Libya’s leadership is a decision for Libyans!
I haven’t met Diana in person, though we spoke at some length by phone.
Diana is Libyan. She was educated in England and speaks fluent English. Her mother is Greek with left wing views; her father a Berber businessman. She’s therefore someone with roots in both Europe and Africa, exposed to left and right-wing influences during her life. A cosmopolitan who speaks five languages, Diana has spent much of her life in Libya but has also lived in various European nations.
In the 1980s, when General Qaddafi’s polices veered to the left and nationalization of the economy became widespread, her father’s business was severely affected. So Diana’s own background is not what one might expect of someone who now is speaking up passionately against the NATO assault on Libya.
I asked her a few questions by email. Her responses are below. Unlike Diana, I’m not multilingual – but my written English is that of a native speaker. So I ‘tidied up’ Diana’s email to make it slightly less colloquial and easier to read. Nevertheless, the content is hers and the text below has Diana’s approval.
Diana Gariany is available for interviews if journalists wish to follow up on her story (contact me I’ll pass on messages – or contact her directly via Twitter @dmgariany).
Unfortunately, most mainstream western journalists seem interested only in hearing from anti-Qaddafi Libyans. So it is that westerners continue to get a one-sided picture of Libya which helps support the case for NATO bombing.
Here’s another side to the story…
_____________________________
NATO’s image has been tarnished by not achieving the promised results, so its hard to say if there will be any peace in the near future!
Diana Maria Gariany
Introduction (by Syd Walker)
A couple of days ago, via Twitter, I made contact for the first time with Diana Maria Gariany whose letter is featured below in this article.I haven’t met Diana in person, though we spoke at some length by phone.
Diana is Libyan. She was educated in England and speaks fluent English. Her mother is Greek with left wing views; her father a Berber businessman. She’s therefore someone with roots in both Europe and Africa, exposed to left and right-wing influences during her life. A cosmopolitan who speaks five languages, Diana has spent much of her life in Libya but has also lived in various European nations.
In the 1980s, when General Qaddafi’s polices veered to the left and nationalization of the economy became widespread, her father’s business was severely affected. So Diana’s own background is not what one might expect of someone who now is speaking up passionately against the NATO assault on Libya.
I asked her a few questions by email. Her responses are below. Unlike Diana, I’m not multilingual – but my written English is that of a native speaker. So I ‘tidied up’ Diana’s email to make it slightly less colloquial and easier to read. Nevertheless, the content is hers and the text below has Diana’s approval.
Diana Gariany is available for interviews if journalists wish to follow up on her story (contact me I’ll pass on messages – or contact her directly via Twitter @dmgariany).
Unfortunately, most mainstream western journalists seem interested only in hearing from anti-Qaddafi Libyans. So it is that westerners continue to get a one-sided picture of Libya which helps support the case for NATO bombing.
Here’s another side to the story…
_____________________________
Letter from a Libyan
I was in Tripoli Libya till last week, but left through Tunis to go to Europe on my family’s insistence.
I still get information directly from Libya having all the connections, plus I stay informed by following independent journalists
My views? I’m very democratic to a point. I do hate it lies (‘hate’ is a strong word).
To make things clear, I am neither pro or against Qaddafi the man. I’m indifferent – he does his job, I do mine. Yes, he’s a dictator – but he has to be to control round 420 tribes (Not sure about the exact number of tribes. Originally they were 120, the rest are sub-tribes. Don’t ask – even I can’t comprehend it!
When Qaddafi came to power Libya had approximately 80% illiteracy. He changed that by obligatory schooling. Even older people were obliged to go to school, at least to learn to read & write. To make a long story short, he changed the country and made it prosper. I didn’t like the way he did it always, but its done – and who am I to complain when I see the results were good!
Qaddafi has been demonized by the mass media for many reasons. Here’s a few.
He insulted the Qatari Prince by pointing out he is also a dictator. The same goes for the King of Saudi Arabia!
I used to hear Qaddafi’s speeches and sometimes thought he was nuts. But when I forced myself to listen – really listen – I realized that his ideas had foundations. Here’s an example on YouTube (Qaddafi’s speech to the UN General Assembly in 2009), with with English sub titles.
So Qaddafi is hated mostly by the west!
The US Government was pissed off because it was caught red-handed tampering with evidence in the Lockerbie trial by paying them off with $4,000,000 each – and they got caught
Qaddafi has asked for compensation for the 12 years of sanctions in Libya.
Are the reasons behind this war becoming clearer?
Lockerbie was never Qaddafi’s doing! France was humiliated by the son of Qaddafi and the same for England.
Here’s are two very informative links:
- Petroleum and Empire in North Africa. NATO Invasion of Libya Underway; Muamar Gaddafi Accused of Genocide
by Keith Harmon Snow (March 2nd 2011) - The Media War on Libya: Justifying War through Lies and Fabrications
by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya (May 2nd 2011)
Prior to the 17th of February, so-called ‘innocent’ protesters had killed 4 policemen – and succeeded stealing a depot of arms, killing some soldiers! The Libyan army tried to defend itself, which was natural enough.
Then came the ‘day of rage’ (17th February 2011). (Bear in mind that YouTube had been blocked in Libya for over a year!)
On the day of rage the protesters were not like in Egypt & Tunis. Protesters came out of Mosques armed! IF THIS HAPPENED IN YOUR COUNTRY, WHAT WOULD THE GOVERNMENT DO?
The army shot up to the air to frighten them and protesters started shooting troops in cold blood – so the army had to defend itself…
The rebels, working with ex-patriots, cocked up the massacre story (which never took place ). Try to find a massacre video from the ‘day of rage’. You will find nothing.. All the videos they uploaded we’re fake – using footage from demonstrations in Iraq, Israel and some other places.
Al Jazeera, which belongs to Qatar, works with the Americans BBC, CNN etc . You’ll notice they tell much the same story. Russia Today its a better source of information these days!
There are about six and a half million Libyans. Say a million of them don’t want Qaddafi. That leaves five and half million who are with the Libyan government – so how can western governments demand we have to change?? Would your country like that – or accept it?
The whole battle is for oil & water reserves that are as big and as wide as the whole of Europe. Then there are all the other natural resources in Libya. Having Qaddafi in power is an obstacles to some greedy, powerful people in the west!
How to achieve peace? Qaddafi and the Libyan government have asked for a ceasefire – to sit down to talk. But the rebels have rejected that – together with NATO.
NATO’s image has been tarnished by not achieving the promised results, so its hard to say if there will be any peace in the near future!
One idea that comes in mind is to wake people up by getting to them the truth – so they start protesting against their governments and demand the war is stopped!
I cringe at the idea that Libya might become another Somalia!!!
The main thing is to inform people about the truth. Let them hear BOTH sides – then they can decide which one is the truth!
The US and NATO are demanding that Qaddafi has to leave – but that is NOT their decision to make.
It’s a decision for Libyans.
VISIT StopBombingLibya.info
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