A group of Libyan demonstrators yesterday gathered outside Castille in protest over the Maltese government’s decision to recognise the chargé d’affaires operating from the Ta’ Xbiex consulate representing the Tobruk-based Libyan government.
Some 20 protesters held up placards and presented a letter to the assistant of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, calling on Malta to end its support for the internationally recognised Tobruk parliament.
This parliament, which assumed power following general elections in June, has governed in exile from Tobruk after the Libya Dawn militia pushed them out of Tripoli.
The political turmoil has left Libya with two rival parliaments and governments: the Tobruk-based government led by Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni and the Tripoli-based government led by Prime Minister Omar al-Hassi.
Malta has followed the EU and the United Nations in recognising the Tobruk parliament as the sole representative of the people of Libya.
Malta always considered Libyans as one people and it is sad to see such division among the citizens of our neighbour state
However, in a blow to anti-Islamist factions, Libya’s highest court last month ruled that the general elections were unconstitutional and that the parliament and government which resulted from that vote should be dissolved.
A diplomatic battle mirroring Libya’s bifurcated state has recently erupted in Malta after two men each claimed to be the legitimate representative of the troubled country.
The Maltese government has recognised Al-Habib Al-Amin as the Libyan chargé d’affaires. Mr Al-Amin represents the Tobruk government and currently operates from consular offices in Ta’ Xbiex.
However, Hussin Musrati, who was nominated by the Tripoli-based government, had told a news conference at the Attard embassy that the Maltese government was dabbling in Libyan affairs by not recognising it as the official government. Echoing Mr Musrati’s call, the Libyan demonstrators held up placards which stated that “by accepting the new chargé d’affaires, you are not respecting the verdict of the Libyan court.” Khaled Baara, a Libyan citizen who resides in Malta, explained that the protesters were also there to voice their condemnation of the use of military force on civilians in their homeland.
They also held up placards depicting Libya’s retired general Khalifa Haftar, army chief-of-staff under Muammar Gaddafi, branding him a “war criminal” responsible for the death of countless Libyans.
Haftar was granted political asylum in the United States and gained US citizenship earlier this year. “We are very hurt and offended that the Maltese government, which has always been such a kind and just government, has decided to take sides and support the [Tobruk-based] government.
“Those people kill and shoot on civilians. They use airplanes to bomb civilians. They are criminals – especially Haftar, who has had his hands smeared with blood since the 1980s.
“We don’t want any more violence.”
In the letter presented to Dr Muscat, the protesters wrote that the Tobruk parliament did not achieve the 18 per cent vote participation in the elections and lacked legal status in terms of the law, as confirmed by the Libyan Constitutional Court.
Asked to comment, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry reiterated a previous statement which said that the Maltese government never interfered and had no intention of interfering in Libya’s internal affairs.
The statement said that the government’s actions were based on United Nations and EU guidelines.
For the past weeks and months, the government had been taking part in serious attempts to strengthen dialogue in Libya which would lead to a transitional government. It is hoped this would lead to peace based on the Constitution now being drawn up.
The government said it was committed to seeing a united Libyan people enjoying peace and serenity. It said it always considered Libyans as one people and it was sad to see such division among the citizens of its neighbour state.