Topic: Legitimacy of Government during Popular Uprising
Country: Libya
Delegate Name: Rachel Nichols
School: Roeper School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Libya position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
In the past, Libya’s previous regime had a significant role in this question by demonstrating its authority in an extremely violent manner in attempting to repress uprisings throughout the nation. During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, former ruler Muammar Gaddafi’s forces attacked citizens protesting his authoritative rule in Benghazi and his military forces had a failed attempt at putting down a revolt in the working-class district of Suq al-Juma. On August 15, Gaddafi called on his followers through state television to liberate Libya from rebels which had gained the support of NATO, stating “Get ready for the fight… The blood of martyrs is fuel for the battlefield.” He later made two audio addresses which called on Libyans to fight off the rebels as well.
Libya’s Gaddafi regime also questioned the legitimacy of other nations, such as the United Kingdom. Former Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim noted after viewing the 2011 England riots that the British Government had lost all legitimacy and the citizens reject the government that is trying to impose itself through force. This was an attempt to show that Libya was not alone in repressing its citizens and that Western criticism of the Gaddafi regime’s oppression of its citizens would be hypocritical. As of Gaddafi’s death on October 20, 2011, the National Transitional Council (NTC) has become Libya's provisional government. This presents challenges of achieving international recognition for our new policies and encouraging their implementation in other nations.
With the new constitutional democracy, Libya does not enforce government intervention during uprisings. The Declaration of the founding of the NTC states that one of its aims is to ensure the safety of the national territory and citizens. The NTC also acknowledges that its legitimacy is weak. There have been many efforts not to tread roughly on regional sensitivities such as the creation of local councils to achieve a peaceful civilian life as an example of Libya’s government transferring a degree of power to society.
An aim of the NTC is to avoid conflict, especially reprisal killings, as well as gain national and international recognition of this new system of governance, thereby improving domestic and international relations. The NTC had reminded former rebel fighters on numerous occasions that the nation’s human rights record will significantly affect their future relations with current Western and Arab benefactors. The NTC’s chair, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, threatened to step down if revenge murders are carried out, stating “I object strongly to any executions outside the law.” This means that only the government has to authority to determine whether an execution takes place of not and that the NTC does not support involvement in civilian rebellion.
Libya’s goal is to install a system to identify failing regimes and reduce the role of government in their civilian-state conflicts. To accomplish this, Libya especially wants to work with democratic nations such as France, as it was the first to recognize the rebellion, as well as the United States. Also, Libya plans to work with African neighbors, specifically Tunisia after the overthrow of Ben Ali and with Egypt, which continues to attempt to define its way forward in the ongoing 2011 Egyptian anti-governmental protests.
