Appeal for
Signatures
The Executive Committee of the
National Conference of the Libyan opposition appeals to all Libyan,
Arab, and international political parties, organizations, associations,
civil society organizations, human rights organizations, as well as
independent personalities and intellectuals, to endorse this document by
adding their signatures to the following memorandum addressed to the
United Nations, in solidarity with the Libyan people in their struggle
for freedom and democracy against the tyranny and dictatorship of
Moammar Qaddafi, under which they have suffered for forty years.
Please note that signatures may be
added until September 19th, 2009. After this date, the memorandum will
be forwarded to the secretary general of the United Nations.
Long live Libya and the struggle
of its people
Executive Committee/
National Conference of the Libyan Opposition
September 3, 2009
TO SIGN THE MEMORANDUM PLEASE
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK:
MEMORANDUM TO THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY
His Excellency, Secretary-General of
the United Nations – New York
Their Excellencies, Permanent Delegates to the UN
As we extend to you our greetings
and wishes for a successful session, and commend you for your efforts
towards world peace, security, and prosperity, we, a group representing
diverse and wide segments of the Libyan people, peace advocacy
organizations, and human rights activists from across the Arab world and
international community; are compelled to tell you that it deeply disturbs
us to see the brutal dictator of Libya, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, in
attendance at the United Nations and given the opportunity to address its
General Assembly; this, after being ostracized by the world community for
40 years, having caused destruction and devastation to Libya and its
people, and spreading mayhem and terror across the globe, from which the
world is still suffering today, resulting in sanctions imposed by this
same body upon the Libyan people.
It should not be lost upon your
respected Assembly that the tyrant, who will be addressing you in his
capacity as a president of Libya, has no legitimate claim to such title.
The brutal dictator came to power through military coup on September 1st,
1969, shattering the stability and independence of that nation, which had
been granted by the UN resolution (IV) 289, dated November 21st, 1949.
Qaddafi, subsequently, abolished the Libyan Constitution, which had been a
cornerstone of that UN resolution, and went on to dissolve the Libyan
Parliament and all other constitutional institutions, replacing them with
a central Revolutionary Command Council. All and absolute powers were
concentrated in the hands of the dictator, including all executive,
legislative, and judicial, a situation that persists until today. Sadly,
in Libya, the rule of law has become the whim of a brutal dictator.
Over the past 40 years, under
Qaddafi’s brutal dictatorship, the Libyan people have suffered immensely.
They have been deprived of the most basic rights: freedom of assembly,
freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the right to choose their
own leaders in free and open elections. All political activities have been
criminalized, labor unions, and civil institutions are strictly forbidden,
and the mass media has become a cheap tool used exclusively for the
glorification of the “Brother Leader.”
The disregard for human rights have
reached unprecedented levels; from public hangings in university campuses
and sports arenas, to the infamous Abu-Sleem prison massacre, in which
1200 political prisoners were murdered in cold blood in their prison cells
in 1996. This incident, which should have shaken the conscience of all
humanity, was buried by the brutal tyrant in the same mass grave in which
the bodies of the victims were thrown. Families of the victims were not
even given the courtesy to know their sons were dead, were not allowed to
grieve. To this day, no investigation has taken place and no one has ever
been held responsible.
Qaddafi’s criminal record of terror
extends far beyond Libya’s borders, from bankrolling of terrorist groups
and organizations around the globe, to blatant armed interventions, and
instigation of civil and tribal wars in Africa and neighboring countries,
to the support of political destabilizing activities around the world.
These reckless adventures have dragged Libya into aimless and needless
conflicts causing massive devastation and loss in tens of thousands of
lives and untold number of billions of dollars, not to mentions the
millions people left homeless as a result of these conflicts.
The negative economic impact of
Qaddafi’s corrupt policies on the people of Libya has been immeasurable.
Qaddafi has confiscated private businesses and properties, outlawed the
private sector and open market economy, and held the wealth of the nations
as the personal and private domain of himself, his family, and his close
circle of lackeys. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that in a country
of only 6 million people, with annual oil revenues in excess of $60
billion, that almost 20% of the Libyan people, by Qaddafi’s own admission,
live in abject poverty. It is no surprise, given the dictator’s reckless
adventures and corrupt policies, that in Libya, a country that should have
one of highest per capita income, 30% of its people cannot find meaningful
employment, country’s infrastructure in non-existent, and not even the
most basic medical or educational services can be found.
Your Excellencies,
We did not intend through this
document to introduce you to the criminally disturbed character and
behavior of this brutal dictator who has ruled Libya and its people with
an iron fist, suffocating them for 40 years. That should be self evident.
You need only look at your respective country’s history with this tyrant
to validate what we are saying. We simply hope to impress upon you that
Qaddafi may change his color today, but his skin remains the same. He may
wear different masks and masquerade around in different looks, but he
remains the same ruthless murderer he always has been. We humbly ask you
to consider the plight of the millions of voiceless people in Libya, and
support their just struggle to regain their freedom and their rightful
place in the arena of civility and humanity.
We, the undersigned urge you to
stand by the Libyan people in their struggle for freedom and democracy.
Freedom to all Prisoners of
Conscience.
Long live the people of Libya.
Signatories:
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