Tripoli Great Jamahiriyah TV in Arabic at 12.43 GMT on 19 September 2005 broadcast a 72-minute recorded address by the country's leader, Mu'ammar al-Qadhafi, before secretaries of the Basic People's Congresses.
After a word of welcome by an unnamed secretary of a Basic People's Congress, Al-Qadhafi said he had decided to meet them after the announcement of the beginning of Basic People's Congresses to draw up their agendas.
He said "all grown-up Libyan people, men and women, are members of the Basic People's Congresses. That means all Libyan people." He added that the country's domestic and foreign policies are in the hands of the Basic People's Congresses. He argued that the Basic People's Congresses are responsible for their policies and decisions.
Al-Qadhafi criticized the fact that there is no industrial or agricultural production in the country and said the only thing Libyans have is oil: "Apart from oil, you have nothing else. With the exception of oil, show me what other goods are produced by Libyans and which can draw money to the country. Do not deceive yourselves, the only thing you have is oil. When there is an oil crisis, the crisis will affect us all."
Al-Qadhafi urged everyone to take part in shaping up the country's policies: "Every patriotic person and every person who has conscience must attend the Basic People's Congresses and take part in drawing up the policies, because it is for the future of their family, children, grandchildren and homeland." He argued that since 1977, the authority had been in the hands of the Basic People's Congresses.
He said Libya had solved its problems abroad: "Praise be to God we have solved our problems with the super powers and big powers and we avoided raging storms which could have struck us. Libya came out safe and we have established the African Union. We have united Africa to become like the United States, a great power like the US and Europe. But, I am not responsible. Since 1977 you have been in charge, you the people."
Al-Qadhafi urged his audience to have the country's policy clear by the beginning of the year 2006: "You have the months of October, November and December to draw up the agenda and hold meetings. There must be continuous meetings during these three months. Continuous so that you begin the year 1374 after the death of the Prophet (Muhammad) and 2006 AD with clear domestic and foreign policies."
He said the agenda should be set by all the Basic People's Congresses to draw up the Great Jamahiriyah's domestic and foreign policies. "Somebody may see the need for a new law; someone may see the need to amend an existing law. There is somebody who may propose to annul a law which is useless and outdated. Somebody would stand and raise his hand and say: The law which was issued after the revolution on such an issue, the People's Court for instance, is outdated and there is no need for it anymore. The existing courts and laws are enough and there is no need for a law which was issued in such a year. There is no need for the continuation or renewal of People's Court. My brothers, the People's Court was set up by the council of the leaders of the revolution to try men of the bygone era, since announcing the formal and false independence of Libya until the revolution. That means from 1951 to 1969. This court tries only those responsible for this era. The court should have been annulled after their trial."
Al-Qadhafi said trials should take place in different courts: "If you want to try each other set up other courts. Turn to your ordinary courts and your laws which had existed before and which may be useful. Why all these special (courts). The world, and human rights (bodies) disapprove them. They say these are special courts and this regime is a dictatorship; while we are a direct people's democracy which brings good news to the entire world. Let us say you have agreed on the end of such court. It would be in the agenda of the Basic People's Congresses. This congress has decided to annul the law on people's court. It can be presented in this way at every basic people's Congress when there are intelligent people who make that clear to the Basic People's Congresses. They would say this is right. The proposals from such a Basic People's Congress are right and we agree to them. The people have issued a law to annul the people's court."
Source: Great Jamahiriyah TV
