Reply #26: Tripoli Update Sunday 29th May 2011 [View All]

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@tributefm Comprehensive update on Tunisia’s Refugee camps, Nafousa & Tripoli - Sunday 29th May 2011#feb17 #Libya http://twitdoc.com/8U8
vor 18 Minuten

Source: Tripoli resident who arrived in Tunisia Thursday 26 May 2011

- My source bought 20 litres for 80 dinars which was a bargain in relative terms. Normally it would cost over 100 dinars. It has even reached 160 dinars for 20 litres at one point. You can no longer find foreign imported food. Prices have shot up, for example, a litre of oil was 2.75 and now is double that price. Another example of shortages is in medicines, panadol is unavailable.

- School week has been extended to include Saturday and the school year has been extended to end in July. This is in order to use the school children in pro Gaddafi rallies. Furthermore this prevents families of school children from leaving Tripoli after the scholl year ends.

- It is now very difficult to leave via Ras Jideer. You require permission from the ministry your job relates to. For example, if you work in tourism you require a permit from the ministry of tourism. Also you require proof of completed military service. There are around 40 check points from Tripoli to Tunisia’s border which is 190km journey. On average a checkpoint every 5kms.

- On government buildings notices requiring all men aged between 18 & 40 years old to submit themselves for military reserve conscription. This has not been enforced yet.

- Zuwara’s main high street was completely destroyed by Gaddafi forces in 2 to 3 days. You can not pass by it when heading to Tunisia. However, you can pass by Zawiya. The destruction in Zawiya is very evident.

- The source confirms 2 weeks ago two protesters were killed in Arada following an attempt to protest by the local residents of the area.

- Most of the Gaddafi supporters that appear in Bab AlAzizia are family members of Katiba officers. Many of whom live in the Busleem area which is very close to Bab AlAzizia. At the beginning of the revolution you would get paid 250 dinars just to show up, children playgrounds, musical groups, drugs and alcohol to encourage participation. However, the numbers have dwindled to almost nothing progressively as the financial and other incentives was halted.


- The people of Tripoli to date have not heard of a single civilian casualty from NATO bombings.

- You can hear gunshots all the time. You can often find empty bullet shells in your garden in the morning from the antiaircraft bullets. These have caused property damage such as broken windows.

- In AlHadba about 10 days to 2 weeks tents of Haras Alshaabi ( Katiba Forces) were burnt down.

- The way they raised the flag on Mitiga, they froze the flag with the green part showing on the outside and asked the security forces to rasie the flag on the base. After the sun hit and melted the flag the independence flag in its colours appear.

- Specifically in Soug AlJuma there was writing on the wall saying Soug Aljuma has not used force yet.

- Many people have been killed in Gas station incidents by gun fire from Haras AlShaabi ( katiba forces). One such incident occurred in Alhany gas station. This station was dedicated to women only. 2people were killed and the gas station was subsequently completely shut down. Another incident occurred at the gas station in albeefy where the 2 sons of the gas station owner were killed by Gaddafi forces. One of the sons died en route to Tunisia.

- One Thursday there was a buzz in the city about potential mass protests. However the katibas did not allow people to exit from their houses with Katiba forces roaming every street to enforce this. The people in Tripoli are awaiting for cities nearby to fall and for NATO to help loosen the squeeze by the Katibas.