It is despicable that thousands of people continue to be massacred in Libya but there is no urgency from the international community and regional organizations to intervene. The ghost of ‘strategic interests’ is back to haunt us in yet another conflict. In this new world order, we have to rely on the mercy of super-powers to prevent bloodshed yet that only happens when they have something at stake. Gadhafi is waging war on the revolting masses and soaking the desert with the blood of his citizens whose intention was to conduct a peaceful protest. This is not the first and last time the world has watched from the comfortable seats of the Colosseum while genocide occurs.
The United Nations has once again been exposed as a sleeping giant failing on its promise to achieve international peace and security. It has resorted to tackling problems at the tip of the iceberg— food aid, shelter and security for refugees and conducting body counts after the conflict is over. The UN also adopted a comprehensive arms embargo on the Libyan government, and ordered member states to freeze the assets of Gadhafi and his family including a travel ban on the regime a move many believe will have no major impact on the conflict at this stage. Libya was also suspended from the U.N. Human Rights Council for committing gross and systematic violations of human rights. One can only wonder how Libya was on such a committee in the first place considering the regime’s record on human rights violations. Continue reading
By Jaclyn Evert