(Brussels) - Amnesty International today released a new
report, Libya: Time to make human rights a reality, detailing
the findings of the organization's first visit to Libya
in 15 years.
The report -- released on the day of Libyan leader Colonel
Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi's visit to the European Commission in
Brussels, his first to Europe in 15 years -- reveals a pattern
of on-going human rights violations, a continuing failure
to investigate and resolve past abuses, and a climate of
fear in which most Libyans are afraid to raise concerns
over current and past violations.
While welcoming some positive developments, Amnesty International
said that a comprehensive program of reform is needed to
address these human rights concerns.
"Libya is at a cross-roads. It has an opportunity
to ensure that human rights become a reality at home and
that the country can contribute to promoting human rights
internationally," said Amnesty International.
"Libya must turn human rights promises into action.
There is an urgent need to establish the truth over past
events and for the Libyan authorities to commit to domestic
reform to address current abuses."
Libya is undergoing a period of change with the end of
UN sanctions and the process of normalization of its relations
with the United States of America and the European Union.
Given Colonel al-Gaddafi's visit to the European Commission
and Libya's expressed readiness to enter the EU's current
partnership with Mediterranean countries, the EU must send
a strong signal from the outset that, as a basis of this
partnership, it expects Libya to deliver on its promises
to respect human rights. Amnesty International also called
on the EU and Libya to ensure that possible cooperation
on the return of "illegal immigrants" respects
the rights of people in need of protection.
In a speech to judicial and other officials on 18 April
2004, Colonel Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi, called for legal and
other reforms and responded to a number of specific concerns
raised by Amnesty International, documented in its report
released today.
"We welcome Colonel al-Gaddafi's speech. We hope that
it will give impetus to reforms in laws and practice that
will secure institutional change, as well as to accountability
for perpetrators and full redress for victims of human rights
violations," said Amnesty International.
The Libyan authorities have taken some positive steps on
human rights in recent years. These include the release
in 2001 and 2002 of nearly 300 prisoners, including prisoners
of conscience detained since 1973, and the recent opening
of the country to a degree of international scrutiny.
However, a pattern of human rights violations continues,
often justified under the new rhetoric of the 'war on terror'.
Amnesty International's findings include laws which criminalize
the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and association,
leading to the imprisonment of prisoners of conscience;
prolonged detention without access to the outside world,
which facilitates torture; and unfair trials, in particular
before the People's Court which tries political cases. Torture
and ill-treatment continues to be widely reported, its main
use being to extract "confessions".
Although abolition of the death penalty is promised, capital
punishment remains prescribed and used for a large number
of offences including the peaceful exercise of political
activities. Forms of "collective punishment",
including house demolition, are authorized and practised.
Past policies and events constituting grave human rights
violations continue to cast a shadow on Libya's human rights
record. They include a policy of "physical liquidation"
of political opponents during the 1980s; numerous deaths
in custody without adequate explanation; the "disappearance"
of political prisoners, especially since 1996; and the "disappearance"
of Libyan nationals abroad and foreign nationals visiting
Libya.
Hundreds of families still do not know whether their relatives
are alive or dead, or how they died. Many are too scared
to ask. Libyans living inside and outside the country are
afraid to report human rights violations for fear of retaliation
against themselves or their relatives. Others wishing to
undertake human rights work in the country encounter severe
obstacles, including restrictive legislation and the possibility
of being sentenced to death.
During its visit in February 2004, Amnesty International
had unprecedented access to prisoners, as well as the Libyan
authorities at all levels, legal professionals and charitable
organizations. The Libyan authorities promised to seriously
consider Amnesty International's recommendations.
The report, "Libya: Time to make human rights a reality",
available on the web at http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE190022004
Public Document
For more information please call Amnesty International's
press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566
Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW. web:
http://www.amnesty.org
For latest human rights news view http://news.amnesty.org
AI Index: MDE 19/007/2004 27 April 2004
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