Libya Thursday marked the memory of the deportation of thousands of Libyans by colonial Italy 95 years ago by cutting itself off from the rest of the world.
The occasion, commemorated annually on October 26, is aimed at reminding the world of what is "the biggest deportation operation which is unique in history."
On that day Libya suspends all incoming and outgoing flights; sea and land travel is stopped, as are all communications between Libya and the outside world.
The government banned Libyan nationals from traveling to Italy on that day, and requested official media to focus on the day in 1911 when Libya was an Italian colony.
Libya renewed its demands that Italy provide all available information about the Libyan deportees, the circumstances of their deaths and whether any are still alive, in addition to requesting fair compensations for the destruction and losses of life caused by Rome during the colonial period.
A government official statement stressed that "such acts cannot be forgiven and taken lightly, despite the fact that the two countries are seeking to build good relations and overcome the harms of the past."
Sources at the official Center of Studies on Libyan Struggle indicate that the deportation occurred in 1911 after violent resistance by Libyan strugglers increased against Italian occupation.
According to historic accounts, the number of Libyans deported to prisons and detention camps on remote Italian islands was 2,300 initially, but increased to more than 4,000 by 1916.
In July 1998, Italy officially apologized to the Libyan people for the harm it caused during the colonial era, but did not give fair compensations for the losses of Libyan deportees’ lives.
UPI
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