POSSIBLE INCIDENT OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN EASTERN LIBYA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TRIPOLI 000497 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/IP/ITA, NEA/EX, NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/14/2016 TAGS: ASEC PGOV LY SUBJECT: POSSIBLE INCIDENT OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN EASTERN LIBYA REF: N/A CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth Fritschle, Pol/Econ Chief, United States Embassy, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: Elizabeth Fritschle, Pol/Econ Chief, United States Embassy, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On September 1, 2006, an unknown group of individuals threw stones at buses holding transporting the diplomatic corps to Libyan National Day celebrations in Beida, (eastern) Libya. ¶2. (C) September 1 is celebrated as National Day or Revolution Day. It commemorates Colonel Moamar Qadhafi and the Free Officers Movement's overthrow of King Idris in a 1969 military coup. The government generally picks a different town each year to hold large celebrations. This year, the celebration occurred in Beida, Libya, approximately 200 miles to the southeast of Benghazi. Note: The government of Libya faces more internal opposition in the eastern part of the country than it does elsewhere. Benghazi was the site of the February 2006 "Danish Cartoon" riots where reportedly over twelve people were killed and hundreds were injured in a clash with the local security forces. ¶3. (C) As part of the formal events hosted by the Libyan government in Beida, a group of Tripoli-based diplomats boarded two fifty-passenger buses to travel from an exhibition ground to a tented reception area on the other side of town. Approximately 12 blocks from the exhibition ground, away from the troops that protected the ceremonial area, several young men on the roadside threw stones at the the vehicles, creating dramatic noise and causing the diplomats to crouch down protectively in case the windows broke. None of the bus windows shattered, but the rocks left visible dents in windows and the side of the vehicle. The U.S. diplomat attendeding the event counted about 50 indentations in each bus. Libyan police did not escort the two buses transporting the diplomats. There were no injuries sustained nor were there any arrests made. The Libyan Protocol officer coordinating the diplomatic participation in the festivities tried to dismiss the incident as "two groups of boys playing roughly and the buses just got in the way." To the diplomats on board the bus, it appeared the young men were targeting the bus with clear intent. ¶4. (C) The RSO was informed of the incident on September 4. RSO will emphasize the importance of police protection for U.S. diplomats during these events. ¶5. (C) COMMENT. This appears to be another example of simmering resentment beneath the surface of the Libyan Jamahiriya or "state of the masses". As with the Benghazi riots in February, government-organized events, even those with security in place have the potential to become uncontrolled protests. In this case, police, security and military troops were extensively deployed around the ceremonial exhibition area to provide crowd control. Most of the attendees were young men bused in from around the country to represent their student groups or General People's Committees. Buses and mini-vans were packed closely all around the main exhibition ground to transport the visitors home at the end of the celebration. Away from the festivities, the town of Beida reflected the low level of economic development evident throughout Libya. The sense of celebration did not extend beyond the fairground. The rest of Beida consisted of drab apartment blocks with unemployed or underemployed residents going about their daily routine. The Beida rock throwers may have been acting out against the "outside" young men bused into their community, or acting out against buses carrying Libyan government dignitaries, or targeting diplomats in Libyan government buses. While we can't determine the exact motivation, it was clear from their angry faces and forceful stone throwing that they were trying to leave an impression. They succeeded. END COMMENT. GOLDRICH