COPE CALLS ON THE GOVERMENT TO CONDEMN LIBYA'S BRUTALITY

The Congress of the People (COPE) is baffled at the silence of the South African government on the brutality of the Libyan government towards peaceful demonstrators.

In the last few days Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his government have waged a vicious assault using mercenaries, warplanes and live ammunitions against unarmed civilians. The silence of our government, a close Gaddafi friend and ally, and SADC in condemning the state sponsored violence is deafening.  

COPE condemns, in the strongest terms, the wanton killing of innocent people in Libya by the Gaddafi government and join the many nations across the world in denouncing the merciless regime. The people of Libya must also be afforded the rights as enshrined in the United Nations universal declaration of human rights.

We urge our government to take a stand in support of human rights and democracy in Libya and rally all other formations like the Non-Aligned Movement and AU to side with the people of Libya. We call on the government of South Africa to protest against what can only be described as genocide by recalling urgently its ambassador from Libya, H E Mr M Dangor, and suspend all diplomatic relations with that state.  

The indiscriminate killing of innocent lives can only mean Gaddafi now leads a murderous regime and he must be held to account in whatever way possible.

We urge all South Africans to express their solidarity with ordinary Libyans in their struggle for freedom and a better life in that country.

Statement issued by Sipho Ngwema, Congress of the People (S), February 22 2011

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