Murzuk Tebus demand greater say in drafting constitution

By Jamal Adel.

Tebus protest in Murzuk demanding greater representation for minorities

Tripoli, 16 December 2013:

Tebu activists held protests yesterday in Murzuk in solidarity with demonstrators at the Sarir power station. While  protestors there have recently suspended their blockade of the power plant, they are still demanding a greater  say in framing of the constitution.

Juma Al-Senussi, a member of the Tebu youth union and an organiser of the Murzuk protest, told the Libya Herald that the protest was to remind the government and congress that the fuel blockade at Sarir power station would resume if demands were not met.

The Tebu want greater representation on  the 60-member Constitutional Committee. Senussi said it was not enough for the drafting committee to vote on the extent of minority rights. What was needed was a plurality of voices actually involved in making decisions from the start of the drafting process.

Abdallah Barka, a Tebu who is standing for election to the committee, told this newspaper “I am not completely biased but to rely on only two seats in a committee of 60 to determine minority rights is totally absurd. I won’t take it and I will withdraw my candidacy if the GNC doesn’t change the draft.”

Barka explained that Tebu, Amazigh and Tuareg nominees wished to reach a consensus on  how minority rights should be guaranteed. He said that minority groups would not be satisfied with insignificant ceremonial roles. He added that a constitution drafted without the participation of minorities would be both illegal and illegitimate.

Read more: http://www.libyaherald.com/2013/12/16/murzuk-tebus-demand-greater-say-in-drafting-constitution/#ixzz2nkw86QuS