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As for the Northern Ireland point. Hmmm Tell me you wonderful apologists what was supposed to happen to the protestants in your warped world view? Forcibly removed from their homes?
Before someone with half brain comes out with the term "British occupation of Ireland" please read a history book, one that goes back to the 11th century. At no point in history did "British" troops cross the Irish Sea, fight some Irish natives and take over the country....sheesh!!!
In fact here is the bummer : Irish catholics are descendants of English catholics OMG !
Irrespective of the history of Northern Ireland does this mean planting bombs and blowing up pubs, streets of shops and department stores is ok? (NB not empty! hence dead civilians)
- The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya believed that the promotion and protection of human rights was one of the most important factors for the progress and development of the people. The first declaration of the Great Alfateh Revolution in 1969 had called for equality and non-discrimination, and in 1977 the People’s Authority had been declared. In 1988, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had issued the Great Green Document on Human Rights, which provided that all human beings were born free and equal, with no difference between men and women. In 1991, Law No. 20 on Strengthening Freedoms had also been enacted. The
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was party to most human rights treaties and the protocols thereto, and those instruments took precedence over national laws and could be directly applied by the courts once they had been ratified.
- Protection of human rights was guaranteed in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; this included not only political rights, but also economic, social and cultural rights. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya referred to its pioneering experience in the field of wealth distribution and labour rights.
- The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya believed that human rights education was a duty that should be fulfilled in the school system and the family system and by relevant civil society organizations.
- Regarding measures taken to prevent torture and ill treatment in detention centres or prisons, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya indicated that the practice of torture and ill treatment was forbidden in article 434 of the Penal Code, which stated that public officials who had ordered the torture of a person or had committed
an act of torture were sentenced to 3 to 10 years’ imprisonment. Article 17 of the Promotion of Freedom Act stipulated that society forbade penalties that undermined the dignity of a person and inflicted physical harm or material injury. The legislation adequately addressed this issue; therefore, new measures
were unnecessary in this context.
- In the initiative to distribute wealth to low-income families, those programmes were related to distributing money through investments for every needy family. Over the past four years, 229,595 families had benefited from the programme.
- Regarding services for persons with special needs, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya indicated that such persons received monthly a llowances and were exempt from all fees and taxes, including for electricity, water and tr ansportation. They also had residences and housing units, medical supplies, vehicles especially designed for them, and paid domestic help and home services.
- Concerning human rights training for personnel and law enforcement officials, a formal programme had been organized by the State. Personnel were trained through official curricula in all law schools, colleges and universities, including the armed forces college. In addition, all associations and human rights organizations conducted workshops and training courses and disseminated information and raised awareness regarding human rights issues. Workshops and technical capacity had been provided to two courts, which were being modernized.
- Regarding discrimination against women, the policy of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
was based on equality and non-discrimination.
- In response to questions regarding restrictions on freedom of expression, opinion and the press, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya reaffirmed that any citizen could freely express his or her views. The country had many independent newspapers that had criticized the Administration, and there were other privately owned media. A draft law on this issue was under way but had not yet been enacted, and the 1972 press law would soon be amended to resolve the pending issues.
Originally posted by daaskapital
Libya was pretty damn good under Gaddafi, even to the point where it was much more advanced than Western countries in many respects.
* He nationalised the oil industry
He then ruled as a dictator for the next 42 years, crushing civil rights and preventing any move towards democracy
* He was a major sponsor of international terrorism
* He had a shocking record for human rights abuses and racial discrimination
* Freedom House (a US NGO which tracks human rights and political freedoms around the world)
Originally posted by Sankari
He then ruled as a dictator for the next 42 years, crushing civil rights and preventing any move towards democracy
Protection of human rights was guaranteed in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; this included not only political rights, but also economic, social and cultural rights. The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya referred to its pioneering experience in the field of wealth distribution and labour rights.
Gadhafi responded to protesters' demands that he step down by saying he has "no authority" that he can relinquish. He said the Libyan people hold power in the country, explaining that he and others gave it to them in 1977.
It's true that in 1977, Qaddafi invented a new system of government called the Jamahiriya, or state of the masses, which Time magazine describes as a system where a country "is supposedly governed by the populace through local councils." But although Qaddafi technically holds no formal office — besides Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution — the Jamahiriya "has been dismissed by several international observers, including the CIA, as a military dictatorship."
Asked whether Colonel Gaddafi would consider standing down, Mr Kaim replied that the Libyan leader had not held executive power since 1977.
“Gaddafi has said it by himself.,” he said.
“He said that 'I’m just playing a symbolic role here in the country because I was the leader of the revolution’...
“The role of the leader is symbolic and the national dialogue will talk about the constitution and the constitution might deal with all these issues.”
He had a shocking record for human rights abuses and racial discrimination
The Libyan Arab Jamahiriya believed that the promotion and protection of human rights was one of the most important factors for the progress and development of the people. The first declaration of the Great Alfateh Revolution in 1969 had called for equality and non-discrimination, and in 1977 the People’s Authority had been declared. In 1988, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya had issued the Great Green Document on Human Rights, which provided that all human beings were born free and equal, with no difference between men and women. In 1991, Law No. 20 on Strengthening Freedoms had also been enacted. The
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was party to most human rights treaties and the protocols thereto, and those instruments took precedence over national laws and could be directly applied by the courts once they had been ratified.
He publicly condemned torture, but didn't prevent authorities from using it
Concerning human rights training for personnel and law enforcement officials, a formal programme had been organized by the State. Personnel were trained through official curricula in all law schools, colleges and universities, including the armed forces college. In addition, all associations and human rights organizations conducted workshops and training courses and disseminated information and raised awareness regarding human rights issues. Workshops and technical capacity had been provided to two courts, which were being modernized.
Originally posted by daaskapital
Libya was pretty damn good under Gaddafi, even to the point where it was much more advanced than Western countries in many respects.
Bollocks, that is absolutely laughable. The best we can say about Gaddafi is that he raised Libya's rank on the Human Development Index above any other African country. But that's not a huge achievement.edit on 5/6/13 by Sankari because: added quote...
According to more than a few observers, Gadhafi's plan to quit selling Libyan oil in U.S. dollars - demanding payment instead in gold-backed "dinars" (a single African currency made from gold) - was the real cause. The regime, sitting on massive amounts of gold, estimated at close to 150 tons, was also pushing other African and Middle Eastern governments to follow suit.
Similar scenarios involving the global monetary system - based on the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency, backed by the fact that oil is traded in American money - have also been associated with other targets of the U.S. government. Some analysts even say a pattern is developing. Iran, for example, is one of the few nations left in the world with a state-owned central bank. And Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein, once armed by the U.S. government to make war on Iran, was threatening to start selling oil in currencies other than the dollar just prior to the Bush administration's "regime change" mission.
Originally posted by deessell
reply to post by sonnny1
Sonny, you bring up some good points but I don't think you should forget about his role in trying to form an African Union.
Using Libya's great wealth to unite Africa would upset the balance. Africa has many resources, imagine they were no longer able to be controlled and exploited for the 'west's' advantage?
A strong Africa would be a game changer.