August, 11 2011, 01:39pm EDT
Kucinich Renews Call for Accountability from All Sides of Libyan War
“To Whom is NATO Accountable? How Can They Continue to Cause the Deaths of Innocent Civilians Under the Color of International Law and not be Held Accountable?”
WASHINGTON
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today wrote to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon renewing his call that all sides should be held accountable in the war in Libya. This is one in a series of letters that Congressman Kucinich has sent to Secretary General Ki-moon concerning NATO violence in Libya.
See a signed copy of the letter here. The full text follows:
August 10, 2011
The Honorable Ban Ki-moon
Secretary General
The United Nations
Fifth Avenue at 46th Street
New York, New York 10017
Dear Secretary General,
I write to bring to your attention recent developments in Libya and to reiterate my calls for accountability of member states of the United Nations (U.N.) and the top command of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for actions taken in Libya pursuant to U.N Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973.
Reports continue to surface that indicate that continued military operations in Libya may have resulted in further deaths of innocent civilians. A recent article from Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that "Libyan authorities... accused NATO of a 'massacre' of 85 villagers in air strikes in support of rebels" in Zlitan, Libya, citing the deaths of "Thirty-three children, 32 women and 20 men from 12 families.[1]"
If such reports are true, it further highlights the increased risks to civilians that has occurred as a result of military intervention in Libya and is further evidence that continued bombing by NATO under the context of UNSCR 1973 is an inappropriate tool to protect civilians or force Muammar Gaddafi from power.
To whom is NATO accountable? How can they continue to cause the deaths of innocent civilians under the color of international law and not be held accountable?
The lack of even a public warning to NATO from the United Nations makes a mockery of UN Resolutions which are allegedly aimed at protecting innocent civilians from organized violence.
I reiterate my requests that the U.N. take immediate action to hold member states and their NATO extension accountable for actions in Libya that violate U.N. Security Council Resolutions that place innocent civilians at risk.
Sincerely,
Dennis J. Kucinich
Member of Congress
Dennis Kucinich is an American politician. A U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1997 to 2013, he was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008.
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