Libya Political Unrest - Report Example

LIBYA POLITICAL UNREST INTRODUCTION The fall of Qaddafi regime that lasted for 40 years has brought political unrest in Libya and several people have lost their life, leaving orphans and widowers in a deplorable state with little effort from government to contain the situation at hand. The fight was between Qaddafi forces that were fighting for him to be freed. According to report of International Commission of Inquiry on Libya established on commissioned by Human Right Council on 12 February 2011, the unrest was between Qaddafi forces and Anti-Qaddafi forces (Thuwar). The report further explained that both forces committed serious humanity crimes which include rape, abduction, murder and destruction of property. The most affected in the ordeal was Libyan civilian including, vulnerable members of the society that include children, women and disable. The situation attracted international community to come in to stabilize the situation in order to prevent further lose of innocent lives and prevent worsening of the situation in Libya. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was in forefront in trying to contain Libyan situation from escalating. NATO conducted their operation with due care and few civilian casualties were reported. This is according to the report conducted by International Commission of Inquiry on Libya but they recommended for further investigation before drawing to that conclusion. Qaddafi regime that lasted for 40 years has lead to collapse of Libyan legislative framework, judicial system and human right institution. Therefore, putting interim government in a situation between a rock and hard place since it is required to restore citizen’s confidence on judicial system and legislative framework. Despite very many challenges facing interim government, it has shown optimism on ending 40 years of Qaddafi reign of human right violation and discrimination. In order to accomplish its mandate, this new government will obviously need support from United Nation and International Community due to various challenges facing the country which includes political unrest and prosecuting perpetrators of human right irrespective of who they support (both Qaddafi forces and Anti-Qaddafi forces). The situation was worse on Tripoli Airport which was target for most airstrikes. The revolution in Libya made it a battle place for other countries which provided support to either Qaddafi or Anti-Qaddafi forces this countries includes Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE this alliance made the situation worsen. According to Pentagon house it is believed that Egypt and UAE was carrying out secret Airstrikes to Libya which was dismissed by the parties accused. Jen Psaki made this comment which I quote "We understand that there were airstrikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt.” Therefore, Pentagon house advised other countries not to support Libya in resolving its issues through violence but in a peaceful manner in order or prevent escalation of the situation. There are several inhuman activities that were reported in Libyan political unrest as per the report made by the International Commission of Inquiry on Libya in order to develop basis of incrementing the perpetrators. This inhuman activity committed includes; Use of excessive force According to commission findings, it is reported that Qaddafi officials used excessive powers against the demonstrators since interview of medical officers, records and photographs examined shows serious injuries and wounds signifying use of excessive powers in trying to suppress anti-Qaddafi forces. Retrieval of a video footage showed Senior Qaddafi official giving instruction for the forces to go hard on protestors. Interview with Benghazi killing witness gives an account of how the forces killed nine civilian with shots on heads and throw stones on them as burial procession. A medical doctor gave an account on 200 bodies they received in the mortuary in the period 20th February to 21st the same month. The above evidence showed to greater extent on how Qaddafi forces violated Human rights by use of excessive forces in order to silence the protestors. This action therefore, breaches International Human Right Law by depravation of life of innocent Libyan civilians. Violence related to sexual abuse Qaddafi forces committed several sexual abuse acts according to interview carried by International Commission of Inquiry on Libya where it interviewed 20 males and females. They further carried interview with 30 professionals (e.g. doctors) in order to arrive at substantive conclusion. Thuwar detainees who were detained in Abu Salim and Ein Zara reported to be sexually abused either sodomy, virginal rape or use of objects and burning of genital in order to force them give Qaddafi forces information of Anti-Qaddafi forces. Though the commission got information of accused perpetrators of this act, it choose not to use as basis of its report since they obtained through torture and therefore, it might not give correct view of what really happened during that period. Thuwar group was also accused of committing sexual violence in their operation but there was no substantive evidence to accuse the group of sexual violence therefore, the commission didn’t arrive to conclusion of the act being committed by the group. It is evident that Qaddafi Militant used sexual violence in order to suppress the protestors and obtaining information during revolution by inflicting fears on civilians. Sexual violence is against human right has stipulated by international human law thus Qaddafi forces breached the act. Unwarranted killings It is evident that there was a lot of unwarranted killing in the turmoil through evidence collected from Bab Al Aziziyah, Tripoli, Yarmouk, Al Khums and Al Qalaa. According to evidence gathered in Al Khums, it is noted that 18 people lost their lives after being caged in a metallic container where 17 died in the container and one died in hospital while receiving treatment. Further, interviews were carried on survivors and guards showed several killings were carried out by Qaddafi forces. Another among several instance of unwarranted is the footage taken by one of the soldier in Al Qalaa which showed several bodies, the commissioned visited the site and found substantive evidence on the same. Interview between international commissions of Inquiry on Libya proved the same thing too. Consequently, above evidence proves beyond doubt that unwarranted killing took place and several lives were lost in Libya during political unrest after Qaddafi revolution. CONCLUSION It is clear that Libyan civilian has given way democracy to take course after 40 years of autocratic leadership, oppression, judicial system failure, discrimination and human right violation by redeeming their liberty by blood and unity of those who embraced the change in government administration and how government duties were carried out. In addition, successful removal of Qaddafi from power will therefore, require support form UN and International communities in order to heal deep wounded nation on political, social and economical system perspective. According to various business analysts, it is predicted that Libya has potential of having a robust growth in future when condition stabilize which was echoed by local business people of Libya. The Qaddafi revolution marks a new dawn for rebirth of Libya’s democracy where each citizen will have equal of the country’s resources and rights. CRITIQUE OF THE ARTICLE The research of this article was obtained is from website obtained as research findings of International Commission of Inquiry on Libya formed after situation in Libya attracted Human right intervention on 12 February 2011. The report gives in-depth of the condition witnessed during Qaddafi revolution since the commission carried out interview, questionnaire administration and observation of the footage and remains of the weapons and skeletons of human remains in places where people were tortured. The report is worth exploring due to strong evidence brought forward in developing their report thus there will be little or no violation of false information on publication of the article. In addition, Libyan situation is topic of interest to many therefore, readers will be interested in reading the publication due to the fact that they need to know more for example to what extended did the turmoil affected the country or who were the perpetrators or what does other nations and organization say about the situation of Libya. Introduction of the article gives an overview of the whole article for example what caused political unrest, reason, some of the effects felt and who are the parties involved in the polarization of the situation. This acts as a way of developing reader’s interest to read the whole article. The body therefore, tries to expound on introduction each paragraph is thus specific to a given matter of concern. The conclusion tries to give the end result of the situation mentioned on the article heading and giving an opinion on the body of the article. Use of poetic language is evident in the article for example “The Qaddafi revolution marks a new dawn for rebirth of Libya’s democracy”. In addition, there is use of sentence connector such as “In addition, therefore or consequently”. There is use of direct quotes in the articles in order to improve on its credibility to readers and makes them have confidence on the truth in the article by relating on the quote or having a notion that the author did enough research through interviews. The use of direct quote is evident where Jen Psaki makes a comment that "We understand that there were airstrikes undertaken in recent days by the UAE and Egypt.”. This article uses more of past tense due to the fact that it reports on past political situation in Libya. The publication targets the world at large since Libya situation has attracted both local and international attention. This is due to violation of human right due to escalation of political turmoil resulting from revolution of Qaddafi regime. For more information you can get accessed of International Commission of Inquiry on Libya at>http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/RegularSession/Session19/A.HRC.19.68.pdf REFERENCE Itule, B. and Anderson, D. (1994). Instructor's manual for News writing and reporting for today's media. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Read More

Retrieval of a video footage showed Senior Qaddafi official giving instruction for the forces to go hard on protestors. Interview with Benghazi killing witness gives an account of how the forces killed nine civilian with shots on heads and throw stones on them as burial procession. A medical doctor gave an account on 200 bodies they received in the mortuary in the period 20th February to 21st the same month. The above evidence showed to greater extent on how Qaddafi forces violated Human rights by use of excessive forces in order to silence the protestors.

This action therefore, breaches International Human Right Law by depravation of life of innocent Libyan civilians. Violence related to sexual abuse Qaddafi forces committed several sexual abuse acts according to interview carried by International Commission of Inquiry on Libya where it interviewed 20 males and females. They further carried interview with 30 professionals (e.g. doctors) in order to arrive at substantive conclusion. Thuwar detainees who were detained in Abu Salim and Ein Zara reported to be sexually abused either sodomy, virginal rape or use of objects and burning of genital in order to force them give Qaddafi forces information of Anti-Qaddafi forces.

Though the commission got information of accused perpetrators of this act, it choose not to use as basis of its report since they obtained through torture and therefore, it might not give correct view of what really happened during that period. Thuwar group was also accused of committing sexual violence in their operation but there was no substantive evidence to accuse the group of sexual violence therefore, the commission didn’t arrive to conclusion of the act being committed by the group.

It is evident that Qaddafi Militant used sexual violence in order to suppress the protestors and obtaining information during revolution by inflicting fears on civilians. Sexual violence is against human right has stipulated by international human law thus Qaddafi forces breached the act. Unwarranted killings It is evident that there was a lot of unwarranted killing in the turmoil through evidence collected from Bab Al Aziziyah, Tripoli, Yarmouk, Al Khums and Al Qalaa. According to evidence gathered in Al Khums, it is noted that 18 people lost their lives after being caged in a metallic container where 17 died in the container and one died in hospital while receiving treatment.

Further, interviews were carried on survivors and guards showed several killings were carried out by Qaddafi forces. Another among several instance of unwarranted is the footage taken by one of the soldier in Al Qalaa which showed several bodies, the commissioned visited the site and found substantive evidence on the same. Interview between international commissions of Inquiry on Libya proved the same thing too. Consequently, above evidence proves beyond doubt that unwarranted killing took place and several lives were lost in Libya during political unrest after Qaddafi revolution.

CONCLUSION It is clear that Libyan civilian has given way democracy to take course after 40 years of autocratic leadership, oppression, judicial system failure, discrimination and human right violation by redeeming their liberty by blood and unity of those who embraced the change in government administration and how government duties were carried out. In addition, successful removal of Qaddafi from power will therefore, require support form UN and International communities in order to heal deep wounded nation on political, social and economical system perspective.

According to various business analysts, it is predicted that Libya has potential of having a robust growth in future when condition stabilize which was echoed by local business people of Libya. The Qaddafi revolution marks a new dawn for rebirth of Libya’s democracy where each citizen will have equal of the country’s resources and rights. CRITIQUE OF THE ARTICLE The research of this article was obtained is from website obtained as research findings of International Commission of Inquiry on Libya formed after situation in Libya attracted Human right intervention on 12 February 2011.

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