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