2011-10-03 by Xinhua writers Zheng Kaijun, Zhu Xiaolong
TRIPOLI, Oct. 3,2011 (Xinhua) — As Libya’s new rulers have given themselves the leeway on setting up an interim government which should have been due according to earlier promises, the war-torn country may risk itself falling into a place of lasting chaos.
POLITICAL DIFFERENCES
Mahmoud Jibril, head of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) executive board, confirmed late last week that the formation of a transitional government would be postponed till the entire Libya is without redoubts of fallen leader Muammar Gaddafi, while the current executive office was to remain in operation as the caretaker administration despite some minor changes.
Earlier in September, the NTC has set time bars three times for the birth of a new government. But what awaited Libyans were its repeated failures to keep its words, which reflected the fierce power struggle as well as the abortion of mutual trust among the future rulers of Libya.
NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil had admitted on an earlier occasion that each tribe and town was eager to have a share in the new government, as the country had been extremely thirsty of power after over four decades of iron-handed rule.
For instance, the position of prime minister is a center of debate. Jibril, a hot option for the post, has been facing allegations on his incompetency as a government head due to the continuity of chaos in post-battle towns.
The current NTC executive chief was therefore compelled to say that he was not the reason for the delayed government, while he also noted surprisingly that he would not be “related to the transitional government,” although he failed to elaborate.
In the meantime, the dragging on of battles in a couple of Gaddafi’s remaining strongholds has been a distraction for the green-hand NTC leadership.
“The new rulers look unable to lay the foundation for reconstruction, which is a must for orderly management in the future,” Abdelfattah Elsonoty, an Egyptian political analyst on Arab issues, told Xinhua.
“Compared with the military conflicts, the political war might go on for even longer time,” Elsonoty said.
ECONOMIC TROUBLES
With no political stability, the recovery of Libya’s mauled economy will also be in jeopardy.
The rebuilding of post-war economy is a massive task which could take years, said Khalifa Shakreen, director of the International Cooperation Office in Tripoli-based Al-Fatah University. “Economic reconstruction needs a solid government, this is the insuperable premise,” he said.
“After the interim government, the Libyan people will elect their real government,” Shakreen said, adding that therefore the interim office would only be kind of filling the vacancy, while it could be hard for the “temporary” officials to focus on the details of economic and social aspects.
At a press conference last week, Jibril has vowed to raise the salaries for the Libyans and provide subsidies for the families of the war victims and those who were still fighting at the front lines. But how and when these money can be fulfilled remain a big question mark.
Moreover, a key trouble is the many Libyans who are left unemployed due to the civil war, which has forced foreign investors to leave. Although Libya’s oil attraction is expected to bring back foreign cashes soon, only time can tell whether the money will be in the pocket of the people or of the fledgling rulers.
SOCIAL TASKS
Besides the big words of political and economy, more are concerned with the livelihood of the ordinary.
“The most pressing task is to feed the people,” said local political analyst Saleh Sharif. “If you are still starved, you will not be interested in freedom or democracy.”
Sherif’s observation was shared by many Libyan citizens like Mohamed Shtewi. According to the computer engineer before the turmoil, it is too early to grade the current ruling authorities, as many basic living problems are yet to be solved in a proper way.
Among the issues is the treatment of the injured. The lack of fund and interior coordination has put many who were wounded in the prolonged fighting on the fringe of live.
Rallies were held in Tripoli since early September to demand the authorities’ attention to the difficulties thousands of anti- Gaddafi war “heroes” now face. One of the demonstrators, Abdurrzag Shish, was severely wounded in his left leg in April. He told Xinhua that he himself paid for medical treatment in Tunisia, as Libya’s medical condition was outdated.
Even more perilous is the proliferation of weapons across the country. Analysts warn that the pulling back of guns could be a long-term task. If the process is delayed, “tranquility” will only be literal.