Gaddafi On The Way To Exit

Siddhi B. Ranjitkar

Gaddafi is certainly on the way to exit; the question is how long he can cling to Tripoli. The opposition has been marching toward Tripoli where he has been holding on. His government’s, his family’s and his own assets and share holdings abroad have been frozen. However, he might be holding billions of dollars in Libya and continue financing the mercenaries fight for him. Most of his army has been defected to the opposition. The assets frozen abroad might be used for financing his opponents if he continues to kill Libyans indiscriminately.

On February 26, 2011, the oval news posted on the “content.usatody.com” has stated that speaking to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on telephone, US President Barack Obama said, " when a leader's only means of staying in power is to use mass violence against his own people, he has lost the legitimacy to rule and needs to do what is right for his country by leaving now."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said that the Gadhafi's government would he held "accountable for its violation of human rights," "Moammar Gadhafi has lost the confidence of his people and he should go without further bloodshed and violence," Clinton said in her statement according to the oval news.

On Saturday night, February 26, 2011, the UN Security Council has unanimously voted for the resolution 1970 (2011) imposing sanctions on Libya demanding an immediate end to the violence and calls for steps to meet the legitimate demands of the population and urging the Libyan authorities to: (a) Act with the utmost restraint, respect human rights and international humanitarian law, and allow immediate access for international human rights monitors; (b) Ensure the safety of all foreign nationals and their assets and facilitate the departure of those wishing to leave the country; (c) Ensure the safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies, and humanitarian agencies and workers, into the country; and (d) Immediately lift restrictions on all forms of media.

The UN Security council has also referred the situation in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya since 15 February 2011 to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and has asked the Libyan authorities to cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor pursuant to this resolution, and has invited the Prosecutor to address the Security Council within two months of the adoption of this resolution and every six months thereafter on actions taken pursuant to this resolution.

The UN Security has called on all Member States to immediately take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, from or through their territories or by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related materiel of all types.

The UN Security council has also imposed the travel ban on Gaddafi, his family members and the members of his regime. Following the travel ban, the Member States should prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of Gaddafi and 15 members of his inner circle.

The UN Security council has decided that all Member States shall freeze without delay all funds, other financial assets and economic resources on their territories, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly by Gaddafi and 15 members of his inner circle or designated by the Committee established pursuant to paragraph 24, or by individuals or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or by entities owned or controlled by them, and decides further that all Member States shall ensure that any funds, financial assets or economic resources are prevented from being made available by their nationals or by any individuals or entities within their territories, to or for the benefit of the individuals or entities listed in Annex II of this resolution or individuals designated by the Committee;

On Sunday, February 27, 2011, Dailyindia.com has reported that an Indian American academic called Parag Khanna in an interview given to the CBS News in Washington, USA has stated Gaddafi has been in power partially because of the sanctions imposed on him in the 1980s, as it has isolated his regime from the rest of the world, allowing him to strengthen his hold on the country.

That might be true for that time when Libyans have not been against Gaddafi but this time, Libyans have been uprising against him, and the sanctions imposed on him will deprive him of getting everything his army needs. Consequently, he will be able to run his ruthless army until the army and money he has within his control in Libya deplete.

On Sunday, February 27, 2011, German chancellor Angela Merkel said that the United Nations Security Council’s unanimous vote to impose sanctions on Col Gaddafi’s regime on Saturday night showed the international community was united. “The unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council is a clear signal to Gaddafi and other despots that human rights violations won’t go unpunished,” Ms Merkel said in the statement, FT.com reports.

On Sunday, February 27, 2011, CNN has said that the opposition has taken Zawiya, a town about 55 kilometers (35 miles) from the capital, Tripoli under control and former security forces of Gaddafi have said that they have switched sides and joined the opposition; armed civilians have been taking defensive positions on rooftops bracing up for an attempt of the Gaddafi loyalists on retaking the town. The opposition has taken over several Libyan cities after weeks of protests inspired by the successful protests in Tunisia and Egypt.

According to the CCN, on Sunday, February 27, 2011, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, “Gaddafi must go," following the call of US President Barack Obama a day earlier. "We have here a country descending into civil war with atrocious scenes of killing of protesters and government actually making war on its own people, so of course it is time for Col. Gaddafi to go," Hague said. He has also revoked the diplomatic immunity of Gaddafi and his family in the United Kingdom.

Libyans have discarded all green flag imposed by Gaddafi and hoisted the old Libyan flags from before the Gaddafi era in the areas liberated from the Gaddafi regime. In the diplomatic missions abroad, defecting diplomats including the Libyan representatives to UN have replaced the Gaddafi era flag with the old national flag.

On Sunday, February 27, 2011, BCC NEWS, Africa has reported that pro-Gaddafi forces are surrounding Zawiya, but the anti-Gaddafi forces control the center of the city and its immediate outskirts; pro-Gaddafi forces have tried a couple of times to enter the city, but the opposition has held on to it. Some of the protestors have shown their firepower in central Zawiya firing weapons into the air, and have said that they have been peaceful protestors but ready to fight if necessary.

Washingtonpost.com quoting a top military official on Saturday has reported that the defected army leaders in Benghazi about 600 miles (960 km) from Tripoli: the Libyan capital, have been preparing to dispatch a rebel force to Tripoli in support of the beleaguered uprising there. "We are trying to organize people who will sacrifice their lives to free Tripoli from the dictator," said Gatrani: Head of the military committee now in charge of the army in Benghazi, "Entering Tripoli is not easy. Anyone trying will be shot." A group of 22 brave rebels and soldiers marching to Tripoli has encountered the pro-Gaddafi forces near Gaddafi's hometown called Sirte and got executed. Recently defected to the opposition, former Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil has announced the formation of an interim government in Benghazi to run the administration in the opposition-controlled eastern regions.

On Sunday, February 27, 2011, Voanews.com has reported that Libya’s ambassador to the United States Ali Aujali has been concerned with the possibility of Gaddafi using sophisticated weapons against anti-government protesters that have been demanding his ouster as the leader of Libya. Ambassador Ali Aujali also has cautioned not to take the regime talking about peace and quiet in the capital, Tripoli, and surrounding areas seriously since, as more than 70 percent of the entire country has been in the hands of the anti-government protesters.

“The problem now is he (Gaddafi) is moving his tanks from Sirte to attack Misratah and this is very serious. Last night (Saturday), he tried to make landing in Misratah using the helicopter, but that attempt failed. I am very worried now that he will strike and this is really horrible,” said Aujali, “The (U.N.) Security Council resolution is good, but this is good after the regime fails. We want something to help us to make this regime (to) step down.”

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the United States is prepared to offer assistance to Libyans seeking Gaddafi's ouster. She said, “reaching out” to Libyans as “the revolution moves westward.” She is on the way to Geneva to consult with America's allies on further responses to the crisis in Libya, and said, “It is too soon to see to see how this is going to play out.”

Referring to the resolution of the UN Security Council imposing sanctions on Libya, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “it sends a strong message that gross violations of basic human rights will not be tolerated, and that those responsible for grave crimes will be held accountable.”

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice has said that the Security Council has come together to condemn the violence in Libya, demand a stop to the killing, and adopt “biting” sanctions, targeting the Libya’s  “unrepentant leadership.”

Deputy Libyan Ambassador to the United Nations Ibrahim Dabbashi has welcomed the resolution stating the sanction gives moral support to people resisting the Libyan government. The Libyan U.N. mission is one of several missions of the Libyan regime around the world that have turned against Gaddafi

George Osborne has frozen the British-held assets of Gaddafi and five members of his family, as Treasury officials step up efforts to track down billions of pounds held in bank accounts and commercial property, FT.com reports on February 27, 2011. Ft.com has also reported that the Libyan regime has attempted to take un-circulated Libyan banknotes worth £900m out of the UK but the British Custom officers have foiled the move.

On Sunday, February 27, 2011, British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said that time has come for Col Gaddafi to go; that would be the best for Libya and for him, too. He has also revoked the diplomatic immunity on British soil for Col Gaddafi and his family.

China voting for the United Nations Security Council resolution on Libya has shown its unusual endorsement of sanctions against another government over the treatment of its people, although it has held the foreign policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, WSJ.com has reported on February 28, 2011. China has been suppressing the voices of its own people demanding the fundamental human rights, and had ruthlessly cracked down on pro-democracy protests on the Tiananmen Square of Beijing in 1989.

On Monday, February 28, 2011, in a meeting in Brussels, the European Union has voted for wide-ranging sanctions similar to the sanctions adopted by the United States and the United Nations imposing an arms embargo, and a travel ban for members of Gaddafi's inner circle, and freezing the assets of Gaddafi and his family members.

Addressing a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the Gaddafi regime has used heavy weapons on unarmed civilians, sent mercenaries and thugs to attack demonstrators, executed soldiers for refusing to turn their guns on fellow citizens, arbitrarily arrested, tortured and indiscriminately killed civilians; the international community is speaking with one voice in demanding his immediate removal.

On February 28, 2011, talking to the BBC interviewer Jeremy Bowen in Tripoli, Col Muammar Gaddafi has told that all his people love and will die to protect him; so true Libyans have not demonstrated but al-Qaeda has drugged a few people to come on to the streets. He has laughed at the suggestion he would leave Libya and has said that he has been betrayed by leaders urging him to quit. He has accused Western countries of wanting to colonize the country on one pretext or another. Concerning his resignation, he has said that he does not hold any official position, so, no question of resigning.

According to the Wsj.com news reports, French Prime Minister François Fillon has said on Monday that France is sending two planes with doctors, nurses, medicines and medical equipment to Benghazi: the opposition stronghold in eastern Libya. The planes would leave "in a few hours" for Benghazi. "It will be the beginning of a massive operation of humanitarian support for the populations of liberated territories," he said on RTL radio. He said Paris was studying "all solutions"—including military options—so that "Gadhafi understands that he should go, that he should leave power."

Speaking to reporters at the White House press room on Monday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said of Gadhafi, "And when he can laugh in talking to American and international journalists while he is slaughtering his own people, it only underscores how unfit he is to lead and how disconnected he is from reality." "It just sounds, frankly, delusional."

At the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department has announced the blocking of $30 billion in Libyan assets in the wake of the sanctions imposed by President Obama.

The U.S. has moved naval and air forces closer to Libya on Monday, February 28. The U.S. administration has said that the U.S. has kept all options open, including patrols of the North African nation's skies to protect its citizens from their ruler according to the VOA News released on March 1, 2011

On Tuesday, March 1, 2011, Austria has announced its plans to freeze the assets of the Libyan leader and his close associates in line with EU sanctions. Libya holds at least $1.6 billion in deposits in Austrian banks. Similarly, Germany has said it freezes about $2.8 million in a bank account held by one of Gaddafi's sons.

Despite the international isolation of Gaddafi, his longtime ally in Latin America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said that he will not condemn Gaddafi, and he has accused the U.S. of preparing to invade Libya to steal its oil according to the VOA News of March 1, 2011.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2011, forces loyal to Gaddafi have attempted to take an oil town Brega and briefly have seized its oil installations and airstrip but the opposition forces have successfully driven them back. Libyan warplanes have attempted on bombing an arms depot controlled by the rebels in Ajdabiya several times but missed the target.

The TV pictures show that Gaddafi loyalists have cheered him as he has addressed a gathering in Tripoli. In a rambling speech, Gaddafi has blamed al-Qaida for fighting and killing in his country, and even has gone to say a one-time Guantanamo Bay prisoner has caused an Islamic insurgency in the eastern town of Dirna. He has denied the popular uprising but he has said it is only a plot to control his country’s oil; so, he will fight to the finish. He has also warned the U.S. and NATO of grave consequences of intervening in his country’s business.

Guaridan.co.uk has reported that the Guardian's Peter Beaumont in the audience for the speech has said that Gaddafi appears to peace with the rebels. The reporter has said, "He says now that he has no objection if the people want private newspapers and also says his son Saif has told him people want a constitution, for which he has no objection – if that's what the people want.” Gaddafi has been running the country without a constitution so far.

At the same time, two U.S. warships have passed through the Suez Canal reaching the coastal areas of Libya. According to the U.S. military sources the ships are providing humanitarian support for the refugees. The BBC TV has shown a large number of migrant workers reaching the area bordering Tunisia on Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

The international community has been debating over imposing a no-fly zone to curb the air force of Gaddafi. Rebels have asked for such a cover fearing air assaults by the air force of Gaddafi on the towns they have won. However, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that imposing a no-fly zone means a big operation that involves "an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses".

Aljazeera.net has reported quoting the Reuters news agency that a spokesman for the February 17th Coalition: an anti-government group Mustafa Gheriani has said that Gaddafi has been trying to create all kinds of psychological warfare to keep these cities such as Brega and Ajdabiya on edge.

According to Aljazeera.net spokesman for the rebel National Libyan Council based in Benghazi, Hafiz Ghoga has called for UN-backed air strikes on foreign mercenaries Gaddafi has used against his own people. "We call for specific attacks on strongholds of these mercenaries," he said, "The presence of any foreign forces on Libyan soil is strongly opposed. There is a big difference between this and strategic air strikes."

On March 02, 2011, Voanews.com has reported that protesters in the rebel-controlled Benghazi have chanted anti-Gaddafi slogans demanding his resignation and have burned copies of his Green Book in which Gaddafi outlines his political and economic philosophy for the country; Libya has no formal constitution but Gaddafi often refers to the publication.

At a conference held in Paris on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, spokesman for the Libyan Human Rights League Ali Zeidan has said that at least 6,000 people have died in the two-week old uprising, about half of them in Tripoli, voanews.com reports.

The prosecutor of the international criminal court based in The Hague has announced that he is formally opening an investigation into the possible crimes against humanity in the crackdown on the protestors in Libya. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s message was clear: There will be no impunity in Libya. "We are witnessing a new situation where the world is united," Ocampo said. "No one can attack civilians, no one has authority to attack and massacre civilians." Moreno-Ocampo named incidents his office has been investigating since Sunday: including a 15th of February attack in Benghazi and one in the Libyan capital Tripoli on the 20th. And he has named the names of people. "They are Moammar Gadhafi, his inner circle, including some of his sons, who had de facto authority. But also people with formal authority that should pay attention to the crimes committed by their people, because if they’re not preventing, punishing, stopping these crimes, they could be responsible according to the law," Ocampo explained according to the voanews.com of March 3, 2011.

A spokesman for the Venezuelan government has said that the Libyan government has accepted a proposal of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, an ally of Colonel Qaddafi, for forming an international commission to negotiate a solution to the crisis, nytimes.com reports on March 3, 2011. However, rebel leaders have rejected the proposal outright stating too much blood has been already shed. “Nobody approached us,” said Iman Bugaighis, a spokeswoman for the rebel’s interim authority in Benghazi, speaking of Mr. Chavez’s offer. “Nobody is ready for any negotiations. It’s too late. If he wants to leave, fine.”

CNN.com reports from Djerba, Tunisia that US President Barack Obama on Thursday, March 3, 2011 has approved the use of U.S. military aircraft for helping Egyptian citizens fled to Tunisia to escape unrest in neighboring Libya return home. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has said that nearly 180,000 migrant workers have fled the violence in Libya into Tunisia and Egypt.

According to the BBC NEWS reports of March 3, 2011, National Oil Corporation head Shukri Ghanem has told AFP that Libya's oil production has been halved; the Netherlands has confirmed that pro-Gaddafi forces in Sirte have captured three of its marines helping to evacuate two civilians; state-owned industrial giant Russian Technologies has said that Russia stands to lose $4bn (£2.5bn) in arms deals because of UN sanctions agreed last week against Libya; Singer Nelly Furtado has said that she will give away $1 million (£615,000) she has received from the private show she has given to the family of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at a hotel in Italy in 2007.

The news posted on Wsj.com on March 4 says that a second state TV channel Al-Jamahiriya of Libya has aired video footage showing two of the three Dutch marines captured on Sunday after a botched rescue mission inside the country, according to the Dutch Defense Ministry. The Libyan State television has denied the marines are on a humanitarian mission and has said the fact they are aboard an assault helicopter that has entered Libya without prior authorization proves their hostile intent.

On March 4, 2011, protest has erupted across Tajoura district of the Libyan capital Tripoli shouting, "Gaddafi is the enemy of God"; after Friday prayers at the Murat Adha mosque, the worshippers have turned into protestors demanding an end to Gaddafi's four decades in power, Reuters report from Tajoura. Gaddafi loyalists have fired tear gas and live bullets at the protestors, and have arrested about 100 people accusing them of helping the rebels according to the Al Jazeera report. BBC's Wyre Davies in the suburb of Tajoura said security forces have fired dozens of tear gas and baton rounds at protesters gathered on the streets after Friday prayers. This is the proof that significant elements opposed to the regime are in and near Tripoli.

According to the FT.com of March 4, Human Rights Watch has said it has received reports of hundreds of disappearances in Libya this week alone, with the authorities targeting people sending information out of the country. A spokesman for Amnesty International has confirmed that they are receiving reports of disappearances in Tripoli that they are trying to verify. “Most of the reports we are getting are of people being removed from their homes either because of involvement in protests or of phoning abroad,” said James Lynch. “We have also heard of people being abducted from the streets.”

On March 4, 2011, CNN.com has reported that despite the pressure of the international community on the Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to relinquish power, he has still counted on the support of some leaders. "There is a natural alignment between all regimes which are into power maximization, that is, regimes trying to accumulate as much power as they can for themselves," says Barak Seener, a Middle East research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think-tank. Seener said that countries with a record of "domestic abuse," -- such as limiting freedom of speech and having no independent judiciary -- have no sense of accountability to their people in the same way that elected powers do and that lack of perceived accountability tends to spill over into their foreign polices. Former Cuban President Fidel Castro on Thursday has condemned the inevitable U.S.-backed invasion of Libya by NATO. Heads of state of Venezuela and Zimbabwe have refused to publicly criticize Libya.

On Saturday, March 5, 2011, Aljazeera.net has reported that a spokesman for the fighters, Youssef Shagan in Zawiyah just 50km west of the capital Tripoli has said that Gaddafi's forces have entered the town at 6am (04:00 GMT) with hundreds of soldier, tanks and armored vehicles, have broken through defenses into Martyrs' Square, in the heart of the town, but hours later Anti-government fighters have pushed them back.

Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa has written a letter to the UN Security Council stating "a modicum" of force has been used against protesters in Libya, and has demanded to suspend the UN sanctions imposed on the Gaddafi, "until such time as the truth is established," Aljazeera.net reports on March 5, 2011. The UN Security Council has unanimously passed the sanctions against the Gaddafi regime on February 26, 2011. Gaddafi has appointed senior Libyan diplomat Ali Abdussalam Treki to his country's new envoy to the UN after the entire Libyan delegation in New York has deserted Gaddafi in support of the Libya's protesters.

On March 5, 2011, the Chinese state-run news agency called Xinhua has reported spokesman for China's top advisory body Zhao Qizheng at the time of its annual convention in Beijing has told foreign reporters that China opposes the intervention of foreign forces in the Middle East and only the relevant missions should be led by the United Nations. He also has said that a similar unrest in China is "preposterous and unrealistic." Such a situation will not arise in China

On March 5, 2011, ‘The Associated Press’ has reported that a Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper called ‘The Beijing Daily’ has published in its front-page editorial that a small number of people using the Internet to organize illegal meetings has engineered anti-government protest movements in the Middle East bringing nothing but chaos and misery to their countries' citizens, and dismissed the possibility of something similar happening in China.

On March 5, 2011, Nytimes.com has reported that Italy has not enforced the freezing of any Libyan assets following the UN Security Council stating a “coordinated” response from the European Union about whether the measure applies to Libyan sovereign funds is required, a ruling hoped to come next week. Italy gets nearly a quarter of its crude oil and 10 percent of its natural gas from Libya, has billions of dollars in lucrative contracts with the Libyan government and receives billions more in Libyan investments. So, Italy has a huge stake in Libya.

Some media reports have stated that the Paris-based Interpol has issued a global notice to the police around the world for enforcing the U.N. sanctions imposed on Gaddafi and 15 members of his inner circle aimed at ending turmoil in Libya.

On March 5, 2011, BBC has reported that fresh fighting is under way in Zawiya, 50km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, after rebels repelled an effort by government forces to retake the key Libyan city. Rebel forces have pushed the Government forces out of the city centre in heavy fighting on Saturday morning, but regrouped for a fresh assault later in the day. Gaining control of Zawiya is crucial to Colonel Gaddafi's effort to defend his stronghold in Tripoli, correspondents say.

Meanwhile, rebels have taken control of the port of Ras Lanuf to the east of Tripoli. In Ras Lanuf, an oil port east of Sirte - a key Gaddafi stronghold and his hometown - rebels have now taken control, according to a BBC correspondent reached the town on Saturday morning. Pro-Gaddafi forces believed to have moved about 40km (25 miles) to the west.

Libyan novelist MOHAMMAD AL-ASFAR writing from Benghazi in ‘The New York Times’ of March 2, 2011 has said, “The revolution in my country is aflame, and has achieved considerable success, internally and internationally. Each time a city is liberated, makeshift institutions to manage everyday life and defend freedom arise, and more members of the former regime’s leadership, whether they are political, cultural or business figures, join in.

Our flag is no longer a solid green field; the one we carry now is red, black and green with a crescent and star in the middle. The colors are a reminder of the darkness and colonization we have suffered in our history.

For decades, we lived in terror, surrounded by spies and informants, facing the risk of imprisonment or “disappearance” at any moment. No one could intervene on your behalf; there were no real courts, no human rights, nothing.

Everything before this revolution was dedicated to enriching the tyrant and his family. Everything was for their benefit: the army, the police, water, culture, education, hotels, restaurants, and the flag. Even sex was regulated: many people couldn’t marry until the regime organized a mass wedding or they were “gifted” a bedroom for the wedding night.

Fifteen years ago, in a single night, the tyrant and his mercenaries have murdered 1,200 people at the Abu Salim prison in Tripoli, where political prisoners are held. The bodies were piled in a mass unmarked grave — prisoners from all over Libya, of all ages, killed without even a symbolic trial. My only brother was one of them.

I wrote about the massacre in my first novel. And my second. And my third. And I was not the only one who couldn’t forget. The brutality of that summer evening was one of the sparks that ignited this revolution. The families of those victims began the current protests, here in Benghazi, and were soon joined by the young men of the revolution.

Now, despite the violence of the regime all around us, those cities that have been liberated are buoyant with joy; we have tasted freedom. The fear, terror, tension and nervousness that had characterized Libyans has vanished; old disputes have dissipated. Everyone wants to help, undaunted by rain and hunger.

This revolution has transformed Libyans, has made us feel that there is a thing called freedom that must be won, and that one should not enjoy it alone, at the expense of others’ happiness, toil or lives.”

March 5, 2011.