PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Circulation of small arms in Tripoli, a major challenge for NTC
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Battle of Tripoli and its liberation and the discovery of ammunition and weapons storage sites in various parts of the Libyan capital have given rise to the spread of small arms in the city.
This phenomenon of the spreading of small arms in Tripoli and its suburbs in the hands of young revolutionaries, who since the battle of "the liberation of Tripoli" ensured the security of their respective neighborhoods, is beginning to raise questions and fears about possible dangers of the citizen's security and peace of mind.
Indeed, the challenge remains as to how and when the National Transitional Council (NTC) would retrieve these weapons.
The temptations are great indeed, for these young revolutionaries and others from all sides, to keep these small arms.
Therefore the new authorities in Tripoli are expected to act quickly and accelerate the return of the police and various departments of public security to ward off the specter of insecurity.
As such, it is urgent for the new authorities to develop a strategy to identify as quickly and efficiently as possible the phenomenon of the spread of small arms.
Thus, the creation of a special fund to recover the weapons that are in the hands of young people by buying them, the establishment of a policy of demobilisation of combatants and their reintegration into the labour market and the launch of a media campaign to raise awareness through mosques to encourage young people to voluntarily surrender their weapons, should be used as pillars to this strategy to stop the spread of small arms.
Certainly, steps were already taken by the new authorities to curb this phenomenon such as the unification of all armed groups under the sole command of the Tripoli Military Council headed by Abdelhakim Belhadj.
Added to that is the decision of the NTC to redeploy the revolutionary forces from Tripoli to their regions and cities of origin, leaving the charge of the security missions to the fighters from the city of Tripoli.
For many observers, it is time for the new authorities to move quickly into high gear to disarm the many civilians who hold arms because of the popular revolution.
Indeed, with the installation of the NTC in the capital, the resumption of political, administrative and economic activities, the arrival of delegations from countries around the world, and the return of oil companies and international companies in Tripoli, the arms proliferation phenomenon may dent the image of the authorities and undermine stability if nothing is done to reverse the trend.
In this crucial phase, the country needs stability, a key factor for the development of a healthy business climate in the country and its attractiveness to foreign investors.
-0- PANA BY/TBM/SOC/CEA/MA 3Sept2011
This phenomenon of the spreading of small arms in Tripoli and its suburbs in the hands of young revolutionaries, who since the battle of "the liberation of Tripoli" ensured the security of their respective neighborhoods, is beginning to raise questions and fears about possible dangers of the citizen's security and peace of mind.
Indeed, the challenge remains as to how and when the National Transitional Council (NTC) would retrieve these weapons.
The temptations are great indeed, for these young revolutionaries and others from all sides, to keep these small arms.
Therefore the new authorities in Tripoli are expected to act quickly and accelerate the return of the police and various departments of public security to ward off the specter of insecurity.
As such, it is urgent for the new authorities to develop a strategy to identify as quickly and efficiently as possible the phenomenon of the spread of small arms.
Thus, the creation of a special fund to recover the weapons that are in the hands of young people by buying them, the establishment of a policy of demobilisation of combatants and their reintegration into the labour market and the launch of a media campaign to raise awareness through mosques to encourage young people to voluntarily surrender their weapons, should be used as pillars to this strategy to stop the spread of small arms.
Certainly, steps were already taken by the new authorities to curb this phenomenon such as the unification of all armed groups under the sole command of the Tripoli Military Council headed by Abdelhakim Belhadj.
Added to that is the decision of the NTC to redeploy the revolutionary forces from Tripoli to their regions and cities of origin, leaving the charge of the security missions to the fighters from the city of Tripoli.
For many observers, it is time for the new authorities to move quickly into high gear to disarm the many civilians who hold arms because of the popular revolution.
Indeed, with the installation of the NTC in the capital, the resumption of political, administrative and economic activities, the arrival of delegations from countries around the world, and the return of oil companies and international companies in Tripoli, the arms proliferation phenomenon may dent the image of the authorities and undermine stability if nothing is done to reverse the trend.
In this crucial phase, the country needs stability, a key factor for the development of a healthy business climate in the country and its attractiveness to foreign investors.
-0- PANA BY/TBM/SOC/CEA/MA 3Sept2011
