By Adam Ali.
Benghazi, 28 November 2014:
Since the start of the 15 October Uprising, the city of Benghazi has seen the . . .[restrict]worst violence since the 2011 Revolution. The clashes across town have forced life to come to a halt in every sector. Laughter is no longer heard in the schoolyards, the banks are shut tight, service agencies are empty and Benghazi University has been a ghost town ever since the General Command of the Libyan Army warned that the university could be a potential target because of the existence of a weapons warehouse on campus.
We have suffered greatly in Benghazi over the past four years, which have been filled with assassinations, bombings and slaughter. We suffer and die every day, living in a constant state of torment.
Over 600 assassinations have taken place in this city of a million people we call “home”. Journalists, military personnel, activists and politicians — including women — have been killed for their associations and opinions. And the government has not lifted a finger to dam this waterfall of blood pouring in our city.
As for we ordinary people, we cannot speak freely, are often confined to our homes, have limited movement — even in broad daylight. We fear for our parents, our children, our brothers, our friends, our neighbours…ourselves. Why?
Just because some of our own told the truth, we attended four funerals in the same day. We have no more tears.
Our generation now understands mourning at our friends’ funerals better than celebrating their graduations and marriages.
I still have hope that the people of Benghazi will one day again live in peace and security. Some say that it is starting to get better now. But for the moment, almost all of us are depressed. We are frustrated. We are sad.
We want a better life.
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