People:
Maybe I have lost by sense of English or my eyes are playing. Whaaaat? Hmmm. Uhhhhh?
SPEECHLESS. Thank God for the long life to see this in the 21st century.
Yesterday Sarkozy was smiling from ear to ear in Tripoli. Guess what he said? Libya has asked him to help hunt Gaddafi and he needs ask Niger to return one son.
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| | | | | France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (let) and Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron flank the NTC leaders, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil (left) and Mahoud Jibril while addressing the press in Tripoli Thursday
By a Tripoli Post Correspondent
Libyans who have fought the Al Qathafi oppressive regime for more than six months may not receive a newly British circulated draft resolution dealing with the situation in their country with open arms.
Libyans in general have expressed their deep appreciation for the UN and NATO's help in fighting back Al Qathafi's assault on civilians who rose up against a 42- year long dictatorship on February 17.
But when it comes to the latest hash hash draft resolution circulated by Britain to the 15-member council the same Libyans are having second thoughts.
The unease derives from the fact that the resolution is calling for the establishment of a United Nations Support Mission in Libya for an initial period of three months with a mandate that may heavily infringe the ever sought-after independence.
Libyans have emphatically rejected any international or outside military presence on their soil even when they were unarmed and under attack from Al Qathafi's huge military power. At that time they accepted a UN Security Council resolution 1973 supporting a no-fly zone aimed at the protection of civilians with a clear condition that there would be no foreign military presence on the ground.
But the new draft resolution could be creating the same conditions the Libyans were deeply concerned about - a presence of foreign 'security' personnel under whatever name even if it is the so-called UN mission in Libya.
Under the sub-title 'UN Mandate', the draft resolution stated:
"Decides to establish a United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), under the leadership of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General for an initial period of three months, and decides further that the mandate of UNSMIL shall assist and support Libyan national efforts to:
a) restore public security and order and promote the rule of law; undertake inclusive political dialogue, promote national reconciliation, and embark upon the constitution-making and electoral process;
b) extend state authority, including through strengthening emerging accountable institutions and the restoration of public services;
c) protect human rights, particularly for those belonging to vulnerable groups, and support transitional justice;
d) take the immediate steps required to initiate economic recovery; and
e) coordinate support that may be requested from other multilateral and bilateral actors.
Taken together, the above mandate along with all other articles in the five-page resolution and combined with the lack of a strong central government in Libya the country could very well become a 'protectorate state' and hence we can soon see the rebirth of the protectorate system.
According to the above mandate, Libya becomes "an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity.
"In exchange for this, the protectorate usually accepts specified obligations, which may vary greatly, depending on the real nature of their relationship. However, it retains sufficient measure of sovereignty and remains a state under international law."
It has also been reported that the US and France were involved in the drafting, and veto-wielding Russia and China agreed to the draft. Meanwhile, China and Russia as well as Qatar, UAE and Turkey want to have their say on the circumstances that led to such a draft resolution.
In its pp1 paragraph, the draft resolution says it took note of a letter from the Libyan National Transitional Council (TNC) asking for UN support. But the problem with this paragraph is that the Libyan people have never heard of such a letter before nor was it ever discussed in public.
The very existence of the letter to the SC will deepen the debate about lack of transparency on the part of the NTC and its executive bureau and will most likely lead to more distrust by the people of these still undefined two political bodies.
Bringing in the UN's security heavy hand to Libya at a time when the Libyans are handling the security of their liberated cities very smoothly and efficiently will play into the hands of the remnants of Al Qathafi's supporters and his propaganda. It will also create uncalled for confusion and disorientation in the emerging democratic political process in Libya.
According to one political observer in Tripoli who declined to be named, "the better solution for the UN, NATO and the newly liberated, potentially strong civil democratic state in Libya is for the UN not to interfere in the 'security' issue in the country as well as not to send any security experts, consultants or observers."
"The UN and all allies of the new Libya who are being held so high by the people may do a great extra favour if they let Libyans sort the security issue out by themselves. For they are more versed in the circumstances surrounding them and in no way they are extremists," he added.
"Today's Libya needs a strong uncorrupt prime minister with similarly strong ministers who can convince the general public that they were not part of the Al Qathafi corrupt regime and who are willing to work hard for the rebuilding of the country during the transitional period.
"The current 'new leaders' do not have the needed full support of the general public and the reason is lack of transparency and lack of experience at all levels. | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
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