Attack at Tripoli – Letter from Libya

LETTER DATED 27 APRIL 1995 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE

OF THE LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED

TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

Further to our letter No. 684 dated 25 April 1995, I have the honour to enclose herewith a letter and statement from the Association of the Victims of American Aggression against the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi.

I should be grateful if you would have these circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Mohamed Abulgassem AZWAI

Permanent Representative

Annex

The Association of the Families of the Victims of the barbaric American- NATO Aggression against the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi on 15 April 1986 addresses this letter to you to press its previous demands, which it has used every effort over the past nine years to ensure have reached all the international organizations, that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the aggressors should be put on trial and punished for the crime of which they are incontestably guilty.  While sleeping, our families and our people were subjected to aggression carried out by the United States of America with the support of the United Kingdom on a flimsy pretext which events proved to be false (the Berlin nightclub case).

 The Association of the Families of the Victims of the Aggression requests you, in accordance with the powers vested in you, and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to support our legitimate request that the aggressors, foremost amongst whom are the former President of the United States of America, Reagan, and the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Thatcher, together with all those who carried out the acts of aggression, should be put on trial.

It also calls upon you to convene a meeting of the Security Council, and ensure it shoulders its responsibility, as should you all, to deter aggression.  If we find that our rights are being ignored or disregarded, we shall, unfortunately, be forced to take vengeance for our families ourselves.

We should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as an official document to all the organizations belonging to the United Nations.

 Association of the Families of the Victims

of the Imperialist American-NATO Aggression

against the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi

Tripoli, 15 April 1995           

Declaration

Enclosure by the Association of the Families of the Victims

of the American-NATO Aggression against the cities of

Tripoli and Benghazi

(Tripoli, 15 April 1995)

For the sake of justice and retribution

Today is the ninth anniversary of the barbaric slaughter perpetrated by the treacherous and aggressive forces of the United States of America and NATO, the anniversary of the loathsome crime committed by the enemies of humanity, who ruthlessly deprived many of life, making women widows, children orphans, and terrorizing peaceful citizens.  Our families were the victims, and we have been overwhelmed with pain and despair for nine years.

On 15 April 1986 the true nature of the imperialist State was revealed, and the veils fell from the ugly face of aggression and international terrorism.

The carnage in the two peaceful cities of Tripoli and Benghazi, of which our families were the victims, gave many signals which are no longer concealed from our people, our nation and all the peoples of the world.  At the same time that the extent of the wretchedness and collapse forming the character of those in control of military policy-making in the United States of America and the United Kingdom was revealed, the veils were torn away from the falseness of the statements and catchphrases they mouthed, and which their information services spouted, holding forth about democracy and human and national rights.

The repugnant and barbarous attack exposed the United States of America as a focus for State terrorism, the killing of defenceless civilians and the destruction of their hospitals, houses and schools.

The murderous raid will remain an enduring symbol in the minds of our people and nation and of free people everywhere, an incentive to combat the forces opposed to life, peace and green hope.

We announce to the whole world that the United States of America is the source of international terrorism, and the international centre of its perpetration.  The suffering we and many other peoples have endured bears the intimidating hallmark of the terrorist American administration.  Unfortunately, however, the Security Council remains impotent and submissive in the face of the arrogance and tyranny of American determination.

Today, as we recall the pain and suffering we have endured, and our terrible losses, we assert the following:

1.   The Association of the Families of the Victims and Martyrs of the

barbarous American attack calls upon the conscience of mankind to bear witness that, throughout the last nine years of suffering and requests for justice, they have met international and regional bodies and organizations and human rights committees in a peaceful and serious attempt to gain justice and have their rights established by bringing the planners and perpetrators of the attack and the crime before an international tribunal which would bring a just and fair verdict against them and establish our right to equitable compensation for the dreadful losses we have suffered, for which no reparation can compensate us.

2.   The Association of the Families of the Victims of the Aggression requests the Security Council to discharge the responsibility assigned to it under the Charter of the United Nations for deterring aggression and combating the State terrorism being practised by a great Power, and to work towards the holding of an international trial to pass judgement on those responsible for the aggression.  We are amazed that the Security Council seems to be powerless to deal with this appalling crime, which detracts from peace and security throughout the world.

3.   The Association recalls that the peoples of the world condemned the attack through their organizations and their media and demanded that the imperialist aggressors should be punished.  Tens of thousands of Arab and other friendly peoples, including peace groups and liberation movements, sent representatives to Tripoli to announce their solidarity with us and with our injured Libyan Arab people on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the attack.  Can the Security Council fail to appreciate this great weight of world public opinion?

4.   The Association of the Families of the Victims of the barbarous American-NATO attack will never forget those who were sacrificed, and no obstacle will prevent them from obtaining their rights.  Therefore, if Libya is unable to persuade the international community of the justice of our claim, and the Security Council continues to ignore our requests, we notify the whole world that, unless the Security Council convenes an emergency meeting to discuss our demands and takes just measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, we shall take the initiative in obtaining our rights and revenge ourselves.

To that end, citing as testimony international public opinion, and requesting support and assistance, and in order to achieve a peaceful and just solution, we announce our determination that the Security Council should respond to our demands by holding an emergency meeting and issuing a resolution on combating aggression and on the just claims of the families of the victims. Otherwise, it will bear the full responsibility.

Association of the Families of the Victims

of the Imperialist American-NATO Aggression

against the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi

(Tripoli, 15 April 1995)       

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