Note: Current Liveblog is here for up to date commentary on events in Libya.
Massive and horrific carnage is taking place in Libya as Ghaddafi’s military and foreign mercenaries massacre unarmed Libyans standing up to demand their freedom and an end to the regime. Hundreds have been killed and hospitals are overwhelmed with 1000s of wounded. On Sunday night after Ghaddafi's son Saif appeared on Libyan television and made a rambling 37 minute speech, pro-Ghaddafi thugs opened fire on the 40,000 strong crowd of people in Green Square in Tripoli including women and children. When the wounded arrived at hospitals they were executed by the thugs. It has been reported that Ghaddafi has hired 30,000 African mercenaries to brutally attack the people of Libya. At the time of writing, we do not have a confirmed death count from Tripoli on Sunday. A video of the massacre posted late Sunday night can be found here. (Note, I cannot bring myself to watch this and cannot vouch for how graphic it is.)
Where is the U.S. government? Why haven't we heard anything from President Obama or Secretary of State Clinton?
With the exception of appearances on Sunday news shows, a midday tweet and a written statement released by PJ Crowley, the U.S government has been silent about Libya since Friday.
Yahoo News is reporting that Crowley's statement strongly condemned the use of 'lethal force' in Libya and "called on Tripoli to allow peaceful protests after "credible reports" of hundreds of casualties in a government crackdown," but it seems Crowley actually said:
"The United States is gravely concerned with disturbing reports and images coming out of Libya," ....
"We are working to ascertain the facts, but we have received multiple credible reports that hundreds of people have been killed and injured in several days of unrest -- and the full extent of the death toll is unknown due to the lack of access of international media and human rights organizations."
....
"We have raised to a number of Libyan officials, including Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa, our strong objections to the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators,"
....
"Libyan officials have stated their commitment to protecting and safeguarding the right of peaceful protest. We call upon the Libyan government to uphold that commitment, and hold accountable any security officer who does not act in accordance with that commitment."
It is well past time for President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to strongly and unequivocally condemn the Ghaddafi regime's use of lethal force against the Libyans.
Please take time from your day to contact the White House, the Department of State, your Congressional representatives, the U.N., and the Libyan government. Phone numbers and talking points follow below.
Up to date commentary on the unfolding events in Libya and elsewhere in the region can be found in the liveblog here.
Some will question what kind of leverage the U.S. will have with Ghadaffi. Dave Houck explains this well:
[M]any governments and organizations throughout the world that do have more direct influence on Kadafi's regime than we do. Our White House and State Department can, if they so choose, bring to bear enormous influence through back channels and behind the scenes. Additionally, public statements made by our government's top officials can have a very supportive effect on the demonstrators themselves. Knowing that the whole world is watching and that the world community sees their cause as just can give hope to the protesters.
The Libyans cannot turn back now. They and their families will only be hunted down by Ghaddafi.
We must do all we can to support these brave freedom fighters.
In case you were wondering if our help really is wanted and needed:
ShababLibya LibyanYouthMovement
now we feel really helpless... #Libya #Feb17
Libyana Americana
Cyrenaican Libyana Americana
by monaeltahawy
"Im not afraid to die, Im afraid to lose the battle" a friend of mine in #Benghazi yesterday who was involved in battle for Fadheela #Libya
Cyrenaican Libyana Americana
by ShababLibya
Please, we need people to contact the Obama administration and the United Nations to demand they do something about Libya #Feb17 #Libya
Libyan4life
I can't believe people are wondering what the US the worlds SUPER POWER can do for #Libya. Are you kidding, u can't think of a thing? Food?
Everyone needs to BOMBARD, BOMBARD @PJCrowley asking, imploring why the US has said nothing but being ''concerned' about #Libya.
Food shortages, nonexistent medical supplies and continual killings make it a scary and grave situation in #Benghazi. #Libya wont give up!
iyad_elbaghdadi Iyad El-Baghdadi
by monaeltahawy
To clarify, Libyans do not want any Western power to intervene or interfere, just want to hear someone denounce Gaddafi for killing them
Supporters of the Libyan people gathered outside the WH on Saturday to deliver this message to President Obama:
Please do all that you can NOW. You may very well save a life.
ACTION TO SUPPORT THE LIBYAN REVOLUTIONARIES
The White House
Please call the White House and urge President Obama to strongly condemn the massacre of Libyans and do whatever he can to stop the Ghaddafi regime.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone Numbers
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Webform for email: www.whitehouse.gov/contact
You can also comment on the WH FaceBook page.
Phone calls are more effective than emails. Please call, but if you must email or FB, and need text, Dave Houck shared his email to the WH:
Please do everything you can to stop the killing of protesters in Libya, and to support those who peacefully protest, who courageously stand in the face of the violent responses of oppressive regimes, in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
You, as our representative on the national stage, can not turn away from the killing of peaceful protesters in Libya. We must stand for justice and freedom.
This statement issued by Amnesty International is what we want our President and Secretary of State to say:
“Colonel al-Gaddafi must immediately put a stop to this bloodshed. He and the others directing the crackdown on protesters, and anyone else involved in abuses, must know that they will be held to account.”
Congress
Contact your elected representatives and ask them to publicly condemn the atrocities in Libya. Tell him/her you are a constituent and you’d like him/her to urge the President and Secretary Clinton to also condemn the atrocities in Libya and do all they can for the Libyan people. Although it is a holiday and we may not catch our reps in their offices, they are likely attending events in their home districts. If you call or check their websites, you should be able to catch up with them at events nearby. You can also try communicating with them via their FaceBook pages.
Senators: You can find contact information for your senators here
Representatives: You can look up your representatives here
Or simply call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
US State Department
Update: The US State Department called all non-essential diplomatic staff out of Libya today. Still no statement strongly condemning Ghaddafi.
Contact the State Department and urge Hillary Clinton to publicly condemn the atrocities in Libya and do whatever she can to help the Libyan people. Please tell her to act quickly as so many lives have already been lost.
Secretary Hillary Clinton 202-647-5291
Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg 202-647-8636
You will only be able to leave a message at this number, but Monday - Friday you can reach a live human being at the office of the Deputy Secretary of State. Ask Mr. Steinberg to relay the message to Secretary Clinton.
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA)
Assistant Secretary Jeffrey D. Feltman 202-647-7209
Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues
Ambassador-At-Large Clint Williamson 202-647-5072
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
Philip J. Crowley 202-647-6607 @PJCrowley
A Libyan twitterer asks that we bombard PJ Crowley with this tweet:
#Libya is crying for help. US must condemn and intervene in the massacre.
The United Nations
Update:
monaeltahawy Mona Eltahawy
Reuters: #U.N. Ban Ki Moon had extensive discussion w/ #Libya's #Gaddafi Monday, condemned escalating violence, it "must stop immediately,"
10 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
Please contact the United Nations Special Advisers on the Prevention of Genocide and ask them to condemn and intervene in the massacre happening in Lybia. You can sign also this petition :
To: United Nations
People of the world, please do not stand by and let Muamar Gaddafi Kill the people of Libya for merely trying to voice their request for Democracy, as many countries have done successfully. By signing this petition you are urging the United Nations to intervene, and to do the best they can convince Muamar Gaddafi to step down as the leader of Libya. Medical Aid is requested, as is media coverage in Libya. Gaddafi will massacre the masses if we remain silent. Please act quickly, time is of the Essence.
Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 600
New York, NY 10017 USA
Tel: 1 917 367 2589
E-mail: osapg@un.org
email form: http://www.un.org/...
Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
Francis Deng
Special Adviser of the Secretary-General
Edward Luck
United Nations Human Rights Council
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay
General Inquiries:
Telephone: +41 22 917 9220
Bahrain / Libya: UN experts urge authorities to guarantee right to protest without fear of being injured or killed
GENEVA (Friday 18 February 2011) – A group of UN human rights experts* urged Friday the Governments of Bahrain and Libya to guarantee the right to peaceful protest and immediately cease the use of excessive and lethal force.
“We are alarmed and shocked by the number of peaceful protesters who have been injured or killed in both countries during the violent crackdown by the authorities,” stated the experts.
Reports indicate that seven protesters have died in Bahrain in the past few days and at least 24 in Libya, with some sources reporting up to 50 deaths, as well as hundreds of people injured as a result of disproportionate and lethal force.
“Excessive use of force is never an option and is never justified in controlling peaceful demonstrations,” warned UN Rapporteur on summary executions, Christof Heyns. “Those responsible must be held accountable.”
“When Governments authorise lethal force to suppress the peaceful voice of dissent, such conduct violates their international obligations. The Governments of Bahrain and Libya must honour their commitments to respect the right to life of their people,” Mr. Heyns said.
Beatings and other acts of ill-treatment by security officials causing severe pain and suffering, including long-term physical harm, have also been reported.
Given the number of people who have been injured and are in critical condition, the experts urged authorities to ensure access to immediate medical care to avoid the death toll rising further.
Demonstrators have gathered across the country in Bahrain and Libya since 14 and 15 February respectively, calling for democratic reforms and respect for human rights.
“People must be able to express their legitimate grievances through public and peaceful demonstrations without fear of being injured, beaten, or killed,” stressed Frank La Rue, UN expert on freedom of opinion and expression. He also called upon the authorities to ensure that journalists can work safely and freely to inform the public locally and globally of what is happening, and that all means of communication, including the internet, remain open and accessible.
In Libya, reports indicate that a number of protesters have been arrested by security officials. “The authorities of Libya and Bahrain must ensure that the demonstrators are not arbitrarily detained,” urged the Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, El Hadji Malick Sow.
In light of the recent wave of demonstrations in the region, the group of UN independent experts reiterated their call to the authorities to ensure that the right to demonstrate peacefully is fully guaranteed, and to take concrete steps to address the concerns of the people, rather than suppressing their voices with force.
(*) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mr. Frank La Rue; Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Mr. Christof Heyns; Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Ms. Margaret Sekaggya; Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan Mendez; Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Mr. El Hadji Malick Sow.
http://www.ohchr.org/...
United Nations in New York (UNHQ)
Caroline Petit, petitc@un.org
United Nations in Geneva(UNOG)
Yvette Morris, ymorris@unog.ch
From Ralph Lopez, not sure what jobs these people have.
Libyan Offices in the U.S.
Contact the Libyan government and tell them the world condemns the brutality and the perfidy, that we have seen the photos and videos and they will be held accountable for war crimes.
The Libyan Mission to the UN
The Permanent Mission of Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the nited Nations
309-315 East 48th Street
New York, NY, 10017, USA
Phone: +1-212-752-5775
Fax: + 1-212-593-4787
E-mail: libya_mis_us@foreign.gov.ly
Business hours: 9am - 5pm (Monday to Friday)
Representative Office of Libya in Washington,United States
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW,
Suite 705
Washington D.C. 20037
United States
Phone: +1-202-944-9601
Fax: +1-202-944-9606
If you are not in the U.S., you can find embassy offices world wide here.
Medical Assistance for Libya
Please contact these agencies and ask them to send assistance to the hospitals in Libya. Libya's hospitals are running out of supplies and medicines. Egyptian volunteers have delivered aid and another convoy is on its way. Tunisian doctors have also tried to enter the country, but have been blocked at the border. Military planes have reportedly fired on the Egyptians delivering medical supplies.
Update: The Red Cross and an Arab aid convoy are heading towards Libya. If you call the Red Cross, please thank them.
Red Cross Canada
National Office
170 Metcalfe Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 2P2
Tel: (613) 740-1900
Fax: (613) 740-1911
email - judi.fairholm@redcross.ca
Red Cross USA
Email form: http://www.redcross.org/...
Phone: (202) 303 – 5000 - Main menu
(202) 303 – 5214 - Staff / dept directory
American Red Cross National Headquarters
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
Red Cross Europe
Rue Belliard 65, box 7
1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 235 06 80
Fax: +32 (0)2 230 54 64
Acting Director
Mr. Ulrich Cronenberg
Tel: +32 (0)2 235 06 85
ulrich.cronenberg@redcross-eu.net
World Health Organization
Address: Avenue Appia 20
Postal Code: 1211
City: Geneva 27
Country: Switzerland
Telephone: +41 227912111
Fax: +41 227913111
Email: info@who.int
Head of the organization: Margaret Chan
International Health Organization
USA OFFICE:
48 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Phone: +001 (617) 254-5077
Email: administrator@ihousa.org
THANK YOU for all that you do. There are lives in the balance.