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Libya’s oil has protected its regime from criticism abroad. But those who support democracy must back our fight for freedom ‘Libya is not Tunisia or Egypt. Libya is different, if there is disturbance it will split into several states.” These were the words of the son of Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, on Libyan state TV on Sunday . He is right of course; Libya is not Egypt or Tunisia. It is a country of over 600,000 sq miles of land, populated by less than 7 million people. Since 1969 it has known just one leader – a man who has shown merciless cruelty to anyone who speaks out against him, the regime or the revolution he headed. It is a country built on the foundations of tribal unity and which, despite having the largest oil reserves in Africa, continues to allow two-thirds of its citizens to live below the poverty line. It is also a country that cannot boast of long ties with Europe and the west, having only in the last few years made amends with its neighbours across the Mediterranean after years of US- and UN-imposed sanctions. After “coming in from the cold” in 2004, European ties with Libya developed rapidly. As it stands Libya is the third biggest supplier of oil to Europe, having recently surpassed Saudi Arabia. Its proximity to Europe, its unexplored terrain and its relative lack of foreign investment made Libya a gem worth cultivating to the oil-dependent economies of the west. The fact that its leader may publicly hang dissident students was of no great concern as long as his philosophy of intolerance extended to, and adequately suppressed, the supposed extreme “threat” of Islamism. However, the events of the last few days have forced world leaders to re-examine their relationship with the crumbling regime. Accounts of unprovoked sniper attacks on peaceful demonstrators, the use of violent foreign mercenaries as a means of crowd control, live ammunition being shot into crowds of protesters, and the media blackout that tried (unsuccessfully) to prevent the world from finding out, has brought about new focus and attention to the plight of the Libyan people and to the reaction of their inhumane leader. As he addressed the nation, Saif’s feebly masked threats were received angrily by protesters in the streets. His claims that the celebrations of the people of Benghazi, Darnah and al-Bayda had been brought about by drunk and drugged youths led to furious chanting and jeering against Gaddafi and his son. His warnings of the possibility of separatism and civil war evoked slogans emphasising the unity of the Libyan people and their intention to support each other till they had achieved victory. The strengthened protest that ensued in Tripoli yesterday is a case in point. Having remained relatively silent over the last few days, the people of the Libyan capital took to the streets in increasing numbers, their destination the presidential palace. They are, however, facing difficulties beyond those seen so far. Reports of the use of helicopters to bomb protesters as well as the forcing out of residents from city centre apartment blocks to make room for snipers are being confirmed by those on the ground. Watching from my home in Manchester, I found Saif’s referral to the thousands of expelled or self-exiled Libyans ridiculous and absurd. His claims that we, who apparently live comfortably in the west, wish to watch our brothers and sisters back home “kill each other” so that we can return and rule Libya ourselves demonstrates just how manipulative and scaremongering this regime is. Having lived in self-exile from my homeland for 30 years, due to the fear of retaliation for my public dissent, I wish nothing more than to return to see the faces of family members who have grown up, married and had children since I left them all those years ago. I yearn to visit the graves of my parents, both of whom passed away in the years I have been absent and whose funerals I was unable to attend. I want to meet my nephews and nieces, and even brothers and sisters in law, who as yet are little less than strangers to me. The time of victory is near. The rumours that Gaddafi has left the country, that fighter jets have been moved from Benghazi to Malta, and the news that the justice minister had resigned – all of these are indicative of the shortly expected liberation of the people. The concern of who replaces Gaddafi is not foremost in the minds of Libyans. They have never been given access to political views which oppose the regime. For 40 years they have been unable to even utter this possibility in front of each other. The coming months will define a period of political change and uncertainty unlike any other in the living history of the Libyan people. One thing that is certain though is that the lethargic and submissive attitude of the people is a thing of the past. No matter what the future holds for Libya, its people have lost the fear that has been instilled in them for so long. They are no longer afraid to die for the country they hold dear, and it is this that will ensure that never again will they allow themselves to be subject to the oppression and subjugation they have lived with under Gaddafi. It is now the duty of the democracy-preaching west to exert pressure on Gaddafi to follow the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia and relinquish control of a country he has destroyed, imprisoned and oppressed over four decades. To believe the lies and heed the grievous “warnings” of Saif, would be to grossly neglect the deafening call for freedom coming from the Libyan people and to allow oneself to be deluded that the winds of change that have swept across Tunis and Cairo will not soon be blowing through the empty palaces of the Gaddafi family. Arab and Middle East protests Muammar Gaddafi Libya Tunisia Egypt Middle East US foreign policy Protest Mohamed Abdul Malek guardian.co.uk