Muammar Gaddafi,
the former Libyan leader, died from fatal wounds on October 20,
shortly after his capture by forces of the Libyan National
Transitional Council (NTC). His death brought an end to the civil
war that has been raging in the country over the past several
months.
The news marks
the beginning of a new era for Libya. With the departure of the man
who ruled the country for over 40 years, many of us, naturally and
sincerely, hope that peace and stability will be restored in the
North African state. It is now imperative that the Libyan people
enjoy the stability they need to begin rebuilding their
country.
The fall of
Gaddafi and his regime is widely perceived to be the result of his
corruptive and tyrannical governance. It can be seen as yet another
instance that corroborates the old Chinese saying, "He who wins the
heart of the people will win the country as well." But this is only
one side of the coin. Some people say Gaddafi's defeat simply
represents a major victory for the Western world. Over the years
the man has displeased the West on different occasions, by
challenging its dominance in the world's political and economic
arenas and by trying to develop advanced weaponry as a
counterweight to its military superiority. To a large extent, it
was these and other anti-Western deeds committed by Gaddafi that
brought an end to his life and a destructive war to his nation. The
NATO-assisted war not only brought down Gadaffi's government but
also left over 30,000, mostly civilians, dead and 50,000 more
injured.
The end of the
civil war in Libya, however, is unlikely to bring lasting peace and
democracy to the country. In fact, given the complex internal
situation within Libya, many Chinese and international observers
believe the path to stability will be long and arduous. The NTC
must now confront a series of very stern challenges, including
taking over the command of various factional or tribal military
forces, drafting a new state constitution, and holding general
elections to form a new and unified national government.
To meet those
challenges, authorities in Libya should realize that the future of
the country is now in their hands. And based on this premise, they
must put the well-being of the nation above everything else and
work in a more tolerant and constructive manner. The international
community, too, should use all the resources at its disposal to
help the country over this difficult period. Crucially, all the
parties concerned must refrain from seeking selfish gains in the
name of promoting the interest of the Libyan people or helping with
the country's democratic process.
Ultimately, "a
good beginning is half the battle," and the people of the world all
wish Libya a good start as well as a peaceful future in the wake of
the damaging civil war.
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