Why don’t these people, members of the United Nations and other worldwide organizations, stop all the rhetoric and make something happen? Words are not going to overthrow Moammar Gadhafi’s regime in Libya, actions are. It’s about time that the world’s true leaders, those who govern via democratic principles, demonstrate that we, mankind, will no longer tolerate despots who rule with an iron fist. I realize that this is an idealistic proposition, and much easier said than done, but tens of millions of people across the globe have been oppressed, abused and generally treated as less than human for far too long. World leaders should do all they can to keep the spirit and determination of protesters in places such as Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and Libya alive. It is time to support their cause and not let those whose lives have been lost to have died in vain. TGO
Refer to story below. Source: Associated Press
GENEVA – The U.N.’s top human rights official said Friday there are reports of mass killings of thousands in Libya that should spur the international community to “step in vigorously” to end the crackdown against anti-government protesters in the North African country.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay implored the U.N. Human Rights Council to use “all means possible” to establish an independent panel to investigate the alleged abuses by Libyan security forces and hold those responsible to accunt.
European nations were leading the effort to condemn the crackdown ordered by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, order a U.N.-led investigation into possible crimes against humanity and propose suspending Libya from the council.
“The crackdown in Libya of peaceful demonstrations is escalating alarmingly with reported mass killings, arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of protestors,” Pillay told the U.N.’s top human rights body. “Tanks, helicopters and military aircraft have reportedly been used indiscriminately to attack the protesters. According to some sources, thousands may have been killed or injured.”
Gadhafi, who has ruled for 42 years, appears to have lost control of large parts of the country.
It is the first time that the 47-nation Human Rights Council has held a special session to scrutinize one of its members.
Pakistan’s ambassador, Zamir Akram, said the 57 members of the Organization of The Islamic Conference “strongly condemn the excessive use of force” in Libya.
“Muslims will no longer tolerate inequalities and injustice,” he told the council. “A new dawn has come. The rules of the game have changed. Those who do not embrace it will be swept away.”
Gadhafi’s response to the uprising in his country has been the harshest by any Arab leader in the wave of protests that has swept the Middle East recently, toppling the presidents of Libya’s neighbors Egypt and Tunisia.
But observers of the Geneva-based council say African and Asian nations are wary of setting too strong a precedent that could be used against other human rights abusing regimes in future.
Suspending Libya’s “rights of membership” under the rules for the council would require two-thirds approval of all the 192 countries in the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Human rights activists said they expect a strongly worded resolution to pass, though it might be watered down by efforts to achieve the broadest possible consensus.
While efforts to ostracize Libya from the council are being driven by Europe, the United States and some Latin American countries, Asian and African nations will be wary of setting a precedent that can be used against them or their allies in future, said Peter Splinter of Amnesty International.
“This is a test of the council and the willingness of some of its more active members, such as Pakistan, South Africa, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, to take a principled stand on human rights,” he said.
In Brussels, NATO also planned to hold an emergency meeting Friday to consider the deteriorating situation in Libya. It had received no requests to intervene said it would only do so if it were given a United Nations mandate.
The U.N. Security Council planned to meet later Friday in New York to consider actions against Gadhafi’s regime.
French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said France and Britain would press the Security Council for a “total embargo on weapons as well as sanctions, and also the referral of a case to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.”
The Security Council rarely does so, but ordered an investigation into crimes in Darfur in 2005.
“This regime in Libya is lashing out madly, it is waging war against its own people,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in an interview with WDR radio Friday. “We cannot accept that, so the U.N. Security Council must once again consider this situation urgently, and we must now approve sanctions together.”
Westerwelle said possibilities include barring entry to members of the ruling family and freezing assets.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said the Security Council must “take action” and the EU bloc should consider imposing travel restrictions and asset freezes to achieve a halt to the violence there and move toward democracy.
The United States backs suspending Libya from the Geneva-based council and also is considering a larger sanctions package that might include asset freezes and travel bans on senior Libyan officials, or a ban on the sale of U.S. military equipment.
“The international community needs to stand up and speak with one voice” by condemning Libya and requesting its suspension from the council, urged the U.S. ambassador to the council, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe.
