A thread on events in Libyan history that shaped #Gaddafi’s enigmatic visit to Rome.
Gaddafi was a passionate student of history, having delved deeply into history was what formed his personality.
To understand his actions, one needs but to thoroughly read history.
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2] After a lifetime of severed relations & diplomatic unease, Italy agrees to formally #acknowledge & #apologise to the Libyan people for a brutal occupation that inflicted decades of massacre, everlasting heart-ache and bereavement.
3] Italy signs to compensate #Libya for the damages and misdeeds a sum of $5billion —to be paid as a yearly $200million over the next 25 years — to be put into construction projects, student grants & pensions for Libyan soldiers forced to fight in Italy’s ranks during WW2.
4] An accord of friendship was signed after the formal apology ceremony, ending 40 years of strife.
#Omar_Mukhtar’s grandson was there to behold the day that shall forever live in Libyan history.
Italy’s #Berlusconi bows to kiss the old man’s hand.
5] As a gesture of goodwill, #Berlusconi handed back to Libya the #Statue_of_Venus that was taken from Libya to Rome during the colonial rule.
6] #Gaddafi said on that historical day :
“ The Libyan people were attacked in their homes & endured many injustices they therefore deserve this apology and compensation. It is a historic moment that we behold the defeat of colonialism “
7] 10/06/2009
#Muammer_Gaddafi Lands in former colonial ruler for the first time at the head of a grand convoy aboard three Airbus airliners.
8] In an attempt to bluff, #Berlusconi claimed his medical condition may get in the way of him making it to the tarmac to receive Gaddafi.
Word of such foul play got to #Gaddafi before landing & he warned that he’d instantly turn back & the scrap all that was achieved
9] #Berlusconi was no fool, he was trying to save his face as he knew #Gaddafi would not miss such a historical opportunity to overshadow everyone & insult colonial Italy in every way possible.
Berlusconi yet bemused, managed to Make it to welcome Gaddafi and his delegation.
10]#Gaddafi’s entrance held the audience captives.
Pinned to his clothing was a picture of the emblem of Libyan resistance #Omar_Mukhtar surrounded by his Italian captors.
Later asked by the press of the reason behind wearing it
“for us, it’s like wearing the cross” he said.
11] With minimal resources & military experience, the people of #Libya fought courageously against Colonial Italy.
Thousands of resistance fighters either fell martyred in battle or were captured & #publicly_hanged to instil fear in any other that may contemplate lifting arms.
12]So Amidst his delegation #Gaddafi had to bring the grandchildren of martyrs that fell in battle against colonial Italy.
They lined up on the red carpet & #Gaddafi introduced #Berlusconi to their names, their grandfather's names& the names of battles where they fought&martyred
13] It came as no surprise to anyone when #Omar_Mukhtar’s grandson himself was carried down airstair, it seems only fitting for him to witness such victory & moral boost.
14] [1937]
#Mussolini welcomed in a massive ceremony upon his arrival to Libya for the first time.
15] [2009]
In a very similar welcoming to that which Mussolini received, #Gaddafi walked the red carpet at the #Ciampino_International_Airport alongside Libyan men & women that were once the helpless easy targets.
16] [1930s]
Bedouin tents where the only sanctuary for the people of Libya.
They were ploughed off the ground & burnt by Italian militants in every village throughout the vast Libyan desert.
17] [2009]
Upon his arrival, #Gaddafi — a proud Bedouin — pitched his tent on the park outside the #Villa_Doria_Pamphili in memory of all those innocent Libyans that faced colonial Italy’s wrath and inhumanity.
18] [ 1937]
#Mussolini addressing the Libyans from a high balcony in #Benghazi...
19] [2009]
#Gaddafi Waves to a vast crowd from the high balcony of #Capitol_Square as he finishes his short speech were he lambasted imperialsm, linked the US to Al-qaeda & accused it of turning the prosperous #Iraq into a war-torn state where extremism came to blossom.
20] [1937]
#Mussolini parading the streets of Benghazi, Tobrouk and Tripoli during the colonial-era.
21] [2009]
#Muammer_Gaddafi Parading the #Piazza_Venezia in Rome while Greeting the people of Italy from the sunroof of his limousine in his trademark robes.
22] During his visit to Libya, #Mussolini had the brass neck to force Libyan women of the 1900s to sit before him & scholar them on the teachings of Christianity.
23] [2009]
#Gaddafi saw it incumbent to speak before a crowd of women, Muslim & Christian, white & black.
Gaddafi touched on several topics.
In a prosaic attempt to stain #Gaddafi, imperialist media& it’s tools in Arab media claim attendees were paid €3K each..HOGWASH ofc.
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