Time to really let rip with those talking-shops, don't you think?
LIBYA LAUNCHES WAVE OF ARRESTS TO CRUSH PROTEST – Human Rights Watch
ALGIERS, March 13 (Reuters) –
Libyan security forces have launched a wave of “arbitary arrests and forced disappearances” in the capital to stamp out protests against Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, Human Rights Watch said on Sunday.
The New York-based group said it compiled evidence from Tripoli residents of scores of people being detained if they helped organise or took part in anti-government protests, or if they were suspected of speaking to foreign media.
Many governments say Gaddafi violently repressed an uprising against his rule. The Libyan leader said the revolt was conducted by a small group of al Qaeda operatives backed by foreign forces bent on destroying Libya.
“Gaddafi and his security forces are brutally suppressing all opposition in Tripoli, including peaceful protests, with lethal force, arbitrary arrests, and forced disappearances,” Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
“Given Libya’s record of torture and political killings, we worry deeply about the fate of those taken away,” she said.
Gaddafi lost control over large parts of the country after a revolt against his rule last month. The rebel’s stronghold has been in the east of Libya and in Tripoli, to the west, protests have been small and quickly dispersed by security forces.
“The arrests and disappearances in Tripoli have cowed many who were peacefully protesting the government,” Whitson said. “It shows how much the government headed by Gaddafi is relying on intimidation.”
(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Louise Ireland)
© Thomson Reuters 2011 All rights reserved
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“Gates says U.S. military could enforce a no-fly zone in Libya if Obama ordered one
By Peter Finn and Scott Wilson
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Saturday that the U.S. military, already fighting two wars in Muslim nations, would have no trouble enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya if President Obama orders one.
The comments appeared designed to counter the criticism surrounding his earlier remarks on the issue and came as the Arab League endorsed a no-fly zone to protect Libya’s civilians from forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi. ”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/12/AR2011031205485.html
http://www.blueridgenow.com/article/20110313/API/1103131287
Libya seeks help from Italy with fire at oil refinery
Worried for the environment!
And here’s another really good one:
Five myths about Gaddafi:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/11/AR2011031107038.html
When will Maltese politicians face the writing on the wall and stop behaving like ostriches?
The quicker the Libyans get rid of the regime the better it will be for themselves and everyone else. If he manages to survive, thanks to the dithering of the international community, he will , in revenge fill the whole Mediterranean sea with boats full of unfortunates whilst mainland Europe and the US will face the spectre of Libyan-sponsored terrorist attacks.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/…/the-quicker-gaddafi-goes-the-better-for-everyone
“Libyan security forces have launched a waive of arbitary arrests…….” Now, come on , what do you expect? handing around sweets…….
Whether or not one expects such actions does not, in itself, justify them, does it?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/12/AR2011031204965.html
In Libya, underground jail a daunting reminder of Moammar Gaddafi’s grip
Fadlallah Haroun, who spent seven years in prison in Libya without being charged, stands in the underground facility Tuesday in Benghazi. (Nasser Nasser) Network NewsX
By Sudarsan Raghavan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 13, 2011
IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA Peering into a subterranean jail, Adil Gnaybor shuddered with fear. Rusted prison bars once covered with earth were now exposed, dug up by rebels who had discovered the secret labyrinth of cells. The space was too small for Gnaybor’s 5-foot frame, and a white tube provided the only source of air.
Libya: End Violent Crackdown in Tripoli
Disappearances and Torture Major Concerns
March 13, 2011
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/13/libya-end-violent-crackdown-tripoli
“Cars were coming and going. I saw them bring in a guy and three girls, prisoners, too. Two of them told me they had broken ribs. The four who were masked, I helped them breathe by lifting their masks, saw they had been badly beaten.
“The four said they had been three days without food and with arms and legs cuffed. They said where they were now was like heaven compared to where they had been. They said they had been tortured for three days, and were from Zawiya.”
Awful journey into mind of dictator Muammar Gaddafi
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/awful-journey-into-mind-of-dictator-muammar-gaddafi/story-e6frg6so-1226020713120
A stunned Sadek was walked over to the centre of the basketball court and the curtain dropped away revealing a noose.
At this point, says Ibrahim, there were sounds of horror from the audience. Some shouted “No!”
The noose was put around Sadek’s neck, at which point he began crying and, although 30 years of age, shouted: “I want to see my mother.”
The rope was pulled up until he was hanging. But without the usual trapdoor and sudden fall, it was too slow to kill him.
One of Colonel Gaddafi’s supporters in Benghazi, a woman called Hoda Benamer, rushed over and began swinging on Sadek’s legs, trying to finish him off.
He would not die. So he was lowered to the floor and taken to Hawari Hospital, where five doctors examined him before one injected him with poison.
Still they could not kill him. So one of the doctors filled a sock with sand and pushed it down his throat. They held his nose so he couldn’t breathe. Finally, he died.
Far from hiding his regime’s brutality – and incompetence – Colonel Gaddafi insisted the botched hanging be replayed on television three times a day.
Read more about Huda the Executioner
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8363587/Huda-the-executioner-Libyas-devil-in-female-form.html
Before a No Fly Zone can be implemented it has to be approved by the UN Security Council. Russia and China can veto it and it seems likely that they will as they have already expressed the opinion that they do not support military intervention in Libya.
Even if Russia and China support it, and it does go through, it will take a few more days to implement. Al Jazeera today reported that Gaddafi forces plan to take Benghazi over the next two or three days. So it will be too late by then, the rebellion will have already been crushed.
Even if implemented in time, the No Fly Zone won’t be effective against tanks, helicopter gunships and artillery. This is the weaponry Gaddafi forces are using to defeat the rebels. Air strikes are only used “soften up” the opposition before the ground forces move in. Deprived of air strike capability will mean that they will use shelling by their artillery instead.
I know I am sounding negative, but when you consider the above facts you have to be so. I would be delighted to be proven wrong.
The E U has now given poof of what a spineless institution it is. What it is saying is ” Now look Mr Gadaffi, we know what a bad man you are ,but we must insist that you do not use your airforce against the rebels, we will not permit you to , we do so, in a few days , or weeks time we will implement, a no fly zone , so be a sport, you can use all your tanks and heavy guns and whatever else you have, but no planes, it’s not fair.
The no fly zone is imminent, the USS Enterprise is just off the Libyan coast. Just a while ago it was joined by a nuclear submarine and a destroyer, so the no-fly zone will go in effect no later than Friday, if not before.
The tyrant knows that his days are numbered and he’s probably already hiding in his bunker.
Once the green light is given by the UN, the Americans will unleash hell. The planning was done weeks ago. The US will attack at night, leaving the day sorties to the UK and France.
Once the allies destroy all of Gaddafi’s aging airforce, radar systems and anti-aircraft missile sights, the people of Libya will finish him off.
Saif al-Islam will have his wish granted. He will die in Libya.
Will they kill Saadi too, or is he on safari somewhere in Africa?
Let’s hope there is something left to save, by Friday.
I sincerely hope that all this is not wishful thinking
Dear Libyan Patriots,
We are so sorry that it had to end like this, but you see we are still thinking, meeting and talking (oh, how we love to talk). Then there are the photo opportunities with other important leaders, where we grin like the fat cats we are.
But don’t worry, we have condemned Ghaddafi and most importantly, frozen his assets.
That is important because we always try to hold on to assets. You never know, we might get to keep them, like Switzerland and Nazi gold.
To cap it all there also was the disaster in Japan, and we kind of forgot about you. It seems that Gaddafi unsportingly enough didn’t though, and made a big push against you, in which he sent a load of you to heaven.
Anyway, we have now agreed that Gaddafi is a naughty boy, and we might talk a bit more about not letting him fly his planes.
However China, (you may remember them from their pro-democracy stance in Tiananmen Square) and Russia (very much in favour of democracy – ask any Chechen), will probably veto any military action to provide you with air cover, so we will have to meet and talk some more.
But do keep up the good fight. We are all rooting for you (publicly at least).
Signed
Democratically elected leaders