been called on by the central government to repress
rebellions in other cities.

Misrata
is the place in Libya where private enterprise is most highly developed. It is
making a big effort to attract foreign capital, with considerable success. The
Economist magazine has described Misrata as “the can-do city”.[14]

The
Misrata militia is extremely racist. In August 2011 it expelled the whole
population of Tawergha, a town near Misrata whose people were descended from
black African slaves.

The
expulsion was planned in advance by the militia leadership. A June 21, 2013,
article by Sam Dagher in the Wall Street Journal quoted a militia leader
stating his intention to drive out the residents of Tawergha from their homes:

Ibrahim al-Halbous, a rebel commander leading the
fight near Tawergha, says all remaining residents should leave once his
fighters capture the town: “They should pack up”, Mrof
the current government.

Other
democratic struggles include those for ethnic minority rights, workers’ rights,
women’s rights and civil liberties.

The
Amazigh, Tebu and Tuareg minorities have taken action around issues including
recognition of their languages and increased representation in parliament. At
times they have shut down oil and gas facilities to put pressure on the central
government.[21, 22]

The
people of Tawergha, who currently live in refugee camps in Tripoli and other
cities, have demanded the right to return to their home town.[23] However the
Misrata local authorities and militia will not permit this, and the central
government is unwilling or unable to confront the rulers of Misrata over this
issue, so the Tawerghans continue to live in terrible conditions.[24]

There
have been strikes by oil, electricity and other workers, around health and
safety, pay and other issues. At times, the workers have demanded the