Update, February 23:
- Call on US government officials to play a leadership role at the United Nations to ensure that it imposes a total arms embargo on Libya and sends a mission there immediately to investigate the violence.
- Read a coalition letter that urges the UN Human Rights Council to act. The letter is sent to Foreign Ministries around the world (pdf)
The UN Security Council and the Arab League have to launch an immediate mission to Libya to investigate events that have left hundreds of protesters dead, Amnesty International said in a press release today. Over the last few days, hundreds of protesters have reportedly been killed in Libya. According to several accounts, demonstrators were also attacked by helicopter gunships.
The call for the investigation, which could lead to prosecutions at the International Criminal Court (ICC), comes as both the UN Security Council and the Arab League meet today for special sessions to discuss the spiraling violence in the country.
The UN Security Council should also impose a total arms embargo on Libya, amidst reports that security forces are continuing to deploy a range of weaponry, munitions and related equipment to use lethal force against protesters.
Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, made the following statement:
Colonel al-Gaddafi and his government appear to be prepared to kill as many people as it takes to stay in power. The international community needs to act now to put a stop to this. The international community must immediately make it clear to all those in the Libyan government, military and security apparatus that they and those carrying out their orders will be held to account for crimes under international law, such as those now being reported. The Security Council must also put an immediate end to the export or transfer of all arms and military equipment to Libya. People are being killed in their hundreds with intent. Other states must not be complicit in further killing. All military and police supplies and cooperation with Libya must stop now until the risk of such serious human rights violations is ended.
The UN and Arab League should send representatives to Libya immediately, either jointly or separately, to investigate the situation on the ground and report rapidly to the Security Council.
The recommendations should include a judgement as to whether the scale of the crimes being committed in Libya warrants a Security Council referral to the Prosecutor of the ICC.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay yesterday said that the Libyan authorities’ actions against protesters may amount to crimes against humanity.
No more bloodshed! Enough is enough. Freedom and democracy to all peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. Human rights and human blood sanctity need to come first before any politics.
No more bloodshed! Enough is enough. Freedom and democracy to all peoples of the Middle East and North Africa. Human rights and human blood sanctity need to come first before any politics.
There are still people who believe that revolution in the Arab world is a mirage.
There are those who doubt on the close relationship that this countries have among themselves (Egypt, Tunisia, Benghazi, Iran, Morocco and now Libya).
But the reality falls like a lead rain from its own weight. A complicated reality and very difficult to predict, nothing like that had ever happened before.
This is not only the hungry revolution, but also of the freedom, dignity, and especially the individual’s rights over the economic.
There are not protests against the U.S., Israel or against the passivity of Europe. It is just a massive cry against corruption and a call for democracy.
Not even the hate that Qaddafi is throwing against his own people nor his tanks could stop the strength of a population that is pushing themselves into the future.
I wonder where is the generous European response who as US had sacrificed the freedom of these peoples for their own prosperity.
I wonder, why nobody has responded yet to streets full of wounded and dead bodies. The Libyan people is in the hands of a senile terrorist.
The world is crying out for equality and now, all nations have the moral duty to help this world crying. We are all sailing in the same ship, a ship sailing stunned by a great change of cultural, religious and economic concept, and despite there is no revolution without blood and no battles without injury, we must prevent further damage. This new society will requires the West complicity and support.
There are still people who believe that revolution in the Arab world is a mirage.
There are those who doubt on the close relationship that this countries have among themselves (Egypt, Tunisia, Benghazi, Iran, Morocco and now Libya).
But the reality falls like a lead rain from its own weight. A complicated reality and very difficult to predict, nothing like that had ever happened before.
This is not only the hungry revolution, but also of the freedom, dignity, and especially the individual’s rights over the economic.
There are not protests against the U.S., Israel or against the passivity of Europe. It is just a massive cry against corruption and a call for democracy.
Not even the hate that Qaddafi is throwing against his own people nor his tanks could stop the strength of a population that is pushing themselves into the future.
I wonder where is the generous European response who as US had sacrificed the freedom of these peoples for their own prosperity.
I wonder, why nobody has responded yet to streets full of wounded and dead bodies. The Libyan people is in the hands of a senile terrorist.
The world is crying out for equality and now, all nations have the moral duty to help this world crying. We are all sailing in the same ship, a ship sailing stunned by a great change of cultural, religious and economic concept, and despite there is no revolution without blood and no battles without injury, we must prevent further damage. This new society will requires the West complicity and support.
Simón Naïm: plase note: the European government, and the governments of the European states, are bound by their international treaties and can not always react as their inhabitants would or would like them to.
I am an European inhabitant and believe me: I want nothing more than the people in the northern African Region (Libya, Egypt, Tunesia, Algeria and all other countries) to have a fair chance of a good life to live, that they can provide their family with all they need, and that they are free to express their own opinion without being afraid of repression. And you can believe me freely if I say that most European civilians think the same way I do.
I do really hope that the people who are in turmoil now, and who are struggling for democracy and a better life, will finally succeed in their struggle, and that they will win what they want: freedom and dignity and a fair chance to build up a good life.
But I also hope that they will get the chance of learning how to deal with democracy and responsibility in national and international affairs, and that all those current dictatorial states in the Arabic world don't see their former dictators replaced by new, maybe even worse dictators.
I pray that reason finally will prevail, and that suppression for whatever reason will seize to exsist.
Simón Naïm: plase note: the European government, and the governments of the European states, are bound by their international treaties and can not always react as their inhabitants would or would like them to.
I am an European inhabitant and believe me: I want nothing more than the people in the northern African Region (Libya, Egypt, Tunesia, Algeria and all other countries) to have a fair chance of a good life to live, that they can provide their family with all they need, and that they are free to express their own opinion without being afraid of repression. And you can believe me freely if I say that most European civilians think the same way I do.
I do really hope that the people who are in turmoil now, and who are struggling for democracy and a better life, will finally succeed in their struggle, and that they will win what they want: freedom and dignity and a fair chance to build up a good life.
But I also hope that they will get the chance of learning how to deal with democracy and responsibility in national and international affairs, and that all those current dictatorial states in the Arabic world don’t see their former dictators replaced by new, maybe even worse dictators.
I pray that reason finally will prevail, and that suppression for whatever reason will seize to exsist.
Human beings worldwide condemn the Libyan regime for atrocities. Gadaffi OUT, NOW. Arrest him for crimes against humanity and execute him.
Human beings worldwide condemn the Libyan regime for atrocities. Gadaffi OUT, NOW. Arrest him for crimes against humanity and execute him.
Please all my 7 billion friends, sign this petion, to help the people in Libya,
to protect them from the brutal killing
that Gadaffi is doing now,
He is killing all his own people,
the very people, he should protect, as president,
he does that killing, with hired and payed criminals,
and he is buying these criminals, from the whole of Africa !!!
please sign it now !!!
We are responsible, if we do not act against this NOW.
Jos
Please all my 7 billion friends, sign this petition, to help the people in Libya,
to protect them from the brutal killing
that Gadaffi is doing now,
He is killing his own people,
the very people, he should protect, as president,
he does that killing, with hired and paid criminals,
and he is buying these criminals, from the whole of Africa !!!
please sign it now !!!
We are responsible, if we do not act against this NOW.
Jos
I condemn Ghadafis terror and ask all the nation to freeze all the assets in banks and properies abroad
May God bless the people of Libya,
Foune Ly
Executive Director
Meo Autonomy Parliament of Laos
Please all my 7 billion friends, sign this petion, to help the people in Libya,
to protect them from the brutal killing
that Gadaffi is doing now,
He is killing all his own people,
the very people, he should protect, as president,
he does that killing, with hired and payed criminals,
and he is buying these criminals, from the whole of Africa !!!
please sign it now !!!
We are responsible, if we do not act against this NOW.
Jos
Please all my 7 billion friends, sign this petition, to help the people in Libya,
to protect them from the brutal killing
that Gadaffi is doing now,
He is killing his own people,
the very people, he should protect, as president,
he does that killing, with hired and paid criminals,
and he is buying these criminals, from the whole of Africa !!!
please sign it now !!!
We are responsible, if we do not act against this NOW.
Jos
I condemn Ghadafis terror and ask all the nation to freeze all the assets in banks and properies abroad
May God bless the people of Libya,
Foune Ly
Executive Director
Meo Autonomy Parliament of Laos
Its a big plot to destroy the middle east once and for all.
I do have an idea who is doing all this but i have no proof.
what i think is the world is fed up with islam and islaming people shoving their religion in the faces of the rest of the world.plotting and caniving to destroy the world. Its a big diabolic plan that the peaceful world has finally discovered.
the plan is the domino effect on the arab world . The free world realized that there will be no peace as long as these people are treatning the stability of the whole globe under the name of a fanatic religion.
the world does not need their oil anymore all electric cars started to emmerge
wind and solar power are every where. This was the awaited time to send all the bedouins back to their tents and camels. I am not saying i am happy for the massacres. But i am saying better them than us. the world should stop interfering and let them kill eatch other.
Charlie,
You shall be careful with your words, because you could offend a lot of innocent people.
Before you say anything about a religion or culture, should try to know, love and understand this culture. There is not one single Muslim person in this world who is better or worse than others. Try to remain your arrogance for better times. And also give you thanks to God for not being you, the one who is living there.
Now there are too many people suffering and dying from the selfishness, tyranny and evil from few insanes leaders from both East and West..
Its a big plot to destroy the middle east once and for all.
I do have an idea who is doing all this but i have no proof.
what i think is the world is fed up with islam and islaming people shoving their religion in the faces of the rest of the world.plotting and caniving to destroy the world. Its a big diabolic plan that the peaceful world has finally discovered.
the plan is the domino effect on the arab world . The free world realized that there will be no peace as long as these people are treatning the stability of the whole globe under the name of a fanatic religion.
the world does not need their oil anymore all electric cars started to emmerge
wind and solar power are every where. This was the awaited time to send all the bedouins back to their tents and camels. I am not saying i am happy for the massacres. But i am saying better them than us. the world should stop interfering and let them kill eatch other.
There can be no government,or leadership on the globe to commit crimes against humanity!! This is not open to debate, or reason. We must act against these crimes with or without the help of the rest of the worlds coalition. America our great nation must take the lead and put the stop to thesecrimes against humanity at once ! We pride ourselves with liberty and justice for all !! We must act now Mr. President, Now!!!!
Charlie,
You shall be careful with your words, because you could offend a lot of innocent people.
Before you say anything about a religion or culture, should try to know, love and understand this culture. There is not one single Muslim person in this world who is better or worse than others. Try to remain your arrogance for better times. And also give you thanks to God for not being you, the one who is living there.
Now there are too many people suffering and dying from the selfishness, tyranny and evil from few insanes leaders from both East and West..
There can be no government,or leadership on the globe to commit crimes against humanity!! This is not open to debate, or reason. We must act against these crimes with or without the help of the rest of the worlds coalition. America our great nation must take the lead and put the stop to thesecrimes against humanity at once ! We pride ourselves with liberty and justice for all !! We must act now Mr. President, Now!!!!
We as people of the world all want to be free to express, debate our differences, and live without being oppressed. Taking away rights of the people have been done for decades in regions of the Middle East. The process of evolution in the text of freedom for all people regardless of the color of their skin;or there beliefs ,has nothing to do with the current changes in the Middle East. What we are experiencing now is evolution. Crimes of humanity have been carried out in history, perhaps what we are experiencing now is humanity putting a stop to it.
These will be the times when all people of oppressed nation will have there individual freedoms like the rest of the world. Lets hope and pray that this is what we are witnessing.
We as people of the world all want to be free to express, debate our differences, and live without being oppressed. Taking away rights of the people have been done for decades in regions of the Middle East. The process of evolution in the text of freedom for all people regardless of the color of their skin;or there beliefs ,has nothing to do with the current changes in the Middle East. What we are experiencing now is evolution. Crimes of humanity have been carried out in history, perhaps what we are experiencing now is humanity putting a stop to it.
These will be the times when all people of oppressed nation will have there individual freedoms like the rest of the world. Lets hope and pray that this is what we are witnessing.
the success or the failure of this revolution, depends entirely on the military.
Behind every uniform there is a man and within each human being there is an awareness, in a voice that dictates whether or not to kill his brother.
The history is teaching us that the world is full of good people willing to die rather than kill. They are the new heroes of our history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zkLh_QMFdQ&fe…
the success or the failure of this revolution, depends entirely on the military.
Behind every uniform there is a man and within each human being there is an awareness, in a voice that dictates whether or not to kill his brother.
The history is teaching us that the world is full of good people willing to die rather than kill. They are the new heroes of our history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zkLh_QMFdQ&fe…
the success or the failure of this revolution, depends entirely on the military.
Behind every uniform there is a man and within each human being there is an awareness, in a voice that dictates whether or not to kill his brother.
The history is teaching us that the world is full of good people willing to die rather than kill. They are the new heroes of our history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zkLh_QMFdQ&fe…
the success or the failure of this revolution, depends entirely on the military.
Behind every uniform there is a man and within each human being there is an awareness, in a voice that dictates whether or not to kill his brother.
The history is teaching us that the world is full of good people willing to die rather than kill. They are the new heroes of our history.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zkLh_QMFdQ&feature=player_embedded