Saturday, February 26, 2011
By Karl Henkel
YOUNGSTOWN
Though roughly 5,000 miles away from the anti-government protests in Libya, Taher Fhima feels some of what’s happening in the North African nation.
The 30-year-old Boardman resident’s cousin was shot in the shoulder about a week ago while protesting in Tripoli, the nation’s capital.
Friday, Fhima and about 30 other Libyans in the Mahoning Valley called for ousting Col. Moammar Gadhafi and urged the U.S. to act quickly in hopes of preventing more injuries and casualties.
Rallying in the same spot — the Thomas B. Lambros Federal Building and Courthouse, 125 Market St.— where Egyptian supporters celebrated President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation two weeks ago, demonstrators called for the end to the 41-year Gadhafi regime.
It’s a process many think can be expedited with help from President Barack Obama.
“We need the president to act before it’s too late,” said Issam Elnaas, 45, of Columbiana, who lived in Tripoli before moving to the U.S in 1999.
They also reacted to Gadhafi’s Friday morning speech, where he said he would fight protesters.
“They have to pressure him. There are people dying every day,” said Mohamed Hdedan, who moved from Tripoli to the U.S. almost 30 years ago. “We have to go forward. We have to get rid of him.”
Demonstrators likened the current revolt in Libya to those in Egypt and Tunisia, where protesters successfully forced the ousting of long-time dictators. They added the wave of democracy is quickly spreading across the Middle East and Africa thanks to the Internet.
“The Internet and social media are making things easier for people to come together for a cause,” Hdedan said.
Staying connected with family in Libya, however, has become more difficult over the past couple of days for Hdedan, Elnaas and Fhima.
Fhima said he spoke with his cousin about a week ago, but said since then, the Libyan government has cracked down on Internet and cell-phone access. Fhima said he hasn’t been able to call his cousin for the past two days, but from his last conversation, his cousin said the violence against protesters still was rampant.
“If they see anyone on the street, they will shoot them,” Fhima said.
Those at the local demonstration said they believe Gadhafi won’t be in power much longer, though a lot will be dependent on support from other nations.
“He’s a unique man,” Hdedan said of Gadhafi. “He doesn’t want to give it [his power] up easily.
“It’s some kind of addictive power. Regardless, his days are numbered.”