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LIBYA’S ‘DAY OF RAGE’ has left at least 24 people dead according to a human rights group with protests continuing in the country.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) report that at least 24 protesters were killed and many others wounded by Libyan security forces in the country’s second city Benghazi and other areas across the country.
HRW say security forces shot and killed the demonstrators in an effort to disperse the crowds.
Funerals are expected to take place today which Reuters say could be a catalyst for more protests in the country.
Those demonstrating against the government say they want political freedoms, respect for human rights and an end to corruption.
The agency also reports that communications have been hampered by tight controls from the government with journalists prevented from travelling to Benghazi from the capital, Tripoli.
Unrest has spread across several Arab countries with the presidents of Egypt and Tunisia forced to resign as a result of the pro-democracy uprising.
Dissent in Libya is rarely allowed and large protests are uncommon, according to the BBC. Opposition groups are banned and Colonel Muammar Gadaffi has held power since a coup in 1969.
He insists that Libyans enjoy “true democracy”.
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Never?
- “The people who are coming in would be fairly desperate and they want to get to the UK because they see that as the promised land for them.”
This was to be expected after Brexit.
And there’s an irony to it, as the promised land idea is in part due to lack of civil registry / id cards, making it easier to live in the UK illegitimately compared to many EU countries. It also made it hard for the UK to deport EU nationals without work before Brexit because authorities had no idea who these people were – and it’s why David Cameron was sent home in early 2016 when he tried to get the EU to reform, i.e. allow him to implement tighter immigration controls.
@Mick Tobin: The thing is though that the EU did not stop him implementing identity cards or returning EU nationals who could not find work after a fixed period of months (I think 3 months was the minimum) the UK chose not to so they could get the cheap labour and then lied and blamed the EU for it. Also the UK really is the promised land right now for Non EU citizens. Over a million EU low payed workers have left and are not coming back. There are tons of jobs for undocumented non EU people if they are willing to take low pay and conditions the UK citizens will not do. Its very sad that the situation happens but to those people their lives are actually improving (when not then forced by the smuggling gangs into criminality or sex/wage slavery). Complicated issue over all.
I thought the common travel was only benefiting those who were born in Ireland (or England) and even excluded those who became citizens.
@Peter: Non-Irish EU citizens that live in Ireland for 5 years can apply for citizenship, and when granted, they can move to live in the UK. I think that’s likely a post-Brexit route for some people.
@Peter: I hope you are wrong my wife was born in Asia and is here with a UK passport.
@John: Citizenship is citizenship; there’s no point in granting it if there’s going to be differences between the rights of one citizen and another. The common travel area is for anyone with Irish or British citizenship, regardless of where they were born.
@John: If your wife has a UK passport is doesn’t matter where she was born, the CTA applies to her, just in the other direction.
The CTA also applies to those who have been granted permission to reside. The mechanisms for granting of asylum are also mutually recognised.
Basically, if someone is legally resident in one country they have freedom to travel to the other.
@D. Memery: thanks
@Peter: this is entirely correct. I’m not agreeing with it, but it is a strange gotcha that the CTA rules actually apply only to citizens of Ireland and the UK by birth.
I don’t believe this is routinely enforced, as it’s not clear where it would be. Arrivals in the UK require no ID, and freedom of movement (immigration) does certainly seem to include naturalised citizens in practice.
@Gerard: There is no mention of place of birth in the Memorandum of Understanding, it simply refers to citizens.
https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/eu/brexit/brexitandyou/Memorandum-of-Understanding-Ire-version.pdf
@Gerard: Yes, and I only know this because it was a Garda in Immigration, at the time, at the airport that told me.
@John: I don’t think I am wrong but at the same time I can’t see your wife having any issues at all.
Between Ireland and England, good grief what has happened to journalism?
Not exactly our problem
The Uk wants to stand alone they should deal with it alone !!
@Helena O Riordan:
@Helena O Riordan: Thats a stupid comment as 30% of people in GB have Irish ancestry and have family living in Ireland, 10% of people in GB have Irish Grandparents most of them are living in Ireland and then there is over 650,000 Irish people working in England, if its not stop they will withdraw the cta. I have Irish cousins living and working in England to gain experience before they go back to Ireland, I have younger cousins who are coming over to live at my mums while they study and start an apprenticeship at my work. The cta is a benefit to Irish people.
@Helena O Riordan:
The common travel area kinda is our problem since we’re part of it. Quite happy that I can live and work in the UK freely, it provides a lot of opportunities to Irish people.
She wasn’t complaining about the Common Travel Area; more that if foreigners are abusing it to get to the U.K., then it’s the Brits’ problem. Well that’s what I took from the comment anyway.
@Shaner Mac:
They’re abusing Ireland’s membership of the CTA, so it’s a combined problem for both countries to cooperate in solving.
Sure by that logic we should let Cyprus off for selling EU passports to Russian mobsters.
@On the right side: and there are about 250k UK citizens living in Ireland.
@David Bourke: Er, I was just highlighting how you seem to misinterpret the op’s comment. Just like you’ve misinterpreted mine.
Just want to see travel restrictions from uk lifted. Ive had both my jabs now and both countries now relatively safe. and am really looking forward to being able to visit my friends and relatives asap. without having to undergo extra superfluous testing and quarantine
have your say