This is in reference to the article “ Libyan PM faces daunting task” by Linda Gradstein. The article suggests that the Libyan authorities have not yet disarmed and integrated the former rebels into state institutions even in a year since the killing of Muammar Qaddafi. Recently, fighting around the country’s oasis town of Bani Walid led to more than 13 deaths and injuries to 121 people. Libyan national congress spokesman claimed that Qaddafi’s son Khamis Qaddafi, aged 28 years, was killed in one of these clashes.
However, the new Libyan authorities recently said that the campaign to liberate the country has not been fully completed. We have learned from different media sources that Libya’s top official Mohammed Megaryef has admitted the failure pointing to delays and negligence in the formation of a professional army and police force. He has also added that armed militias have even dared to establish their own prisons and act as a law unto themselves.
But admitting failure is not enough at this moment without taking stern actions against the lawbreakers. Rather the law-breaking groups would be inspired seeing this soft gesture of the authorities. Already the media has reported that the weakness of the state has allowed groups with or without ties to the former regime to defy the law and carry out arbitrary arrests, torture, blackmail and looting.
Moreover, the incident of killing of US diplomats recently is a clear sign of anarchy in Libya. But this situation is not acceptable at all. As Qaddafi was ousted for the sake of establishing peace in Libya through the democratic process, the international community that patronized the anti-Qaddafi movement should now work jointly and firmly with the Libyan authorities to improve the law and order situation in Libya. — Naser Mullah, Riyadh
