Crimes Against Humanity Blog #8

Chelsea Smothers

3-21-11

12:59 a.m

The Ariel bombing of civilians and the use of heavy weapons on city streets, in Libya, must be investigated as possible crimes against humanity, said the top U.N. Human Rights official on Thursday. Navi Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said she had received accounts of executions, rapes and disappearances in the north African country. The Security Council had referred Libya to the International Criminal Court, and Pillay said that security forces should not think they could commit crimes without facing prosecution. Around the oil port of Ras Lanuf, Libyan tanks fired on rebel positions and warplanes hit another oil hub farther east on Thursday. Muammar Gaddafi carried counter-attacks deeper into the heartland. Increasing numbers of civilian who are wounded have been arriving in hospitals in eastern cities, said the International Committee of the Red Cross. Jakob Kellenberger, The ICRC president, called on Libyan authorities to grant the humanitarian agency access to western areas, including the capital Tripoli, to access needs. Kellenberger told a news conference that "we have now a non-international armed conflict, or what you would call civil war." He also said, "we see increasing numbers of wounded arriving at hospitals in the east and we are extremely worried." The ICRC have set up a base in rebel-held Benghazi in the east where it is helping to perform surgeries and supply hospitals. No overall casualty figures for the country were delivered by Kellenberger. Fighting had intensified and and doctors have witnessed a rise in casualties, said Kellenberger, with at least 22 killed and 40 injured in Misrata after air strikes. 55 wounded were treated in Ajdabiyah hospital just this week in the east. Top Libyan authorities have stated that there was no need for help in the outside areas held by the Lybian forces.

I can understand why it is being investigated that these crimes against the civilians are possibly crimes against humanity. The fact that the ICRC have set up a base in order to help preform surgeries and supply hospitals is a step in the right direction, though. I disagree with the fact the Top Libyan authorities do not see the need for help outside the areas held by Lybian forces. Any and all help should be taken in! With all these casualties and wounded civilians being accounted for, why sit back and not take help? That is jst allowing such crime to happen.

www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/us-tripoli-cross-idUSTRE72956J20110310