to leave.”
Confirming the narrative of Abushagur, member for Misrata Mohamed Raied, another former boycotter, said that there was “pressure on some members to not sign (the register), but after a quorum was reached, they created disorder and chaos on the presidency podium (of the HoR) until the presidency came down”.
“This group continued in its insistence on preventing the session taking place by force forcing about a hundred member into expressing their views through the signing of a list (attached) granting confidence in the (GNA) government.
“I hope that this issued statement meets with the approval of the public and all sectors in helping the government (GNA) in its efforts to save the country from the lawlessness in most areas.”
Both SRSG and UNSMIL head Martin Kobler, and British ambassador Peter Millett condemned the coercion used within the HoR and called on the GNA to be officially approved.
A post on the British embassy, Tripoli Facebook page said that the British Ambassador to Libya, Peter Millett, welcomes the statement issued today by the majority of the House of Representatives members, endorsing the Government of National Accord. This is an important step for Libya.
Equally, in a statement released by UNSMIL today said that Martin Kobler “welcomes this development that demonstrates the strong determination of the people of Libya and the overwhelming support by the majority within the HoR for the proposed GNA. In view of this public statement by the majority of parliamentarians, Mr Kobler calls on the leadership of the HoR to take immediate steps to formalise this endorsement”, it added.
“I am concerned about many reports of intimidation and threats against HoR members. This is unacceptable. Parliamentarians have to decide freely. The HoR leadership has the responsibility to ensure that the parliamentary process is unhindered and conducted in an environment free from threats or intimidation, according to democratic principles,” said the UN Envoy for Libya
The signed document with a hundred signatures approving the GNA can be seen below.
