The United Nations General Assembly suspended Libya from its top human rights body, the Human Rights Council, in the latest attempt to end the deadly government crackdown on the people of Libya. This is the first time a member of the Human Rights Council has ever had its membership suspended. Secretary of State Hillary Clintonresponded to the decision: “The United States applauds the move by the UN General Assembly to suspend Libya’s membership rights in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. We continue to demand an immediate halt to the violence perpetrated by the Qadhafi government against its own citizens. The General Assembly today has made it clear that governments that turn their guns on their own people have no place on the Human Rights Council.”
The World Food Programme has launched a $38 million emergency aid plan for Libya. WFP Executive Director Josette Sheerancalled for humanitarian access to Libya on Tuesday as she traveled to the Tunisia border to meet local authorities, aid organizations, and people who have fled the ongoing disturbances in Libya. Denmark has earmarked 8 million euros in humanitarian assistance for Libya and the European Union has stated it will contribute 10 million euros in aid. On Wednesday, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the International Criminal Court prosecutor, decided to launch an investigation on war crimes in Libya after a ”preliminary examination of available information.” The decision was an unprecedentedly quick reaction because prosecutors have often taken months or years to decide whether or not to open a case at the ICC. Following orders from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, two U.S. warships have traveled through the Suez Canal on their way to the Libyan coast along with 400 Marines, reportedly to assist in humanitarian relief or for the evacuation of civilians if needed.
Al Jazeera reports that government opponents in the Libyan city of Az Zawiyah have repulsed an attempt by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi to retake the city close to the capital city of Tripoli. There are also reports that fighter jets continue to be used against the people of Libya with the most recent attack taking place at an ammunition depot in Ajdabiya. As the violence continues a major humanitarian crises is unfolding as thousands of Libyans attempt to flee to Tunisia and Egypt. A spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Melissa Fleming, said 70,000-75,000 people had fled to Tunisia and just as many had also fled to Egypt since the violence began in Libya. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowleyannounced yesterday that the U.S. was sending two humanitarian teams to Tunisia and Egypt along with $10 million dollars in initial humanitarian aid. He also announced that Ambassador Gene Cretz has been conducting outreach work with the Libyan opposition.
In an interview with the foreign reporters, Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafidenied that protests against his regime were taking place, blaming the unrest on foreign instigators and Al-Qaeda. When asked whether he would step down, he laughed and invited the United Nations and other organizations to come to Libya for a “fact finding mission.” He questioned how the UN could freeze assets, impose sanctions and an arms embargo, and implement a travel ban “based purely on media reports alone.” He also denied reports that he had authorized the use of force against his people and that aerial bombardments had been used. In response to Gadhafi’s assertion that the Libyan people are behind him, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said, “He should get out of his tent and see what is really happening in his country.”
To see a clip of the interview with the BBC, click here.
Christiane Amanpour talks to Diane Sawyer about her interview with Gadhafi.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed U.S. support for the aspirations and rights of the Libyan people and called for Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to “go as soon as possible without further bloodshed and violence.” She also reiterated U.S. support for the Security Council resolution which makes clear there will be accountability for crimes against humanity and war crimes being perpetrated against the Libyan people and opens the door for humanitarian relief. She also congratulated the leaders of Bahrain and Jordan for outreach and efforts to bring about change.
On Monday, Clinton spoke at the UN Human Rights Council commending the council’s establishment of an independent commission of inquiry and calling on the UN General Assembly to suspend the Gadhafi government’s participation in the council when they meet on Tuesday. She commended the Arab League for suspending Libya’s membership and made recommendations to the council as they begin an internal review. Clinton also expressed U.S. support for the “Arab Spring”: “[S]upporting these transitions is not simply a matter of ideals. It is also a strategic imperative. Without meaningful steps toward representative, accountable, and transparent governance and open economies, the gap between people and their leaders will only grow, and instability will deepen.”
Majdoline Hatoum, writing at the Arab Reform Bulletin, discusses the difficult road ahead for Lebanese PM-designate Najib Mikati as he attempts to form a new cabinet strong enough to endure the political turmoil expected to following the release of the UN’s Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)’s report. Former PM Saad Hariri and the March 14 coalition has labeled Mikati as a tool of Hezbollah, placing Mikati in a difficult position as he attempts to form a national unity government. The coalition has refused to join the cabinet unless Mikati commits to respecting the STL’s findings, which he has thus far refused. General Michel Aoun, Hezbollah’s main Christian ally, is also insisting on choosing a new interior minister, which until now has been the prerogative of President Michel Sleiman. Hatoum notes that if Aoun’s request is met, it could mean a new era for the ministry which has been independent under Interior Minister Ziad Baroud, who is regarded as a champion for civil society and democracy. Hezbollah, which has supported Mikati, has been adamant that it wants the memorandum of understanding signed with the STL revoked. However, Mikati’s views on the tribunal and commitments he has made to Hezbollah remain unclear. Many Lebanese fear that failure to cooperate with the tribunal may lead to economic sanctions, which is especially concerning given the country’s $53 billion debt. Mikati will need to address the country’s economic concerns with a series of reforms; however, as Hatoum states, “passing such reforms requires political stability…which is likely to remain elsuive in light of the deep political polarization in the country.”
The AP reports that the entire Libyan mission to the U.N. in Geneva quit at the Human Rights Council session on Friday. Adel Shaltut, the Second Secretary at the U.N. mission asked the council to stand and observe a moment of silence to honor the revolution in Libya.
Chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) released a statement on Libya earlier this week calling for the Libyan regime to be held accountable for attacks on its citizens, for the UN to revoke Libya’s membership on the Human Rights Council, and for the U.S. and other free democratic nations to impose economic sanctions and freeze the regime’s assets. Ranking member of the committee Howard Berman (D-CA) stated that the Colonel Muammar Gadhafi’s brutal response to protesters “forfeited whatever shreds of legitimacy” his regime had and called on the international community to consider all measures to end the violence, including the immediate freezing of all assets. He also commended the defection of Libyan diplomats and urged the military leadership to do the same. Reps. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN)also issued a statement on Thursday condemning the violence in Libya and calling for international action along with the establishment and enforcement of a no-fly zone over the country. They also urged the Libyan military to immediately stop “its unlawful and immoral crackdown against the people of Libya.”
Al Jazeera reports that the cities of Tobruk and Misurata have been taken over by government opposition forces who are now supported by the Libyan military. Major General Suleiman Mahmoud, the commander of the armed forces in Tobruk, told Al Jazeera that the troops led by him had switched loyalties. “We are on the side of the people,” he said. Ben Wedeman reporting from Eastern Libya, tweeted that the flags outside of buildings have been replaced by the pre-Gadhafi flag.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, stated: “I would like the suspension of economic, commercial and financial relations with Libya until further notice.” These remarks come as many continue to speculate at the death toll in Libya including Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who stated that reports of 1,000-plus dead are credible. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also commented on the situation: “The United States continues to watch the situation in Libya with alarm. This bloodshed is completely unacceptable. It is the responsibility of the Government of Libya to respect the universal rights of their own people, including their right to free expression and assembly.” The UN Security Council issued a statement expressing “grave concern at the situation in Libya”; they also condemned the violence and called for an immediate end to the forceful repression and for a national dialogue to commence immediately to address the legitimate demands of the people of Libya.
On Tuesday, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) condemned the use of violence by the Ghadafi regime and called on the UN Security Council to immediately condemn the acts and for the General Assembly to expel Libya from the UN Human Rights Council. He also unveiled a Senate resolution condemning Libyan President Moammar Ghadafi and the regime’s use of violence. The resolution calls for the suspension of arm sales to Libya, urges the UNto suspend Libya’s membership on its Human Rights Council, and calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate whether crimes against humanity have been committed by Ghadafi against the Libyan people.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) also condemned the use of violence and called for immediate international action. He stated that a four step process should take place: Libya’s senior military commanders should be made aware that their acquiescence may open them to future international war crimes charges; American and international oil companies should immediately cease operations in Libya and the administration should consider re-imposing U.S. sanctions; the U.N. Security Council should condemn violence and explore sanctions and the U.N. should remove Libya from the Human Rights Commission; and for the Arab League and African Union to create a new precedent in response to the crisis. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) also released a joint-statement condemning the violence in Libya and applauding the Libyan officials who have broken with the Ghadafi regime. They also call for a no-fly zone to prevent the regime’s use of air power to attack Libyan civilians, sanctions and asset freezes, an arms embargo and the immediate suspension of Libya from international organizations.
On Tuesday, the UN Security Council held formal consultations on the Libya crisis with Western nations calling for a strong statement condemning the use of violence. Libya’s deputy ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, who requested the meeting, has called for Gadhafi to stand down and called on the Security Council to order a no-fly zone over Libya and for a humanitarian corridor to get supplies to civilians. Lybia’s UN Ambassador Mohamed Shalgham and UN undersecretary-general B. Lynn Pascoe spoke to the council about the protests. The council condemned the crackdown in a statement agreed to by all 15 council members, expressing “grave concern” and calling for “an immediate end to the violence” and steps to address the legitimate demands of the Libyan people.
Earlier, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) released a statement condemning the violence and calling on the U.N. to protect Libyan citizens: “With the brutal violence against protesters in Libya, the United States cannot sit idly by. The reports of air assaults on civilians and arms being flown in from other countries require the establishment of a no-fly zone around Libya. I urge Ambassador Rice to act immediately at the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution that protects the rights of the Libyan people.”
Human Rights First (HRF) issued a list of recommendations to the Obama Administration on how to deal with the events over the past weeks which demonstrate the unsustainability of policies, which HRF’s Neil Hicks says ”place stability ahead of human rights.” The statement called on the administration to make clear to Middle Eastern governments that they must listen and respond to the legitimate demands of their people, respect human rights, and end policies which use violence and coercion as a means to halt freedom of expression. HRF also stated that the administration must be ready to assist peaceful transitions toward more democratic government everywhere through targeted aid, technical assistance and support for free elections and democratic institutions of all kinds.
On the situation in Libya, HRF advised the advised the administration to take the lead at the UN Security Council in pushing forward plans that include condemning the use of violence, instituting a no-fly zone over Libya and creating a commission to investigate war crimes. It also called for targeted sanctions on Gadhafi and those close to him as well as cooperation with organizations like the African Union and the Arab League to ensure an end to repression in Libya. The report also gives individual country advice for Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia.
Marc Lynch, writing at Foreign Policy, argues that the situation in Libya has become so deplorable that international action is necessary to end the violence. Lynch believes that it would be a mistake to confuse the situation in Libya with the events that took place in Egypt and Tunisia as it is more comparable to Bosnia, Kosovo or even Rwanda. Lynch calls for an immediate response to the violence in Libya including the institution of a no-fly zone over Libya protected by NATO, an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council in order to issue a strong resolution and possible sanctions, as well as a clear declaration that any members of the military or the regime who perpetuate violence will be held personally responsible. Lynch believes that immediate action could have a profound effect: “The steady stream of highly public defections from the regime suggest that rapid change is possible, yesterday’s speech by Saif al-Islam Gadhafi and today’s events suggest that so is terrible violence.”
On Monday, violence in Libya escalated as Libyan security forces and militiamen opened fire on protesters in the streets. The military also used helicopters and airplanes to attack citizens believed to be in opposition of the government. As of Sunday, Human Rights Watch reports that the death toll has reached above 233 and is estimated to rise as more information is gathered. Secretary of State Hillary Clintonissued a statement expressing her alarm at the events that are unfolding in Libya and called for respect of Libyans universal human rights. She went on to state: “Now is the time to stop this unacceptable bloodshed.”
Diplomats at Libyan embassies in the US, the United Nations, the Arab League, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland, India and Bangladesh, among others, have either resigned from their posts, or terminated links to Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi’s government. Ali Aujali, Libyan Ambassador to the U.S., asserted: “How can I support a government killing our people? What I have seen in front of my eyes is not acceptable at all.” The Libya Outreach Group in Washington D.C., an advocacy group that seeks to raise awareness of atrocities committed in Libya, published a statement calling for a no-fly zone to be put in place over the country, the deployment of international peacekeeping troops and humanitarian aid, as well as the indictment of Gadhafi for crimes against humanity. The organization will be holding a press conference today from 2 to 4pm in Fairfax, Virginia. The United Nations Security Council announced that it will have a closed session to discuss the “brutal crackdown” in Libya.
On Tuesday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan E. Rice informed Arab governments that the U.S. will support a U.N. Security Council statement reaffirming that the council “does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity.” Colum Lynch writing at the Foreign Policy blog, Turtle Bay, states that this was a move aimed at avoiding the prospect of having to veto a stronger Palestinian resolution which call the settlements illegal. Palestinians have, however, rejected the U.S. offer after a meeting of Arab representatives on Wednesday and plan to press for a vote on its resolution on Friday, which will likely be vetoed. Lynch argues, however that this marks the U.S.’s “willingness to seek a way out of the current impasse, even if it requires breaking with Israel.” In exchange for “scuttling the Palestinian resolution,” the U.S. will support the council statement, consider supporting a U.N. Security Council visit to the Middle East and commit to supporting strong language criticizing Israel’s settlement policies in a future statement to be drafted by the Middle East Quartet. According to council diplomats, the U.S. shift in rhetoric comes as the 14 other members prepare to support the Palestinian resolution.
Addressing a question on the settlement statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clintonstated, “Our focus is on doing what is best to advance negotiations between the parties that will lead to a two-state solution…we are working with our partners in the Security Council, with our friends in the region, to find a consensus way forward that is consistent with our overall approach.”
As protests continue across the Middle East, the question of US foreign policy with respect to the region looms large. In POMED’s latest policy brief, Brookings scholars Ted Piccone and Emily Alinikoff address the US approach to the United Nations Human Rights Council, particularly as it pertains to the Middle East. Click herefor the full text, and click here to sign up to receive future briefs via email.
The Obama administration joined the UN Human Rights Council in 2009 as a means to promote human rights through a multilateral mechanism as well as to strengthen the imperfect body from within. In the brief, Piccone and Alinikoff focus on the UN’s system of Special Procedures, a unique and effective mechanism which provides independent, periodic, and on the ground scrutiny of a country’s human rights record. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa have not cooperated well with the UN Special Procedures. Nonetheless, Special Procedures have had some success in changing states’ behavior. Piccone and Alinikoff argue that the United States should remain actively engaged in the Council in order to strengthen the Special Procedures and to work to address the body’s flaws. This includes challenging the candidacy of any country that has a poor record of cooperation with the Council’s mechanisms for membership on the Human Rights Council.
On February 15th, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and 23 other Senators submitted a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for the creation of an independent U.N. human rights monitor on Iran when the U.N. Human Rights Council convenes this March. Sighting the numerous human rights abuses that have occurred in Iran especially in response to the democratic uprising in late 2009 the letter states:“Establishing an independent U.N. human rights monitor charged with monitoring and reporting on Iran’s human rights violations is an important effort to provide some protection for Iran’s human rights and democracy movement.”
Jamal Abdi, National Iranian American Council Policy Director supported this effort stating: “Iran’s destiny can only be decided by the Iranian people, but as human rights violations continue in Iran, the international community must be loud and clear that universal rights must be respected.”
Press Secretary Robert Gibbsreleased a statement on Wednesday stating, “the United States deplores and condemns the violence in Egypt.” He also expressed that the US is “deeply concerned” with the events that took place in Tahrir Square today. Al Jazeera spoke with its Washington correspondent who reported that it remains unclear what the Obama Administration will do next, but proposed that President Obama could decide to withold military aid if the Egyptian military does not work to prevent violence on the streets of Cairo.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moonsaid he was “deeply concerned” by the violence and urged restraint from all sides and that the U.N. has been warning about the need for change in the Arab world for a decade. He condemned attacks on peaceful protesters as unacceptable and reiterated the need for a peaceful and orderly transition to begin “without delay.” British Prime Minister David Cameron called the events “despicable” and called for reforms to take place in Egypt immediately. He went on to warn: “If it turns out that the regime in any way has been sponsoring or tolerating this violence, that would be completely and utterly unacceptable.” Baroness Catherine Ashton, the E.U.’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to transition to elections as quickly as possible.
United Nations Human Rights chief Navi Pillay said in a statement more than 1000 have been arrested over the past several days in Egypt. Pillay calls for a lifting of the emergency law, a restoration of internet and social media access, and guarantees for the right of expression and assembly.
