EQUIPO NIZKOR |
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17Apr11
Rhetoric of war, domination vs. call for peace, harmony
As Western alliance continues to flex its military muscles in Libya, the world hears more rattle of sabres and clamor for war. But opposition to violence and calls for peace is gaining momentum and will prevail.
In a signed article published Friday, leaders of the United States, France and Britain wrote that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi "must go and go for good."
As Gaddafi refuses to step down, and Western allies vowed to continue air strikes, war will linger on in Libya. It is the Libyan civilians who are going to suffer the most.
The trio's rhetoric of war has sparked new suspicions on the legitimacy of the Western intervention. Many argued that the air strikes in Libya have gone beyond the UN mandate as Security Council Resolution 1973 only authorizes a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians, rather than "regime change" demanded by the Western allies.
Weeks of fierce bombardment have already terrorized the Libyan people and a looming protracted war could only add to their misery.
Amid the sabre-rattling and deafening bomb blasts, the call for peace by the international community seemed all the more reassuring and commendable.
On Tuesday, the African Union (AU) held talks on Libya in an effort to broker a feasible ceasefire deal after rebels rejected their peaceful proposal Monday.
National and regional leaders also voiced their strong appeal for a peaceful world at the BRICS summit and the Boao Forum for Asia 2011 annual meeting held in south China's scenic Hainan province this week.
In a joint declaration issued by leaders from the BRICS nations on Thursday, the five emerging powers expressed misgivings about NATO-led air offensive in Libya and urged an end to the conflict.
"We are deeply concerned with the turbulence in the Middle East, the North African and West African regions and sincerely wish that the countries affected achieve peace, stability, prosperity, progress and enjoy their due standing and dignity in the world according to legitimate aspirations of their peoples," the declaration reads.
Besides the thunder of bombs and missiles, there is another type of cacophony. Recently, the U.S. government again released its so-called Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010. Full of distortions, the report makes groundless accusations against more than 190 countries for their human rights situation.
In response, the Press Office of China's State Council issued "U.S. Human Rights Record in 2010" to urge the United States to face up to its own human rights issues.
[Source: Xinhua, Beijing, 17Apr11]
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