الأحد، 21 أبريل 2013

Opinion: #Libyans Must Start Believing in Themselves - #Zanjabeel_Almahdawi

Having spent most of my time outside of Libya – not by choice - when I talk or write about Libya I often consider myself as a somebody from outside looking in. But I still stress upon the fact that I am Libyan, hoping that one day, I could return living full time in the country and help in its rebuilding after the 2011 Revolution.

I have often been interested in what has been happening in Libya and followed closely, sometimes with a lot of trepidation (during the former dictatorial regime's rule) events there I often wondered what could happen to give the country back to the people and for the Libyans to start fending for themselves without somebody dictating according to his whims.

It is not easy for the Libyan people to start afresh after more than 40 years of dictatorship and a regime that was intent on depriving the citizens of all that could help them make of themselves a people that could use its human resources beside the natural ones, like oil, and be able to stand in international fora and to discuss and express its ideas – and not the regime's - towards the betterment of world affairs but contributing with its own ideas.

Contrary to what the previous regime wanted the world to believe, and despite getting suppressed, the Libyans had a mind of their own. If left to use their potential they could be up there amongst the best. The 'lucky' ones who managed to set themselves free by fleeing the country – though feeling the absence of family ties – made good in foreign lands.

I don't want to sound arrogant, but I know of many - including myself – who managed to reach the top in the professions they chose. That is because they were treated as human beings and were given the chance to use their potential.

Libyans all over the world, from the continents of Europe to South America, Asia and Australia, people I know were given the chance to excel and they did, earning the respect every human being always craves for what they have achieved without getting pushed except perhaps by the determination to show the regime that tried to suffocate them that if allowed the freedom to live without the shackles nothing was impossible.

I do wish that some day, most of these Libyans will decide to return to their homeland to give their services to their own people and their own country.

On another matter I was pleasantly surprised the past week, by reading what Mr. Tarek Mitri, the Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, UNSMIL had to say about the current situation in Libya, that it is making consistent progress, and has a strong leadership that is fully aware of the challenges it is facing.

This could help Libya attract back the much needed investors to the country; those who are ready not just to take, but also give yo Libya that is in need of the knowhow to fulfil its projects on the way to becoming anew a country worth investing in.

I also felt pride in the fact that Libya is striving hard to make progress and following up on what other countries are doing when it comes to sustainable energy. It is no secret that Libya's oil reserves are not infinite. Thus far the country has concentrated too much on the black gold.

It has been and will still be our main source of energy for years to come, but we as a country have been blessed with not just this natural source.

We have more than oil to sustain us and it was so encouraging to hear the energy minister Ali Mohammed Muhairiq telling the world that Libya will not only depend on its oil for its power, but will be using renewable sources to help us along and that in seven years' time, 20 per cent of power in the country would be generated by the use of using solar plants and perhaps even wind farms.

Yes we are moving forward and the Libyans are putting their heads together to come up with ideas that could make our country as modern as any.

Lastly I was impressed by the analysis of Abdullah Elmaazi in his article: Analysis: Libya at the Crossroads: The Choice between Exclusion and Inclusion. It was not only well written but haas given the Libyan leaders and people a lot to think about if we truly want to forget the past and look to the future.

Libya must rule by example and the new leaders must give everybody a chance. Not all the civil servants, police, members of security in the old regime were corrupt or worked against the people. Those who want to work towards the unity of the country must be given the chance to express their loyalty.

If they understand that the king is dead, but there is now a new king to follow, then they should be given a chance to lead by example. Only then will Libya really prosper.
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