Libya - Everyone is complaining but isn't that a good thing? Layla El-Wafi

‘There is an overwhelming will not to let the past

injustices and wounds of the recent conflict  defeat the efforts to

transform the country to a modern and moderate country.’

Libyan lawyer Layla El-Wafi sent me this e-mail on her impressions of life in Tripoli.  Layla recently returned from a week long visit to Tripoli for business

meetings and to catch up up with family, friends and activists.

She is (cautiously) optimistic about the future.

Getting around is challenging due to traffic jams caused by many new

cars on the road, closed off streets and a legacy of poor urban

planning/infrastructure. But it also offers a chance to catch all the

signs and graffiti promoting messages of re-conciliation,

voting/participation and expressing contempt for a brutal dictator who

outlawed any public displays save for his image.

My Favourite Ice Cream and Business Opportunities!

It is clear that business opportunities are plentiful with new retail

and food stores (including my childhood favourite ice cream chain

Carvell!),  banks and private schools opening even since my last visit

6 months ago (American, British, Gulf based, Turkish and other).

However security and political instability have limited this. One

business consultant said foreign companies have waited by the side

lines til new ministers were appointed (a stop/start process for those

who have followed it closely) and another business contact said the

lack of full law and order have limited his company sending in foreign

employees and investing more resources.

I noticed more people begging on the streets than I have in the past. This is a shame in what is meant to be the richest country in Africa per capita.  There are

luxury cars on the road reflecting that wealth - although some of this

through unfair enrichment and this is a controversial topic.

Women

Women are very much active in the public sphere. On a visit to 

my bank I noticed that most of the employees - including management - were women. All wearing the veil (not clear if 

social pressure and a way to make life easier) and all very assertive!

Women activists are involved in campaigning on many issues including the forthcoming constitutional drafting process to raise awareness across the country touring towns and villages and lobbying the President/Congress members to ensure public consultation and women's rights are factored in. A poster hung off a bridge was a message by the Muslim Brotherhood party saying ‘men and women partners in rebuilding’. I also noticed signs in the language of minority ethnic group Amazigh for the first time.

Gun-shots

I could hear guns shots every night from my bedroom window although

noticed less arms on the streets.  I was saddened by news that a

distant relative was shot dead in what seems to be a Revolution

related grievance (but they shot his wife in the car instead of him).

Another cousin's husband's construction company machinery was stolen.

Both incidents in the south of the country where security is even more

of a problem than in large coastal cities due to border control issues

and less policing resources.

Media

I was encouraged by the many TV show debates and news programs

covering issues relating to the General National Congress' decisions,

debating the role of new media (should there be a ministry or a non

governmental regulator/body?!), reporting on a ten day campaign to end

violence against women and a vigil held by activists in the eastern

city of Benghazi. News reports are following local developments in

neighboring countries Tunisia and Egypt closely.  Another show spoke

of the brutal killing of a man during last year's revolution. Just one

of many sad stories that people are still coming to grips with. It is

very apparent that people are suffering from post traumatic stress and

still hold grudges from last year's events including between family

members.  The people from the town of Thawerga are still not able to

return due to tensions from neighboring city Misrata; people are

questioning why the attacks against the town of Bani Walid were not

fairly reported; and some are questioning the influence / motives of

foreign powers like Qatar and NATO countries who supported the

revolution. Yet there are so many gestures of openness towards the

outside world,  kindness, community spirit and positivity  from

neighbors, friends and the active new media and civil society

flourishing across the country.   I still felt a sense of safety and

normality - as I did when I visited 6 months ago and then 6 months

before that.

Common remarks and hopes from people reflect a desire for safety and

security first, services and infrastructure, fair distribution of

wealth and for democratic institutions which they can openly

criticize. There is an overwhelming will not to let the past

injustices and wounds of the recent conflict  defeat the efforts to

transform the country to a modern and moderate country.

I remain (cautiously) optimistic.