NAFUSA MOUNTAINS Please note: All pages are in progress, with additional links still being added.
Archive pages on this site, by month:
February - April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September - October 2011
Tunisian Border
Amazigh Resources:
libyatadreft.com
www.youtube.com/user/zintan2011
www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2070324757661#!/video/?id=1231111575
audioboo.fm/feb17voices (many Nafusa Mountain recordings)
Video Collection:
www.youtube.com/user/zintan2011#g/u
About the name: Nafusa vs Western Mountains name for the region: From MyFreeLibya on August 5th 2011:
- Just saw my mines video on Libya AlHrar...they have removed the Zintan Media sign and named it under thowar Jabel Nafousa....
- Can i just say...just to be clear..Jabel Nafusa is the area between Nalut/Kabow until Jadu..other parts of the mt have different names..
- But the whole mt is called Western Mountains since the Islamic empire..calling it Jabel Nafusa doesn't include Zintan.
- Personally i dont care, but people of the mt know the politics, so when you say Thowar jabel Nafusa, thowar Zintan dont feel included
- The Western Mountains...Gaddafi didnt name it that, i have personally seen an atlas which calls it that printed in 1911
February - April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September - October 2011
Tunisian Border
Amazigh Resources:
libyatadreft.com
www.youtube.com/user/zintan2011
www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2070324757661#!/video/?id=1231111575
audioboo.fm/feb17voices (many Nafusa Mountain recordings)
Video Collection:
www.youtube.com/user/zintan2011#g/u
About the name: Nafusa vs Western Mountains name for the region: From MyFreeLibya on August 5th 2011:
- Just saw my mines video on Libya AlHrar...they have removed the Zintan Media sign and named it under thowar Jabel Nafousa....
- Can i just say...just to be clear..Jabel Nafusa is the area between Nalut/Kabow until Jadu..other parts of the mt have different names..
- But the whole mt is called Western Mountains since the Islamic empire..calling it Jabel Nafusa doesn't include Zintan.
- Personally i dont care, but people of the mt know the politics, so when you say Thowar jabel Nafusa, thowar Zintan dont feel included
- The Western Mountains...Gaddafi didnt name it that, i have personally seen an atlas which calls it that printed in 1911
Introductory Document about the Fight for Freedom of the Amazigh in west-southwest of Libya.
Map of tribal distribution within Libya: http://www.spiegel.de/flash/flash-25431.html
Geographical map, showing the Nefusah mountains growing from the tunisian border eastwards, with the towns of Wazin, Nalut, Tiji, Yafran, Zwaia and Garyan http://www.maplandia.com/libya/ghadamis/wazin/
Map of the Yefren area and its neighbouring regions: http://www.maplandia.com/libya/yafran-yefren/
On Youtube one can visit the video collection of the Channel ImazighenLibya (http://www.youtube.com/user/ImazighenLibya). Within the website Amazighen world (http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/ ) one can find information about the Amazighen people in North Africa, from Morocco to eastern Libya, including the history of their struggle, also within Libya and its revolution for freedom.
History of resistance against Gaddafi's regime:
The berber tribes in the Nefusah/ Nafusa mountain region in some cases refer to themselves as the Amazigh/ Imazighen people. The people in the Nefusah region have been part of the revolution/ uprising from the beginning on. They had struggled for recognition of themselves as berbers within the Gaddafi regime, which had denied their existance.
The essay "Libyan Berbers struggle to assert their identity online" written by Aisha al-Rumi was published in the Tawalt Issue 8, Spring 2009 and informes about the resistance of the berber populations against assimilation: http://www.arabmediasociety.com/?article=713, Tawalt magazin: http://www.tawalt.com/
Two Wikileaks documents: "Libya's beber minority still out in the cold": http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=103 from the Embassy of Tripoli, 2008. Also from the Embassy of Tripoli, from January 13th, 2009, subject:"Regime orchestrated attacks against berbers in Yefren: http://91.214.23.156/cablegate/wire.php?id=09TRIPOLI22&search=
From January 12th, 2011, this articles shows, how Gaddafi accuses the Amazigh movement to be backed by the Israeli Mossad: http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/5530.html, also on: http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=98, by Ennahar / Ismail Fella.
The article "Persecuted for refusing to sing for Gaddafi " is availbale under http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=105 and was published on January 19th 2011 on http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/persecuted-refusing-sing-gaddafi, written by Mohamed Amezian. It tells the story of the Libyan artist Ali Fates, who calls his mission “To revive Berber culture.” He fled to the Netherlands, where he was granted asylum, after libyan authorities confiscated his papers, after he had refused to sing for Gaddafi.
Some news about the situation in the berber regions since the beginning of the Libyan uprising:
This article from February 16th reports about the fight for identity by the Amazigh people: http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=104, origianly published on: http://www.galdu.org/web/?odas=5125&giella1=eng
On the website of the National Transitional Council, the people of Nalut announce their allegiance to the TNC end of February. http://ntclibya.org/english/allegiances/, videolink of the declaration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuWe0ze5bHA. You also find the announcement of allegiance with the NTC of the people of Ar Rajbaan, a town between Tiji and Yafran, within the Nefusah mountains (http://www.satelliteviews.net/cgi-bin/w.cgi?c=ly&UF=-3162284&UN=-4460326&DG=AREA), video of declaration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWd4trbRBqM. And one of the people of Msallatah, a town near Ar Rajbaan (not confirmed), video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqE2PNu2oU.
The following Audioboo, published by feb17Voices on March 14th tells the rundown of events in the area of Yefren and Qala'a since March 4th. The towns where bombed by Gaddafi forces. 5:07 minutes http://audioboo.fm/boos/330617-lpc-yefren-english-rundown-of-events-in-area-of-yefren-qala-a-since-march-4th-libya.
Published on March 15th this Audioboo is about four revolutionists killed on March 14th by Gaddafi bombs, not in english, 1:30 minutes: http://audioboo.fm/boos/332869-lpc-yefren-tamazight-4-revolutionists-killed-yesterday-by-gaddafi-forces-bombs-buried-them-today-libya?playlist_direction=forward.
The article "Denied Existence: Libyan-Berbers under Gaddafi and Hope for the Current Revolution" by Ishra Solieman gives an overview of the treatment of the Amazigh under Gaddafi's Regime. It was published on March 24th: http://muftah.org/?p=961
This Audioboo published on April 14th informes about how the youth in Yefren takes over daily activities, such as food and medicine supplies, securing the entrances of the town, giving shelter for refugees and hiding the animals in the mountains. 1:29 minutes: http://feb17.info/media/audio-youth-in-yefren-take-over-daily-activities/, also available on http://audioboo.fm/boos/330570-lpc-yefren-english-youth-org-daily-affrs-rationing-food-water-defend-entry-pts-libya, publishing date: 24th April
This Audioboo from April 20th tells about the morning events, when Gaddafi forces launched an attack on Yefren, with about 100 casualies. 2:52: http://audioboo.fm/boos/336667-lpc-yefren-english-events-from-this-morning-gaddafi-forces-launched-attack-libya-feb17
This article by the New York Times from April 25th has the title "Berber Rebels in Libya’s West Face Long Odds Against Qaddafi" by Scott Sayare from the Dhiba Border Crossing, Tunisia reports, that the flag of Free Libya had been raised on the first day of the revolt. Gaddafi forces had cut off supplies of food, gasoline and medicine since mid-March, and several witnesses said, the wells of at least one town had been poisened. Nevertheless, the freedom fighters had taken the border town of Wazen, a strategic important point. Article quoted on: http://feb17.info/news/berber-rebels-in-libya%e2%80%99s-west-face-long-odds-against-qaddafi/ , original: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/world/africa/25western.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
This article by Tasbeeh Herwees from April 25th with the title "The Amizigh Struggle Under the Gaddafi Regime" is about the brothers Mazigh and Madghis Bozaghar, who where claimed to spy for the Mossad and the CIA, but their arrests coincided with their contact to an Italian researcher on Libyas Amazigh culture. The article quotes several other articles, informing about the oppression of the Amazigh people in Libya for the last 42 years: http://feb17.info/editorials/the-amazigh-struggle-under-the-gaddafi-regime/ . The article originates from http://enoughgaddafi.com/.
This article originating from reuters Africa informes about the refugee's situation in the Nefusah mountain region, where Gaddafi forces heavily attack the towns without Nato helping them. Published on April 25th " Libyan mountain refugees tell of fearsome assault " http://feb17.info/news/libyan-mountain-refugees-tell-of-fearsome-assault/ origin: http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE73O0I220110425?sp=true
This video report by Al Jazeera English released on April 27th with the title " Imazighen Nafusa Mountains: The Battle for Western Libya Freedom", 2:17 minutes long shows the frontlines and the situations in the hospitals, also an announcement by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Khameisi from the NTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SODe6exHvCo
This video from April 27th witnesses the fighting around the tunisian town of Dehiba along the Dehiba-Uazen (Wazzin) border crossing; length 1:58 minutes: "Tunisian town of Dehiba under attack by Gaddafi regime forces" http://feb17.info/media/video-tunisian-town-of-dehiba-under-attack-by-gaddafi-regime-forces/
This graphical video shows the dead and injured in Nalut, released on April 29th, 0:41 minutes long: "Dead and injured in Nalut" http://feb17.info/media/video-dead-and-injured-in-nalut-graphic/
Scott Peterson from the Christian Science Monitor reports about the free radio station of Nalut. “We run programs that make people excited for fighting Qaddafi,” says station director Tariq Mohammed (...). “Some towns do not like [Qaddafi], but do not have a chance to throw him out. Others are still with Qaddafi and we are trying to convince them to get rid of him.” Published on April 30th: " Freedom now rings from one mountaintop radio station in western Libya" http://feb17.info/news/freedom-now-rings-from-one-mountaintop-radio-station-in-western-libya/ original: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0428/Freedom-now-rings-from-one-mountaintop-radio-station-in-western-Libya
Map of tribal distribution within Libya: http://www.spiegel.de/flash/flash-25431.html
Geographical map, showing the Nefusah mountains growing from the tunisian border eastwards, with the towns of Wazin, Nalut, Tiji, Yafran, Zwaia and Garyan http://www.maplandia.com/libya/ghadamis/wazin/
Map of the Yefren area and its neighbouring regions: http://www.maplandia.com/libya/yafran-yefren/
On Youtube one can visit the video collection of the Channel ImazighenLibya (http://www.youtube.com/user/ImazighenLibya). Within the website Amazighen world (http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/ ) one can find information about the Amazighen people in North Africa, from Morocco to eastern Libya, including the history of their struggle, also within Libya and its revolution for freedom.
History of resistance against Gaddafi's regime:
The berber tribes in the Nefusah/ Nafusa mountain region in some cases refer to themselves as the Amazigh/ Imazighen people. The people in the Nefusah region have been part of the revolution/ uprising from the beginning on. They had struggled for recognition of themselves as berbers within the Gaddafi regime, which had denied their existance.
The essay "Libyan Berbers struggle to assert their identity online" written by Aisha al-Rumi was published in the Tawalt Issue 8, Spring 2009 and informes about the resistance of the berber populations against assimilation: http://www.arabmediasociety.com/?article=713, Tawalt magazin: http://www.tawalt.com/
Two Wikileaks documents: "Libya's beber minority still out in the cold": http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=103 from the Embassy of Tripoli, 2008. Also from the Embassy of Tripoli, from January 13th, 2009, subject:"Regime orchestrated attacks against berbers in Yefren: http://91.214.23.156/cablegate/wire.php?id=09TRIPOLI22&search=
From January 12th, 2011, this articles shows, how Gaddafi accuses the Amazigh movement to be backed by the Israeli Mossad: http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/news/5530.html, also on: http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=98, by Ennahar / Ismail Fella.
The article "Persecuted for refusing to sing for Gaddafi " is availbale under http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=105 and was published on January 19th 2011 on http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/persecuted-refusing-sing-gaddafi, written by Mohamed Amezian. It tells the story of the Libyan artist Ali Fates, who calls his mission “To revive Berber culture.” He fled to the Netherlands, where he was granted asylum, after libyan authorities confiscated his papers, after he had refused to sing for Gaddafi.
Some news about the situation in the berber regions since the beginning of the Libyan uprising:
This article from February 16th reports about the fight for identity by the Amazigh people: http://www.amazighworld.org/eng/news/index_show.php?id=104, origianly published on: http://www.galdu.org/web/?odas=5125&giella1=eng
On the website of the National Transitional Council, the people of Nalut announce their allegiance to the TNC end of February. http://ntclibya.org/english/allegiances/, videolink of the declaration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuWe0ze5bHA. You also find the announcement of allegiance with the NTC of the people of Ar Rajbaan, a town between Tiji and Yafran, within the Nefusah mountains (http://www.satelliteviews.net/cgi-bin/w.cgi?c=ly&UF=-3162284&UN=-4460326&DG=AREA), video of declaration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWd4trbRBqM. And one of the people of Msallatah, a town near Ar Rajbaan (not confirmed), video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjqE2PNu2oU.
The following Audioboo, published by feb17Voices on March 14th tells the rundown of events in the area of Yefren and Qala'a since March 4th. The towns where bombed by Gaddafi forces. 5:07 minutes http://audioboo.fm/boos/330617-lpc-yefren-english-rundown-of-events-in-area-of-yefren-qala-a-since-march-4th-libya.
Published on March 15th this Audioboo is about four revolutionists killed on March 14th by Gaddafi bombs, not in english, 1:30 minutes: http://audioboo.fm/boos/332869-lpc-yefren-tamazight-4-revolutionists-killed-yesterday-by-gaddafi-forces-bombs-buried-them-today-libya?playlist_direction=forward.
The article "Denied Existence: Libyan-Berbers under Gaddafi and Hope for the Current Revolution" by Ishra Solieman gives an overview of the treatment of the Amazigh under Gaddafi's Regime. It was published on March 24th: http://muftah.org/?p=961
This Audioboo published on April 14th informes about how the youth in Yefren takes over daily activities, such as food and medicine supplies, securing the entrances of the town, giving shelter for refugees and hiding the animals in the mountains. 1:29 minutes: http://feb17.info/media/audio-youth-in-yefren-take-over-daily-activities/, also available on http://audioboo.fm/boos/330570-lpc-yefren-english-youth-org-daily-affrs-rationing-food-water-defend-entry-pts-libya, publishing date: 24th April
This Audioboo from April 20th tells about the morning events, when Gaddafi forces launched an attack on Yefren, with about 100 casualies. 2:52: http://audioboo.fm/boos/336667-lpc-yefren-english-events-from-this-morning-gaddafi-forces-launched-attack-libya-feb17
This article by the New York Times from April 25th has the title "Berber Rebels in Libya’s West Face Long Odds Against Qaddafi" by Scott Sayare from the Dhiba Border Crossing, Tunisia reports, that the flag of Free Libya had been raised on the first day of the revolt. Gaddafi forces had cut off supplies of food, gasoline and medicine since mid-March, and several witnesses said, the wells of at least one town had been poisened. Nevertheless, the freedom fighters had taken the border town of Wazen, a strategic important point. Article quoted on: http://feb17.info/news/berber-rebels-in-libya%e2%80%99s-west-face-long-odds-against-qaddafi/ , original: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/world/africa/25western.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
This article by Tasbeeh Herwees from April 25th with the title "The Amizigh Struggle Under the Gaddafi Regime" is about the brothers Mazigh and Madghis Bozaghar, who where claimed to spy for the Mossad and the CIA, but their arrests coincided with their contact to an Italian researcher on Libyas Amazigh culture. The article quotes several other articles, informing about the oppression of the Amazigh people in Libya for the last 42 years: http://feb17.info/editorials/the-amazigh-struggle-under-the-gaddafi-regime/ . The article originates from http://enoughgaddafi.com/.
This article originating from reuters Africa informes about the refugee's situation in the Nefusah mountain region, where Gaddafi forces heavily attack the towns without Nato helping them. Published on April 25th " Libyan mountain refugees tell of fearsome assault " http://feb17.info/news/libyan-mountain-refugees-tell-of-fearsome-assault/ origin: http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE73O0I220110425?sp=true
This video report by Al Jazeera English released on April 27th with the title " Imazighen Nafusa Mountains: The Battle for Western Libya Freedom", 2:17 minutes long shows the frontlines and the situations in the hospitals, also an announcement by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Khameisi from the NTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SODe6exHvCo
This video from April 27th witnesses the fighting around the tunisian town of Dehiba along the Dehiba-Uazen (Wazzin) border crossing; length 1:58 minutes: "Tunisian town of Dehiba under attack by Gaddafi regime forces" http://feb17.info/media/video-tunisian-town-of-dehiba-under-attack-by-gaddafi-regime-forces/
This graphical video shows the dead and injured in Nalut, released on April 29th, 0:41 minutes long: "Dead and injured in Nalut" http://feb17.info/media/video-dead-and-injured-in-nalut-graphic/
Scott Peterson from the Christian Science Monitor reports about the free radio station of Nalut. “We run programs that make people excited for fighting Qaddafi,” says station director Tariq Mohammed (...). “Some towns do not like [Qaddafi], but do not have a chance to throw him out. Others are still with Qaddafi and we are trying to convince them to get rid of him.” Published on April 30th: " Freedom now rings from one mountaintop radio station in western Libya" http://feb17.info/news/freedom-now-rings-from-one-mountaintop-radio-station-in-western-libya/ original: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0428/Freedom-now-rings-from-one-mountaintop-radio-station-in-western-Libya