Here is a Global Greens statement on Libya:
23 February, 2011
Global Greens call for Gadhafi’s resignation and an immediate end to the bloody repression in Libya
The Global Greens call in the strongest possible terms for an immediate halt to the bloody crackdown launched by the regime of Colonel Gadhafi and his clan against Libyan protesters. The bombing of unarmed people whose only ’crime’ is going to the streets to protest, if confirmed, constitutes a crime against humanity. Similarly, the use of mercenary forces to attack unarmed civilians is a flagrant human rights violation. Colonel Gadhafi should resign.
Greens all over the world express their solidarity with the families of the hundreds of victims killed in the country and join them in their grief over the loss of their loved ones.
The Global Greens welcome the United Nations’ decision to establish a commission to conduct an independent investigation into the violence in Libya.
Colonel Gadhafi is risking if not promoting civil war. Urgent action is needed to end this bloody massacre and free the people of Libya. The funds of the main leaders of the Gadhafi clan should be frozen. Cynical agreements for economic help in return for refugee repatriation, made by Italy and under consideration by the European Union, should end.
We regret that the reaction so far of many world leaders, especially in western countries, has been overly cautious, more concerned with stability and trade than with the fate of Libyans protesting against one of the most brutal regimes in contemporary history.
The Global Greens call on international and regional organizations and governments, especially those that have previously tolerated and supported the Libyan dictatorship, to support instead the democratic forces in the country. 41 years of Gadhafi are enough! The era of geopolitics where countries are unashamedly complicit with criminals and inhuman dictatorships to protect their commercial interests has to end.
The Global Greens also call on the Libyan people who are demanding their political and human rights in the streets of Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities to follow democratic, secular and republican principles, respectful of the beliefs of everyone and capable of laying the foundations for a socially more just and politically more open country.
The Global Greens Coordination
James Tonson, secretary
The Global Greens call in the strongest possible terms for an immediate halt to the bloody crackdown launched by the regime of Colonel Gadhafi and his clan against Libyan protesters. The bombing of unarmed people whose only ’crime’ is going to the streets to protest, if confirmed, constitutes a crime against humanity. Similarly, the use of mercenary forces to attack unarmed civilians is a flagrant human rights violation. Colonel Gadhafi should resign.
Greens all over the world express their solidarity with the families of the hundreds of victims killed in the country and join them in their grief over the loss of their loved ones.
The Global Greens welcome the United Nations’ decision to establish a commission to conduct an independent investigation into the violence in Libya.
Colonel Gadhafi is risking if not promoting civil war. Urgent action is needed to end this bloody massacre and free the people of Libya. The funds of the main leaders of the Gadhafi clan should be frozen. Cynical agreements for economic help in return for refugee repatriation, made by Italy and under consideration by the European Union, should end.
We regret that the reaction so far of many world leaders, especially in western countries, has been overly cautious, more concerned with stability and trade than with the fate of Libyans protesting against one of the most brutal regimes in contemporary history.
The Global Greens call on international and regional organizations and governments, especially those that have previously tolerated and supported the Libyan dictatorship, to support instead the democratic forces in the country. 41 years of Gadhafi are enough! The era of geopolitics where countries are unashamedly complicit with criminals and inhuman dictatorships to protect their commercial interests has to end.
The Global Greens also call on the Libyan people who are demanding their political and human rights in the streets of Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities to follow democratic, secular and republican principles, respectful of the beliefs of everyone and capable of laying the foundations for a socially more just and politically more open country.
The Global Greens Coordination
James Tonson, secretary
I have seen the GG release "LIBYA: Global Greens call for Gadhafi’s Resignation". Well done for getting it out, and more of this please.
Just a small point: "We regret that the reaction so far of many world leaders, especially in western countries, has been overly cautious, more concerned with stability and trade than with the fate of Libyans protesting against one of the most brutal regimes in contemporary history."
I saw a Reuters report yesterday alleging that the West generally were in fact leading the move in the UN Human Rights Council to oust Gaddafi, and that Russia China and the majority of African and Asian nations were more cautious about requesting Gaddafi's removal. The link was here http://reut.rs/hOp8oc, but now leads nowhere.
We will see later today what the HRC comes out with.
It is pretty likely that this tragedy may be played out in many more countries. The seizing of foreign assets should occur as soon as a ruler uses lethal force on the population.
The problem is that the international community addresses each of these crises as a unique event, and this results in a lot of time-consuming, ad hoc politicking. As you know, the Golbal Greens in 2008 agreed, inter alia, on this measure:
"In order to lead the UN from a reactive to a pro-active stance on human rights, we will press for all countries’ human rights records to be expressed quantitatively, so that they can be published annually by the UN in ranked order, revealing the relative standing of each country, which will exert a continual persuasive force on all governments to improve their performance in the field of human rights".
This is a uniquely Green initiative. There is a full report on it here prepared for GPEW, and it contains a paragraph on preventing formation of dictatorships. (Dealing with Dictators).
I believe that the Arab Spring is intrinsically Green in the sense that it is a manifestation of people power. Please keep up the pressure from the GG, and let us continue to campaign for a global uplift in human rights.
Let us also not forget that revolution does not put food on the table. The problems in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya include unemployment and water and food shortages. The political revolution is the beginning, not the end. We need somehow, without seeming to lecture, to show that these economic problems represent a failure of free market economics, and that green economics, which puts food, water, housing, sustainable energy and intelligent waste management at the foundation of the economy, is the economic revolution that the world needs.
Best wishes
Richard Lawson
Weblinks:
African Greens
Global Greens
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