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. (More) PTI BS
SMT


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain
proprietary, confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please notify
the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this message and any attachments
contained in it.