Advocating Constitutional Democracy in Libya
January 30, 2009
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Re: US-Libya relations
Dear President Obama:
The American Libyan Freedom Alliance was founded on September 29, 2003, and registered in the State of Virginia. Its primary mission is to promote human rights and democracy in Libya, through advocacy and education. Since its inception, we have had numerous activities and contacts with the US State Department officials and House and Senate representatives. Although we had continued our advocacy of Libya’s concern, we had a clear perception that the Bush Administration had its priorities on oil and business, and that it had removed human rights and democracy from its agenda altogether, despite all of its proclamations to the contrary. Most of President Bush’s latest actions have reinforced Gaddafi’s regime, such as his hurried appointment of the US ambassador to Libya. When former “Senator Obama” announced his agenda of change, we welcomed the message, and immediately volunteered to ensure success of the mission. We were gratified that the campaign was successful and “Senator Obama” is now the 44th President of the United States. We are hopeful and optimistic that the United States and Libya will witness real change for the better.
Gaddafi and other military officers staged a military coup on September 1, 1969, and deposed King Idriss and his government, and declared suspension of the Libyan Constitution of 1951, which was prepared with the active supervision and guidance of the UN General Assembly. Ever since that date, Libya has been ruled by decrees, issued largely by Gaddafi. As a result, the country had descended into lawlessness and violence, as the military junta sought to consolidate their grip on the country. Gaddafi was not merely intent to maintain his violence within Libya’s borders but had actively sought to export it directly or through proxies to other nations. Although Libya’s neighbors have borne the brunt of his military adventures, the abundance of Libya’s wealth had enabled Gaddafi to reach far and wide with devastating effects. Gaddafi had promoted turmoil mayhem in several nations in West Africa, Liberia, Chad, Egypt, Tunisia, and more. While promoting chaos and bloodshed overseas, Libyans were by large his favored victims, as had he managed to keep the international community and media out of the country. For example, 1200 political prisoners were massacred in a few hours at Abuslim prison, on the outskirts of Tripoli in June 1996.
Now with a new President Obama, and his expressed desire to return the US to its moral values in its dealings with itself and others, Gaddafi is desperately trying to market himself as a legitimate statesman, by hiring a lobbying firm and publishing in the New York Times. Gaddafi is trying to portray himself as having been transformed from a terrorist to a credible statesman; however, there are no signs of improvements in conditions in Libya, but a further deterioration in conditions. We ask you, President Obama, to put people before oil and quick riches; and we will be by your side as we seek to return Libya to democracy and respect for human rights, which is also in the best interest of the United States.
Sincerely,
Mohamed M. Bugaighis, Ph.D.
Chairman, American Libyan Freedom Alliance (ALFA)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ALFA, P.O. Box 22262, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002, USA; website: http://www.alfa-online.net Telephone: 610 703 1382, e-mail: info@alfa-online.net