UNSC unanimously slaps sanctions on Libya

Betwa Sharma
United Nations, Feb 27 (PTI) India and 14 other members
of the powerful UN Security Council Sunday unanimously slapped
"biting sanctions" on the Gaddafi regime in the form of an
arms embargo, asset freezes and travel ban and also ordered an
international war crimes probe into the bloodshed in Libya.
The vote came as the violence flared up in the North
African country, with more than 1,000 pro-democracy protesters
losing their lives in the brutal crackdown launched by forces
loyal to Muammar Gaddafi to crush the two-week revolt against
his 41-year authoritarian rule.
Diplomats spent entire day yesterday working on the
resolution prepared by France, UK, Germany and the US,
following which it was adopted unanimously early this morning.
The sanctions included asset freezes for 68-year-old
Gaddafi and his family, travel ban for the Libyan leader and
his family as well as other leaders of the Libyan regime, a
comprehensive arms embargo and an immediate referral to the
Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).
"We deplore the use of force, which is totally
unacceptable," Hardeep Singh Puri, India's ambassador to the
UN said at the Council after the resolution was approved.
"We also have concerns about the safety of India
nationals and their assets in Libya," he said, asking Libya
to ensure the safe departure of foreigners in the country.
The main bone of contention during the discussion was the
immediate referral to the ICC since some countries in the
Security Council, including India, China, US and Russia are
not members of the tribunal.
India, however, relented after the resolution was
modified to include that the Security Council could defer ICC
action for a period of 12 months and renew that deferral,
which is also article 16 of the Rome Statute that established
the ICC.
The resolution also states that non-Libyan nationals from
a country, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, shall
only be subject to jurisdiction of that state for any crimes
committed in Libya in operations authorised by the Council.
"We would have preferred a calibrated and gradual
approach," Puri told Council, noting that 114 out of the 192
nations of the UN are not members of the ICC.
The envoy, however, added that India "had gone along with
the consensus in the Council" because African and Arab states
wanted to refer the matter to the ICC, and this was also what
Libyan envoy Mohamed Shalgam had asked for in his letter sent
to the Council yesterday.
Susan Rice, US envoy to the UN, pointed out that this was
the first time a resolution referring a case to the ICC had
passed unanimously.
She said the Council wanted "biting sanctions" targeting
Libya's unrepentant leadership.
"This is a clear warning to the Libyan government that it
must stop the killing," said Rice, noting that those
responsible for the killing would be held "personally
accountable."
Chinese diplomats here consulted with their leaders in
Beijing on the ICC matter till late Saturday night, but
eventually agreed to the resolution.
In 2005, the Security Council had referred the situation
in Darfur to the ICC but Algeria, Brazil, China and the
United States abstained.
Mark Lyall Grant, the UK's envoy to the UN, described the
resolution as a "powerful expression of deep concern and anger
on part of the international community" over the violent
crackdown launched by the forces loyal to Gaddafi.
Under the sanctions, the travel ban and assets freeze in
Resolution 1970 will target Gaddafi, seven of his sons and
daughter Aisha, other family members and top defence and
intelligence officials blamed for the bloodshed.
There are 16 names on the sanctions list in all. The
figure was cut from 22 during negotiations yesterday.
The UNSC vote came as US President Barack Obama
telephoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the
deteriorating situation in Libya and said Gaddafi has lost the
legitimacy to rule.
"The President stated that 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," the White House
said in a statement after the telephonic conversation between
Obama and Merkel.
Obama's call was part of his outreach with global
leaders on the unfolding situation in Libya and aimed at
coordinating urgent efforts to respond to developments and
ensure appropriate accountability.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also said that it is
time that the Libyan leader quits without further bloodshed.
"We have always said that the Gaddafi government's
future is a matter for the Libyan people to decide, and they
have made themselves clear," she said in a statement.
Indian envoy to the UN Puri, in his remarks at the
Council, said New Delhi has been following "with serious
concern the developments in Libya, which have resulted in loss
of numerous lives and injuries to many more."
"We earnestly hope that calm and stability are restored
at the earliest without any further violence," he said, while
urging the Libyan authorities to ensure safety and welfare of
Indians there and facilitate departure of those desirous of
leaving the country.