The Libyan Popular National Movement

February 22, 2012
update May 7

Gaddafi supporters outside Libya form new grouping
BBC News via Uruknet
February 17, 2012

Members of Colonel Gaddafi's former government outside Libya say they are starting a political movement aimed at radical change, the BBC has learnt.

In a message which appears to be genuine, one of Gaddafi's senior officials said they wanted to prevent the outbreak of another civil war.

The man asked to remain anonymous to protect relatives still in the country.
[...]

Last week Saadi Gaddafi, another of the former leader's sons, who is in exile in Niger, warned of an imminent uprising inside Libya.

[...]

The former senior official told the BBC that most of the leadership of what he calls "Green Libya" were forming the Libyan Popular National Movement.

In a statement posted on several websites the group said the situation in Libya "is becoming worse every day.

"There's very little interest from the international media in the many horrors that have taken place. We are reorganising ourselves outside Libya in an inclusive political movement that would encompass all Libyans who understand the terrible reality of Libya," it said.

Update, May 7: This was no quick flashin the pan that burned itself out. Just now, at least per the on-the-ball Libya 360˚ on May 4, the LPNM has recently released its founding declaration, in Arabic and English. I haven't read it yet, but here's the link:
http://libya360.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/founding-declaration-of-the-libyan-popular-national-liberation-movement/

Green Armies Hack Flag Counter?

Feb. 15, 2012

I haven't been keeping up much with things like, for example, Green Army raises Jamahiriyah flag in Bani Walid, video posted today on Lizzie Phelan's new site. There are few questions about what this shows, but just when and where it was filmed isn't entirely clear.  Petri has some good thoughts on that here.

But just on the off-chance, some things I noticed checking my Flag Counter. Early this morning, I was surprised to see Libya finally pass Sweden on viewers (572 now!). Maybe it was that alone that was new, as there was no green flag replaced, but I could swear the country name too had been changed from Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to just Libya. It said the former this morning and still now. Has it always and I just didn't notice? I let that slide.

But then today looking at my totals, an odd thing again. The Jamahiriya is now listed in the top viewing nations, with Libya's flag next to it. Cool! Been a while since I've seen that.

Green Resistance Updates Jan. 30

January 30, 2012

The following a largely re-posted article from Pravda, Jan. 29. I can't vouch for any of it, but find these excerpts highly interesting. (emphasis mine)

Lisa Karpova
Pravda.Ru

The National Transitional Council (NTC), Al Qaeda and other NATO backed terrorists are unable to subdue the country. Not only are they incapable of running a country or government, but they can't even agree among themselves and they are eating each other alive.

...

What the west fails to understand is the unique relationship among Libyans and their army and the fact that the Libyan people themselves were and are the true government of this country. It is called the Jamahiriya, Government by people's councils.

Any advances made by the west and their terrorist stooges are only temporary, the situation is fluid and changes on a daily basis.

The Green Resistance, formerly the Libyan Army, controls most of the country and every day, more and more areas are going Green.
[...]
At every opportunity, the Green Resistance, unlike the NATO installed terrorists, take the time and trouble to look after the needs of the Libyan people. No matter how difficult the fight, this remains true.

That would fit with what it seems like they did at Bani Walid. They helped the locals kickout the brutalizers, and then let the locals force down their proud green flags to prevent further trouble.

One reported example of them helping the world learn about what's happening in Libya was reported by Libya S.O.S., as Petri alerts me:

(3) In major military operations around Misrata at the coast of Libya, Green Army found bodies of 17 Somali immigrants at the coast of Misrata, cause of death remain to be established, an investigation was not immediately carried since it was a heavy fighting zone.

Continuing with Karpova, their spirit is spreading all over.

University students in Tarhunah hoist the green flag and chanted slogans of God, Muammar and Libya.

Clashes between the Libyan resistance and thieves in Gheryan result in the killing of 16 of the bands

The city of Bani Walid, recently liberated by Green Resistance reported NATO jets flying overhead while Al Qaeda is attempting to mount an offensive

... Chaos in Tripoli, says Karpova's sources

Explosion of a grenade on junta-rats military camp in [Abu] Salim, by brave green soldiers of resistence at [Abu] Salim.

SGP introduces a state of emergency in parts of Abu Salim, Ain Zara (auto explosion, three rats were killed), Al-Furdzhan [Khelet al-Furjan]. "The threat of attacks on important targets in these areas - the maximum." Squads of rats contract to these areas.

Touhami Dr. Hamza has occurred January 27, 2012, announcing the popular uprising in Benghazi. He said the real revolution began (not NATO revolution) and that young Libyans will release Libya, young people like Moatassem, Seif, Saidi, Aisha will create the new Libya and liberate the country. He added that the people of Bani Walid told France Presse that the Libyan leader is alive in the hearts of Bani Walid

The Bani Walid Situation

January 24, 2012
last update Jan. 26

I'm woefully uninformed on the situation in Bani Walid, even before the reported takeover by Green/Jamahiriya/Loyalist forces the other day. It seems the rebels sort of went around it to wallop Sirte, and then implicitly must've taken control sometime after. Now, the Bani Walid local (NTC) council says they were driven out and the green flag was raised, at least temporarily.

Such things have been reported before in Green news sources, almost all unverifiable and not carried by the mainstream media, suggesting a pitched civil war the loyalists were winning. This is the first time I know of where mainstream media-al Arabiya, the Guardian, BBC, CBS, everyone now, reports this as news.

Later, I'll bring more links. For now I'll start with the BBC, who "helpfully" pass on the doubts about the "competing claims" of what's going on there.

Confusion surrounds events in the Libyan town of Bani Walid after fighting broke out between armed groups on Monday, leaving four people dead.

The head of the local council has said a local militia was attacked by remnants of forces supporting late Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.

But the post-Gaddafi government has denied pro-Gaddafi forces were involved, saying instead the fighting was between rival militias.

The town is now reported to be calm.

I suspect the claim from Tripoli is bullshit. Loyalists are the ones who've been so good at re-taking Bani Walid at will. But then, that was back in the late summer last year. Is the city calm, or just reported so? By which set of competing authorities? Is it calm under green or red-black-and-green (or just black) control?

The state-run Libyan news agency WAL quotes the head of Bani Walid's council, Mubarak al-Fatamni, as saying that forces loyal to the new government were attacked on 23 January in a "barbaric manner" by members of the "remnants of the Gaddafi regime".

Mr Fatamni said pro-Gaddafi forces raised their green flag over the town for a short time on Monday afternoon, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Why briefly? They took their own flags right back down? Someone forced them to? Who? How?

But spokesmen for the prime minister and defence ministry have told the BBC the dispute is a local one.

I'm sure it was local. The Greens live inside Libya and always have, and recently center themselves around a few places like Bani Walid. Is this an acknowledgement from Tripoli it wasn't one of their own brigades made up of mixed Libyans, Qatari, Irish, American, Canadian, and Australian foreign adventurers?

The government's claim, explained:

A source within the Libyan government, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC the fighting broke out after a group of former rebel fighters, the 28 May Brigade, arrested one person.

The fighting was "more a clash between local people regarding a difference of who this [arrested] person was," the source said. "But of course now other people seem to be involved as well. The situation is not very clear who is who. It's still confused."

See, they know just what they're talking about. The Green Flags must have been imagined. All is under control in Libya, the fake-out takeover has still unquestionably won.
---
Update Jan. 25:
Anger, chaos but no revolt after Libya violence
Oliver Holmes, Reuters, Jan. 24

...a day after townsmen put to flight a force loyal to the Western-backed interim administration in Tripoli, elders in the desert city, once a bastion of support for Muammar Gaddafi, dismissed accusations they wanted to restore the late dictator's family to power or had any ambitions beyond their local area.

"Allegations of pro-Gaddafi elements in Bani Walid, this is not true," said Miftah Jubarra, who was among dozens of leading citizens gathered at a local mosque to form a municipal council now that nominal representatives from the capital have fled.

"In the Libyan revolution, we have all become brothers," Jubarra told Reuters. "We will not be an obstacle to progress."
[...]
People in Bani Walid urged the NTC to keep back...

But they kicked out the government. They insist on staying there, outside NTC control, but not as an obstacle. It seems they did take down any green flags that may have been (were) displayed on first conquest. It also seems it did start as a dispute over one arrest among the many they've been dealing with there.

...those willing to talk to reporters insisted the violence was no revanchist putsch but was provoked by local abuses allegedly committed by The May 28th Brigade, a militia loyal to the NTC.

"When men from Tripoli come into your house and harass women, what are we to do?" said Fati Hassan, a 28-year-old Bani Walid resident who described the men of May 28th as a mixture of local men and outsiders, former anti-Gaddafi rebels who had turned into oppressors when given control over the town.

"They were arresting people from the first day after liberation. People are still missing. I am a revolutionary and I have friends in The May 28th Brigade," said Hassan, who said he urged them to ease off. "The war is over now."
[...]
Jubarra, who sat at the meeting of elders, gave details of the incident which, he said, caused patience to snap among the people of the town.

"On Friday, the May 28th Brigade arrested a man from Bani Walid. After Bani Walid residents lodged a protest, he was finally released. But he had been tortured.

"This caused an argument that escalated to arms.

"Bani Walid fighters took over the 28th May camp, confiscated weapons and pushed them out of the city," Jubarra explained to the elders, who sat in silence around him, many of them wrapped in traditional white woollen blankets.

The government response - military - was swift to set itself up and then wait.

Residents heard warplanes overhead late on Monday as NTC forces hastily drove south from Tripoli to take up positions 50 km from Bani Walid. But those troops had, as yet, no orders to move on the town, where Gaddafi loyalists fought rebel forces to a standstill before negotiating a surrender in October.

Interior Minister Fawzi Abd al-All told a news conference in Tripoli would "strike with an iron fist" anyone who posed a threat to Libyan security - but he also said there would be no NTC move against Bani Walid until it was clear what happened.

It's been like one day, and they're proud of the lack of "iron fist" activity that sounds eerily reminiscent of something Gaddafi, or any world leader faced with an insurgecy, would say. Time for humanitarian intervention? Better proof already that Tripoli is bombing people (jets overhead) than we ever had last year when Gaddafi was in charge.

I'm for calling this a local decision, perhaps assisted by a hidden green strike force. That could also be pure propaganda by the driven out May 28 ruffians, to ensure some "iron fist"revenge. But the sudden overwhelming strike by purely local (under occupation) fighting men takes a little explaining.

I imagine the NTC will demand authority back but will have to "acknowledge grievances," maybe charge someone, promise "reforms and oversight," maybe even "hold off until after elections" on implementing any of it (likely bumped back forward in short order). But then they'll get someone else in there who'll quietly show those little punks who's in charge - it ain't the Warfalla.
---
Jan.26:
Reuters, via NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/world/africa/libya-government-yields-to-tribe-in-bani-walid.html

Libya on Wednesday recognized a government dominated by a powerful tribe in Bani Walid, a stronghold of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. The move occurred days after the tribe violently expelled pro-government forces and illustrated the power of tribal leaders over the fragile interim government. Salah al-Maayuf, a member of the Warfalla elders council in Bani Walid, said that on Tuesday, his body appointed a new local council that was recognized by the defense minister on Wednesday. The tribe long benefited from Colonel Qaddafi’s rule.

But the NTCis keeping its options open - militias from the Nafusah mountains are there to surround the town and "keep the peace," not to enter it, just yet.
BBC with video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16734332

Russia Today Arabic video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hL-2UXG3AA&feature=youtu.be
Description, translated:

Gathered fighters loyal to the Transitional National Assembly in Libya at a checkpoint outside the Bani Walid on Tuesday after the pro-Muammar Gaddafi took control of the city and the green flag of the former regime.
Which is the largest operation since the formation of new government in Libya
Said Abdullah Mohammed, Chairman of the Board of Bani Walid military we are well equipped and highly trained

Clashes in Tripoli: Loyalist Uprisings

October 16, 2011
Last edits Dec. 12

To start with, I've read reports around, unproven, most of it perhaps nothing but rumors, that armed resistance agaisnt TNC rule continued in Tripoli. There is video evidence of at least those rebels manning road blocks being killed by loyalist snipers, for example (Dec. 12 - scratch that. The same scene was filmed in this video "the fight isn't over" was filmed back on August 21 or 22, as the battle was just about over). Sites like Libya S.O.S. have been running a series of updates (Dec. 11's installation), with little or no verification, chronicling Green (loyalist) victories nationwide, as the NTC drop like flies to assassin's bullets. But until the other day there's been nothing that was undeniable enough the mainstream media had to acknowledge it as news, as what they all call the first violence since the initial conquest.

This time, the violent resistance was preceded, as the NATO rebels' once was, by speech (raising the green flag). It occurred in broad daylight in the streets of the capitol and was darn near filmed (was it, directly?). And this time the perpetrators neither won nor ran off afterwards, and they gained two more martyrs who, for once again in the capitol, died on their feet. So clearly, this is a different phenomenon.

Myself, I wouldn't mind seeing the same thing but larger and with no guns. How do the authorities of "liberated Libya" deal with the people just expressing themselves?

I start with two articles from a mainstream news search, a third article, and then invite comments until I go looking deeper.

Reuters: Libyan government steps up security after clashes in capital - bolding mine.

Libya's new government increased security in Tripoli Saturday with extra roadblocks and house-to-house searches after fighting in the capital with supporters of Muammar Gaddafi raised fears of another insurgency.

At most a few dozen pro-Gaddafi fighters appeared Friday in only a few neighborhoods of the Libyan capital that are known to be sympathetic to the deposed ruler.
[...]
Residents said fighting broke out when a group of up to 50 armed men had appeared in Abu Salim, a repository of pro-Gaddafi sentiment, Friday and at least one other nearby neighborhood and chanted pro-Gaddafi slogans.

Hundreds of NTC fighters in pick-up trucks shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) raced into Abu Salim and the two sides exchanged rifle and heavy machinegun fire.

They're searching, finding some guns, and "pick-up trucks with heavy weapons were stationed inside the district, firing occasional volleys over the houses to make their presence felt." Always over the houses? They're getting more subtle as they mature into a government. Or in this case, into a tacitly allowed terrorit militia to intimaidate the people into subservience.

Further, this articlegives the death toll as three: two Gaddafi supporters and one NTC fighter, citing "NTC official Abdel Razak al Oraidi," during a news conference.

Associated Press: Libyan fighters fan out in Tripoli to clear areas of armed Gadhafi supporters after gunbattle

Libyan fighters fanned out in Tripoli neighborhoods Saturday to search for armed supporters of fugitive leader Moammar Gadhafi a day after a major gunbattle rocked the capital for the first time in two months.
[...]
Revealing serious divisions within the revolutionary ranks, Saturday’s sweep of Abu Salim was being conducted mainly by a breakaway militia that refuses to answer to the main Tripoli military council.

It is one of many factions that have refused to put themselves under the umbrella of official revolutionary authorities, raising fears of vigilante justice as the North African nation faces continued fighting by loyalists of the fugitive leader.
[...]
Abdullah Naker, the head of the so-called revolutionary council, called on all anti-Gadhafi forces to join them in the search and warned his men will fight anybody who gets in their way.

“All of Tripoli will be searched and we will reorganize our checkpoints and our guards in public and private institutions inside of Tripoli and outside of Tripoli,” he told reporters.

He said eight wanted men and 12 other suspects were arrested. He also alleged that teachers have been telling students that Gadhafi will return and said teams had been sent to stop the practice.

“We gave the military council a chance to prove themselves and they failed, and we will not leave things to chance,” he said.

A few more details from the article on how it's said the clash started:

A senior Interior Ministry official, Ibrahim al-Bargathi, said Friday’s skirmish started when a group of some 30 people, including eight women and some armed men, started walking with green flags. Local opponents began fighting with them, then revolutionary forces swarmed into the area from across the city, he said.

He said six people were injured and 14 were captured — nine men and five women.
[...]
The firefight in Tripoli began after Friday prayers. Witnesses said dozens of loyalists carrying green flags appeared on a square in the Abu Salim neighborhood, which has long been a pro-Gadhafi stronghold. Residents also reported fighting in several other areas known to still hold loyalists of the former leader.

Ghana Politics: Libya leaders mop up after deadly clashes in Tripoli

The head of Tripoli's supreme military council, Abdelhakim Belhaj, pledged tough action against the pro-Gaddafi fighters and "sleeper cells" of the former regime which he said would be targeted in the clean-up operation.
[...]
"The fighters are in the process of clearing the buildings in the area of Gaddafi loyalists," Hamad (40) -- an NTC soldier manning one of the checkpoints in the neighbourhood -- said on Saturday.

He said they had already found evidence that the Gaddafi loyalists had been preparing for the clashes, including sandbags and flak jackets on the roofs of apartment blocks.

Abdelrazaq al-Aradi, vice-president of the security committee in Tripoli [...] told a news conference that around 50 armed Gaddafi supporters were behind the violence, 27 of whom, including four "African mercenaries", were arrested on Friday.

Abu Salim residents said the fighting broke out during pro-Gaddafi demonstrations after noon prayers, prompted by a call to rise from a pro-Gaddafi Libyan television presenter earlier in the week, broadcast on Iraqi [Syrian] TV channel Al-Rai.

Wow, people in foreign lands, speaking on video screens, encouraging people to rise up against their governments? Unprecedented. As for the mercenaries, how much do you get paid to help start a seemingly hopeless uprising and just get arrested/shot for it? Those unprincipled scum, black devils, they'll do anything for enough money.

Update Nov. 2
We'veseen what guns plus green flags means as far as making someone a legitimate military target. And in Libya's fledgeling democracy, new ideas on how to deal with non-violent loyalists are being freely exchanged in the capitol . As NPR reported back on October 6:

At a checkpoint in Abu Salim, two anti-Gadhafi fighters argue about what they would do if they spotted someone waving Gadhafi's green flag.

"It's a democracy," one of them says. "As long as they don't have a weapon, I would let them go on their way."

The other waves his gun and says he would shoot them dead.

As the header for this site shows, others share the view of the guy most likely to win any argument that emerged at that checkpoint. And the Az Zintan fighters are perhaps the meanest among them. As the Associated Press reported on the latest (rebel-on-rebel) clashes on Halloween, they mentioned another case of protecting the people from loyalists I haven't found any further details on:

Last week, a woman from Tripoli's once [sic] staunchly pro-Gadhafi Abu Salim neighborhood was killed after an argument with a Zintan fighter.