Libya Slapped With UN Resolution 1970
By Vusi Moloi © 2011
The UN Security Council has imposed tough and binding sanctions upon the repressive regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya for using extreme force against ordinary people who are demanding a democratic change in their own country. In a unanimous vote, the UN Security Council members registered a strong message that those who violated human rights were to be held accountable for their actions. The sanctions of UN Resolution 1970 ban travel and use of mercenaries, freeze assets, and refer the Libyan Government actions to the International Criminal Court (also known as ICC) in The Hague for violent repression against anti-government protesters.
This resolution addresses the question of systematic attacks on the citizens like the use of African mercenaries, among others, to intimidate and silence the Libyan people who are entitled to a democratic change like any other human beings in any part of the world. The use of African mercenaries from countries like Chad is particularly sickening since it blemishes the image of the rising Mother Africa. These soldiers of fotune are clearly blinded by instant rewards and unquestiong loyalties. The Libyans are our brothers and sisters and we must remember the words of the great Zulu King Shaka who refused to pollute his hands in shedding the blood of his brother Dingan even though Dingan posed a threat to King Shaka’s life.
Gaddafi's Mercenaries Stationed in Tripoli Libya
From ibnomar2005 of Youtube
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon expressed appreciation for the resolution saying it sent a strong message that those who flagrantly violated human rights would be held accountable for their actions. He referred to the sanctions as a necessary step in dealing with the situation in Libya.
The US Ambassador to the UN Ms. Susan Rice said it was the first time in recent memory of the UN to refer a case of heinous killing of citizens to the ICC. Ms. Rice warned that the UN business in dealing with the deteriorating situation in Libya was not finished and the resolution would remain under review in response to the situation in Libya. She said these tough and binding measures were also intended to prevent the flow of arms in and out of Libya.
The Libyan Deputy Ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi supported the resolution against what he termed a “fascist” regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Interestingly, the members of the diplomatic mission of Libya to the UN have chosen to side with the people of Libya and they no longer recognize the administration of Muammar Gaddafi. The US President Barak Obama who said that Muammar Gaddafi must go now for having lost his “legitimacy” to rule, also echoed this sentiment.
The case of Muammar Gaddafi is a tragic case of reversal of fortunes considering his stellar record of anti-colonial fight in his country as well as many parts of Africa including supporting the people of South Africa in their fight against apartheid. Gaddafi is fondly referred to as “Brother Leader” because he has no official title of President or Prime Minister like in other countries but rather he is just a leader. Gaddafi is the son of a camel herder and was born in a tent in the African desert. The concept of being a leader and rejecting official tittles was probably inspired by the herder experience of his father. His rise to prominence as an African revolutionary is no less than legendary which explains the extent to which he had captured the imagination of the African leaders. This most likely explains the slow response of the African leaders to the crisis in Libya.
The UN Security Council has imposed tough and binding sanctions upon the repressive regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya for using extreme force against ordinary people who are demanding a democratic change in their own country. In a unanimous vote, the UN Security Council members registered a strong message that those who violated human rights were to be held accountable for their actions. The sanctions of UN Resolution 1970 ban travel and use of mercenaries, freeze assets, and refer the Libyan Government actions to the International Criminal Court (also known as ICC) in The Hague for violent repression against anti-government protesters.
This resolution addresses the question of systematic attacks on the citizens like the use of African mercenaries, among others, to intimidate and silence the Libyan people who are entitled to a democratic change like any other human beings in any part of the world. The use of African mercenaries from countries like Chad is particularly sickening since it blemishes the image of the rising Mother Africa. These soldiers of fotune are clearly blinded by instant rewards and unquestiong loyalties. The Libyans are our brothers and sisters and we must remember the words of the great Zulu King Shaka who refused to pollute his hands in shedding the blood of his brother Dingan even though Dingan posed a threat to King Shaka’s life.
Gaddafi's Mercenaries Stationed in Tripoli Libya
From ibnomar2005 of Youtube
Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon expressed appreciation for the resolution saying it sent a strong message that those who flagrantly violated human rights would be held accountable for their actions. He referred to the sanctions as a necessary step in dealing with the situation in Libya.
The US Ambassador to the UN Ms. Susan Rice said it was the first time in recent memory of the UN to refer a case of heinous killing of citizens to the ICC. Ms. Rice warned that the UN business in dealing with the deteriorating situation in Libya was not finished and the resolution would remain under review in response to the situation in Libya. She said these tough and binding measures were also intended to prevent the flow of arms in and out of Libya.
The Libyan Deputy Ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi supported the resolution against what he termed a “fascist” regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Interestingly, the members of the diplomatic mission of Libya to the UN have chosen to side with the people of Libya and they no longer recognize the administration of Muammar Gaddafi. The US President Barak Obama who said that Muammar Gaddafi must go now for having lost his “legitimacy” to rule, also echoed this sentiment.
The case of Muammar Gaddafi is a tragic case of reversal of fortunes considering his stellar record of anti-colonial fight in his country as well as many parts of Africa including supporting the people of South Africa in their fight against apartheid. Gaddafi is fondly referred to as “Brother Leader” because he has no official title of President or Prime Minister like in other countries but rather he is just a leader. Gaddafi is the son of a camel herder and was born in a tent in the African desert. The concept of being a leader and rejecting official tittles was probably inspired by the herder experience of his father. His rise to prominence as an African revolutionary is no less than legendary which explains the extent to which he had captured the imagination of the African leaders. This most likely explains the slow response of the African leaders to the crisis in Libya.
posted by Vusi Moloi at
7:09 PM
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