En Portada

The Libyan Metamorphosis

Script and Realization: Pilar Requena. Image: Nacho Paris. Sound: Miguel Gray-headed Ángel. Assembly: Alejandro Cid. Production: Ana Shepherd.

Some years ago Libya began economic reformations, after being reinstated to the international community after years of embargos and international sanctions. Their leader, Muammar Gaddafi, had given up sponsoring international terrorism and weapons of massive destruction.

Libya was of the first to condemn the attacks of the 9/11.

Many things have changed. The changes are visible mainly in the capital, Tripoli. Parabolic antennas have sprung up everywhere, the cybercafés, the number of wireless telephones and the highways keep increasing; it is the same with the construction of new buildings. There are also already cafeterias or supermarkets of modern design. The country, with an economy dominated by petroleum, bets now also on tourism. Libya has almost 2000 km of coast and virgin beaches, the desert occupies 85% of its territory and accounts for a great historical-cultural wealth.

"En Portada" [the Spanish television show] analyzes the changes that, at the moment, are limited to the economic landscape. There are not significant advances in political reformations or human rights, neither are there elections and political parties continue to be forbidden. During our [the television producer’s] stay in the country we could only film externally with an official of the régime present--that didn't allow us to record in some places. Our freedom of movement was also restricted. We were not authorized to go to Benghazi, the second Libyan city.

The citizens are still afraid to speak of the régime before a camera. The program spoke with Seif Islam, second son of Gaddafi that many point out as its successor. Seif Islam advocates for political reformations and for a new constitution and he has been favorable to dialogue with the opposition, but he doesn't specify when and how the political reformations will be carried out.

We [the television crew] also speaks to the minister of Economy, Ali Abd Alaziz, the director of the Foundation Gaddafi, Youssef Sawani, and the president of the National Corporation of the Petroleum, Shokri Ghanem, about the changes. We visit the Police Academy for Women, and talk to the designer, Ben Rages Barka, and to the painter, Mohammad Bin Lamin.

The program also went to London to interview to dissident writer Guma Gamaty and the professor Hassan Amin.

It is difficult to predict what it will happen in Libya in the future and if the transition will be or not be calm and peaceful. What is clear without a doubt is that the country will no longer be what it has been during most of the dictatorship of Gaddafi.