Libyan Ambassador to UN urges international community to stop genocide

[DLnyc]

Source: Global Arab Network

. . .

. . .

"We are calling on the UN to impose a no-fly zone on all Tripoli to cut off all supplies of arms and mercenaries to the regime.

"We warn all African countries which are sending their soldiers to fight with Gaddafi that these soldiers will not return to their countries.

"We call on the UN Security Council to use the principle of the right to protect to take the necessary action to protect the Libyan people against the genocide.

"We also call on the international community, under the right to protect, to guarantee a safe passage from the borders of Egypt and Tunisia so to allow the medical supplies to reach the cities of Tripoli and Bengazi. I call on the governments of these two countries to help in this regard.

"We call on all countries in the world not to permit Gaddafi to escape to their territories and call on them to watch carefully for any amounts of money which may be flowing outside Libya.

. . .

Read more: http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/201102219941/Libya-Politics/libyan-ambassador-to-un-urges-international-community-to-stop-genocide.html

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Many people are saying there is not much anyone can do. The Deputy Ambassador's statement has a list of seven concrete and meaningful actions that can be taken immediately.

[EFerrari]

1. K&R

[blackspade]

2. Ah, the year that sent dictators scrambling!

[DLnyc]

3. Yes, like cockroaches when the light goes on!

There was a yesterday (I think) of gunfire in the palace. I'm wondering which of the big cockroach and his little babies are still alive? I'm sure it will be convenient later to blame the genocide on the one's who are dead.

[JoDog]

4. So, does this mean

this ambassador is now on the anti-government side?

[Robbien]

5. Many Libyan diplomats who are outside of the country

are suddenly declaring themselves to be anti-Qaddafi

hoping that nobody notices they were BFF with Qaddafi for the last forty years.

[DLnyc]

6. UN ambassador position is unknown, I think, but US Ambassador, Ali Ojli

talking just now on Aljazeera Live Stream condemned the massacre and demanded US and the international community to take concrete action to stop the genocide.

Link to Aljazeera live, but Ali Ojli no longer on.
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

A fairly weak article from Politico that mentions Ali Ojli:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0211/Libyan_envoy_denounces_Qaddafi_accusing_him_of_genocide.html?showall

[leftynyc]

7. The UN is useless

The security council can't help Libya or Bahrain and were totally absent from Egypt. They're too busy dumping on Israel for building in Jerusalem to concern themselves with people getting killed in the streets.

[Jmaxfie1]

12. They just stand there

They basically just stand there saying, "please stop doing what you are doing or we will be very disappointed". Usually unless they are personally fired on they have to just sit there why violence is going on. Some people seem to have a problem with NATO, but if NATO sees some thug trying to massacre civilians they kill them.

[leftynyc]

22. It's worse than sitting there

They haven't even met yet to discuss this - not Tunisia, Egypt, Libya or Bahrain. I see their building every day and shake my head at the waste of waterside real estate. If they don't speak out about this, they really need to close up shop.

[David__77]

8. Libya is a sovereign state. The ex-ambassador is calling for invasion.

I'm sure there's a faction in Libya that would welcome Western forces bombarding the country, no doubt to pave their road to power, but this will not happen thankfully. Libya can manage its own affairs, and the Libyan people can decide their fate.

[DLnyc]

10. So at what point does it become okay to come to the defense of a population?

If the 'faction' is 90%? 99%? If a single madman is slaughtering hundreds? thousands? tens of thousands? millions?

At some point, with the people of a country, even its ambassadors and army, calling for assistance, I would think a step like enforcing a no-fly zone (so that jets can't bomb the population) MIGHT be justified and smart.

[No Elephants]

17. Genocide?

[joshcryer]

18. "Libyan people will continue the fight and get rid of the regime. I am sure of that."

[joshcryer]

19. The Libyan ambassador is calling for a no-fly zone, and *NO* invasion or outside military support.

[joshcryer]

20. He is *NOT* the ex-ambassador as he still speaks for Libyans.

[pampango]

9. Resolution 1674 (2006): deliberately targeting civilians ... in situations of armed conflict is a

flagrant violation of international humanitarian law;

Reaffirms the provisions of paragraphs 138 and 139 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document regarding the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity;

Reaffirms its practice of ensuring that the mandates of United Nations peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions include, where appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, provisions regarding (i) the protection of civilians, particularly those under imminent threat of physical danger within their zones of operation, ...

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=s/res/1674(2006)

Responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity

138. Each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. This responsibility entails the prevention of such crimes, including their incitement, through appropriate and necessary means. We accept that responsibility and will act in accordance with it. The international community should, as appropriate, encourage and help States to exercise this responsibility and support the United Nations in establishing an early warning capability.

139. The international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance with Chapters VI and VIII of the Charter, to help to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. In this context, we are prepared to take collective action, in a timely and decisive manner, through the Security Council, in accordance with the Charter, including Chapter VII, on a case-by-case basis and in cooperation with relevant regional organizations as appropriate, should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities are manifestly failing to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We stress the need for the General Assembly to continue consideration of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and its implications, bearing in mind the principles of the Charter and international law. We also intend to commit ourselves, as necessary and appropriate, to helping States build capacity to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and to assisting those which are under stress before crises and conflicts break out.

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=a/res/60/1

[DLnyc]

11. Thank you for this very relevant post!

". . .should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities are manifestly failing to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, . . ."

Key phrase.

I certainly have been opposed to almost every military action in my lifetime. Typically these are adventurist, even if wrapped in the guise of some 'noble cause'. But there ARE situations where military action is the right tool to stop extremely violent processes. World War II was, in my opinion, one such case. Libya on February 22, 2011 could be another such case, in my opinion.

Unless the Libyan army, which may be defecting to the protesters in massive numbers right this moment, is able to stop the genocide, I would have to say I support international military action to stop the genocide.

(On edit:
1) A source of some extensive information pointing to war crimes occurring: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
2) Technically 'genocide' is not accurate, since the killing is not based on ethnicity. I think 'crimes against humanity' is the relevant term here.)

[amandabeech]

13. I'm wondering if the killing is based on tribal identity.

Today or yesterday on THe News Hour, the talking heads were discussing the tribal nature of Libyan society.

Khaddafi may have been something of a Tito--holding together a state that seethes with ethnic unrest.

He goes and the whole thing blows.

I certainly hope not.

[DLnyc]

14. No, from my listening and reading (and I'm doing WAY too much of both),

'tribalism' is being played up by Khaddafi (one of about 100 spellings) in a desperate attempt to divide the opposition.

In fact, tribes in general have come out saying they side with the opposition.

Khaddafi, by first of all being a big asshole, and secondly by firing anti-aircraft and large caliber machine-guns at random citizens, just to mention a few of his steps, seems to have united the country very firmly against his insane person.

Incidentally, the Minister of Interior (a general) resigned and joined the opposition ("the Revolution of February 17) and encouraged all of the army to do the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGYsKvRzsQM&feature=player_embedded

on edit: In response to your thought, I think the killing is directed toward areas of opposition (including 'bystander' populations) and not at all at any particular ethnic group. Aimed mostly to sow fear and chaos, I think.

[amandabeech]

15. Thanks for the information.

I'm glad to hear that Libya is not in a Yugoslav situation--one less problem.

Khadafi is a huge asshole and has been one for a long, long time.

The sooner he is completely ousted, the better for the people of Libya and rest of us.

[DLnyc]

16. A link to more info

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/africa/2011/02/201122352025494387.html

Navigating Libya's tribal maze

[joshcryer]

21. If by Gaddafi's tribe vs every other tribe, yeah. He's got no loyalists except his tribes.

And the mercs if you can call them loyal (only until they stop getting paid).