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Some of the returnees last week at MMIA

Within two weeks this month, more than 300 young Nigerians were repatriated from Libya in two batches by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian embassy in Libya. These are just the latest groups in an exercise that has reportedly been on for the past 14 months. In some cases, the returnees have acted voluntarily; in others, they have been forced out of the country by Libyan authorities. In every case, however, the returnees have nothing but tales of woe and expressions of regret for their decision to leave their country in search of the so-called, and as it has turned out, elusive, greener pasture.

One lady spoke of being sold to a connection home where she, and others were forced to work or suffer inhuman punishment; another who returned with a four-month pregnancy complained of repeated rape by Libyan security officials. Those who were lucky to find work at all eventually lost their savings in the confusion of arrest, detention, and eventual deportation. In sum, frustrated but hopeful young Nigerians who mustered the courage to seek their fortune outside these shores only to return in hopelessness.

Certainly, the repeated mistreatment of Nigerians in foreign lands continually puts theembassies in bad light as derelict in the most basic of their responsibilities. Notwithstanding the understandablelimitations that they face, notably funding, it is important to state that the missionscan only justify their presence and value if they meet theconstitutionally stipulatedpurpose ofany government which is toprotect the security and welfare of Nigerians wherever they are.

Talk can indeed be cheap in the mouth of a person whose yam has been roasted for him by the gods. This is particularly so among people in government. But the point must be quickly established:these returnees were not foolish. They were unhappy and frustrated in their fatherland. With no help coming from incompetent, corruption-ridden governments at all levels, they decided to take their destiny in their hands, for good or for ill. These people have gone in search of greener pasture. However, it turned out to be a terrible experience for them.They shouldnt be ashamed of themselves. This statement from the government is very apt and re-assuring.

Indeed the returnees are not ashamed of themselves; they are ashamed of their country. And every one should be. Everyone, but especially those who havebeen part offormulating,and implementing policies atgovernment level should be doubly ashamedthatthis Nigeria, blessed withunbelievable variety ofnatural resources, with exceptionalpeople whoexcel phenomenallywhen exposed to otherclimes, is in so sorry a state.In truth, the grass in other countries is hardly greener than here. Butthe managers of the affairs of these other countrieshave done a farbetter jobthan the persons who have runNigeriain thelastfour decades.By every yardstick to compare, every country that started out on the path of self-governance in the same year as Nigeria has left Nigeria behind. Nigerias youths who flock Libya en route Europe or some other greener pasture cannot be blamed for this. On the other hand they may be blamed for a particular form of ignorance. In a manner of speaking, the grass in other places is greener by a deliberate act of the people who stay to nurture it. Nigeria will not improve by the act of running away from it. No.

The mostefficaciousway to open up the Nigerianspace for maximumproductivity in all areas, of course, is to practice a true form of federalism thatenablesthefederating units to harnesstheirown resources in order to develop their areas and liberate their peoples respective creative and productive energies. In a country where the federating states possess somuch human and natural resources, there will be no shortage of opportunities for the citizens as each unit leverages on its area of comparative advantage and all engage in a healthy rivalry for development. It happened before, in the days of the regions. That done, foreigners would be finding their way to Nigeria instead of Nigerians seeking their fortune away from home.

1 day ago Opinion

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From Libya with woes - Guardian

A Societe Generale SA executive will have his testimony in a Libyan bribery lawsuit heard in secret because of the risk he may incriminate himself in a U.S. criminal probe.

Judge Nigel Teare refused a request by head of sales for global markets Marc El Asmar to escape testifying,according to the bankers attorneys, who said on Monday that his inclusion in the trial carries the threat of foreign incrimination. Hell give evidence in private when the trial starts later this year.

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The bank is being sued by the Libyan Investment Authority, which alleges billion-dollar investment deals with the French lender were tainted by bribery and intimidation of Libyan officials. The London lawsuit is running in parallel with a separate U.S. Justice Department investigation. A DOJ subpoena issued to the bank named El Asmar, making it more likely he will be included in the probe, his lawyer Alex Bailin said at a pre-trial hearing Monday.

Even if his testimony was not used as evidence in criminal trial, it may be used to shape the DOJs investigation, Bailin said. Any questions may expose him to the real risk of incrimination in the U.S.

Societe Generale said in its 2015 annual report that it is co-operating with American authorities and denies allegations of wrongdoing in relation to the Libya deals. The bank has reviewed more than 600,000 documents and audio files for the investigation. Murray Parker, a London-based spokesman for Societe Generale, declined to comment.

Libyas $60 billion sovereign-wealth fund is suing the French lender to recoup losses from derivative deals dating to the rule of former leader Moammar Qaddafi. The LIA also sued Goldman Sachs Group Inc. but lost its case in October when a London judge ruled the fund hadnt been misled.

Having his evidence heard in private combined with my client being forced to testify under threat of contempt would offer some protection against U.S. prosecution, Bailin said. Even so, the DOJ has already sought information from the U.K. Serious Fraud Office that is covered by a court confidentiality order and may do so again, he added.

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SocGen Banker to Give Secret Testimony in Libya Bribery Case - Bloomberg

Tobruk-based House of Representatives on Monday to select a new dialogue team to represent it in the forthcoming Libyan political dialogue meetings.

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Former regime officer Omer Salem Ishkal was in the besieged neighbourhood of Ganfouda, Benghazi on Tuesday, Saraya Media has reported.

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Derna Shura fighters said today that theyhad repelled an attack by Dignity Operation forces in Dahr Al-Homir in south Derna. Two Shura fighters and four Dignity militants were wounded in the clashes whichtook place in the early hours of the day.

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Algerian Minister for Maghreb, African Union and Arab League Affairs Abdelkader Messahel said his country has adopted a roadmap from three points to resolve the Libyan political crisis to be discussed in next months Libya meeting of Algerian,EgyptianandTunisianforeign ministers.

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Qatari Foreign MinisterMohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thanirecived in Doha a delegation of military officers from the western region of Libya, in addition to elders from the city of Misrata. The meeting discussed the Libyan political stalemate and ways of resolvingit.

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2 Dignity Operation militants were killed in clashes against Benghazi Shura Council for the control of the remaining 12 residential buildings in Ganfouda district in western Benghazi.

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Head of UN-installed Presidency Council Fayaz Sirraj told the 34thUnited Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC) meeting in Geneva that some illegitimate Libyan parties are trying to militarize the country and bring dictatorship back to the country by banning Libyan nationals from travelling without security permit.

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The head of the Public Services Company in Derna, Talal Al-Hinsher, announced today a full stoppage of the cleaning work in the city due to the lack of fuel for garbage trucks. The so-called Omar Al-Mukhtar Military Operations Room of Dignity Operation has been besieging Derna for months, disallowing cash, cooking gas, fuel, medicines and other basic needs from entering the city.

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The Libyan medical contract workers staged a sit-in in Tripoli's Algeria Square on Monday to demand their unpaid salaries for three years.

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The Commission of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides of Benghazi marked yesterday its 63th anniversary by holding a ceremony in Sulaiman Darrat sports compound where it honored some of the most important figures in the history of the commission.

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Tripoli Medical Reference Laboratory said it will stop the performance of viral screening until further notice because of the shortage of the equipment and materials needed for it.

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The Public Company for Land Transport said that it will reopen its oil terminals trips as of tomorrow when it launches the first trip to Ras Lanuf, adding that the resumption of the trips from Tripoli to Benghazi and vice versa will take place very soon.

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The municipality of Tarhuna (90 Km southeast Tripoli) said that the official opening of Sharshara Tourist Park will take place tomorrow, calling on people from all Libyan cities to come to Tarhuna to witness the event.

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News Roundup - Tue, Feb 28, 2017 - The Libya Observer

Tuesday February 28, 2017

Read story transcript

Libya, in the eyes of many, has become a failed state.

Its economy isintatterswithmultiple governments competing for control, militias competing for terrain and its shores ground zero for migrants and traffickers.

While there have been growing calls for Canada to play an immediate role in addressing the dire state of affairs, Libyan-Canadian Ali Hamza has taken matters into his own hands.

His ailing mother and five siblings are trapped in the Ganfouda neighbourhood of Benghazi and he is doing whatever he can to help.

"Life is very difficult. Survival is the question," Hamza tells The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti about how his family is fairing in Libya.

He says that drinking water is not allowed in and people are relying on puddles and wild grass or leaves as a source of food.

Hamza, his wife and four kids are in Turkey and say they are able to provide water, food and basic medicines to around 30 families.

"We are ready to do that on our own. If we can find permission to go there, we are willing to go there with some aid."

Ali Hamza and his family stand in Toronto's Pearson International airport at the Turkish airlines gate on their way to Turkey. (Courtesy of Ali Hamza)

Hamza tells Tremonti his car is being auctioned to help put money towards the supplies.

As of July 16, Hamza says he's been in contact with the Canadian government.

After it was confirmed by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that people were eating expired food and medical supplies were gone, Hamza says he asked for aid and a safe exit.

"There has been no single shipment of aid through the UN since July of last year," he insists.

Hamza says it's very painful to watchthe dire situation unfold as a Libyan-Canadian worryingfor his family.

"I'd give them every piece of my body just to have them survive this ... that's my appeal in Turkey," Hamza declares.

"I will give up a kidney. I will give up if the doctors allow part of my liver to a country that delivers water to them, and takes them to safety within Libya."

"Yes I will do that."

Listen to the full segment at the top of this web post including a look at the consequences of Libya's failed state.

This segment was produced by The Current's Karin Marley, Samira Mohyeddin and StephKampf.

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'I will give up a kidney': Canadian seeks aid for family trapped in Libyan conflict - CBC.ca

Department of Religious Studies professor Matthew Cressler will discuss religion and the Black Lives Matter movement during the College of Charleston Faculty Lecture Series at Addlestone Library this week.

Matthew Cressler

The free lecture at noon on March 1, 2017, in room 227 of the library is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library and the Honors College.

The Black Lives Matter movement is often characterized as different than the civil rights movement, says Cressler. That difference is often qualified in the terms of religion, with Black Lives Matter being described as more secular than the civil rights movement.

Cressler says that secular title is often used to try to delegitimize Black Lives Matter in the same way the secular label was placed on the Black Power movement in the 1970s.

He says his talk will challenge those arguments.

The College Todayrecently asked Cressler about Black Lives Matter:

There have been comparisons between Black Lives Matter and the civil rights movement. Is it fair to compare the two?

Yes, it is, to the extent that Black Lives Matter is the most recent example of ongoing black struggles for freedom and justice that date back to the time of slavery. Moreover, Black Lives Matter is the most prominent black social movement since the civil rights and Black Power movements of the mid-20th century.

The movement is different, of course, to the extent that it grows out of new social, political, and cultural circumstances. For instance, Black Lives Matter, among its many objectives, is working to challenge and dismantle mass incarceration which arose largely after the fall of Jim Crow. However, other issues, such as police brutality, are continuous with concerns raised in the civil rights movement. Black Lives Matter also differentiates itself from civil rights era protests in a number of tactical ways for instance, their explicitly feminist and queer leadership challenges traditionally charismatic male-centered leadership of previous generations. However, their commitment to direct action protest would stand in continuity with the civil disobedience of the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The Rev. William Barber calls this time period the third Reconstruction, connecting this historical moment to two previous turning points in the fight for black freedom (post-Civil War Reconstruction and the civil rights era) but noting that they are distinct in important ways too.

Do you think the civil rights movement would have grown without the religious element?

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would not have been the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. without his Christian faith. Malcolm X would not have been Malcolm X without his Muslim faith. Angela Davis would not be Angela Davis without her Marxist and existentialist philosophy. Fannie Lou Hamer would not have been Fannie Lou Hamer without her Pentecostal faith. Bob Moses would not have been Bob Moses without his connection to the reading of Albert Camus. Bayard Rustin would not have been Bayard Rustin without his Quaker beliefs.

Inasmuch as all of these people were motivated and inspired to action because of these beliefs, religion is an essential element of the civil rights movement. At the same time, we should be careful not to essentialize the movement as exclusively religious, given that many key figures (and activists in the movement) were motivated by decidedly secular beliefs.

Black Lives Matter is often called more secular than the civil rights movement. Is that the case?

If by secular we mean non-religious or anti-religious, then no. Black Lives Matter is differently religious it does not grow directly out of black Christian institutions, nor is it led by black male ministers (it was three women, two of whom identify as queer, who coined #BlackLivesMatter, and they are religious, though not in traditionally Christian ways). Importantly, though, there are many black Christians who are active members in The Movement for Black Lives, and the movement has inspired and energized black Christians. Just as the civil rights movement had widespread religious diversity, so too Black Lives Matter is composed of supporters and activists from many religious and secular communities.

Though the term secular is helpful in some ways for instance, in signaling the way that hip hop anthems such asKendrick Lamars Alright have served as the chorus to young activists in the way that explicitly Christian hymns did in the civil rights movement it is often used to delegitimize the protest of black millennials who dont play by the rules of an earlier generation of activists. This attempt to use religion (or lack thereof) to delegitimize black protest has historical precedent this is precisely what was said of the Black Power movement of the 1970s which was said to have put the Gospel on the back burner in spite of the fact that it was led in many regards by black Muslims and it was taken up by a wide variety of black religious communities.

How do you see the role of Black Lives Matter in the current political climate?

The Movement for Black Lives is at the forefront of a number of different social justice movements that are working to transform our society. Id also include the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline, led by Native Americans along with their allies; Latin activists fighting attempts to demonize and deport immigrants; and Muslim activists fighting against Islamophobia and the recent immigration ban.

In short, the Black Lives Matter movement is but one (perhaps the most prominent) example of historically marginalized communities leading the fight against injustice in our country today.

Link:
Religious Studies Professor Examines Black Lives Matter Movement