HRS calls on Permanent Missions in Geneva to condemn human rights violations in Libya and establishment of International Mission of Enquiry
The report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) on the situation of human rights in Libya[i], which will be discussed by the Human Rights Council under Item 10, covers the period January to December 2019. However, several very serious developments have taken place, which we would like to highlight in this letter.
On June 6, 2020, forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) regained control of the town of Tarhuna, ~70 Km SE of Tripoli. Since then 11 mass and unmarked graves were discovered in and around the town[ii]. According to GNA’s Minister of Interior[iii], initial reports indicate that dozens of the victims were buried alive.
Since the retreat of militias loyal to Haftar from the Southern Districts of Tripoli, mines and improvised explosive devices (IDE’s) have been maiming and killing civilians on daily basis[iv], civilians who are returning to their homes after months of displacement. Hundreds of mines and IDE’s have planted in residential areas, which were controlled by militias loyal to Haftar and mercenaries from the Private Military Company, the Wagner Group[v].
Between 1 January and 31 March 2020, UNSMIL documented at least 131 civilian casualties (64 deaths and 67 injuries)[vi]. According to UNSMIL, there were 20 victims of Targeted killings, in the reported period. However, this report did not include the 50 military cadets (34 deaths and 16 injuries) targeted by a drone at the Hadhba Academy of Tripoli[vii]. The attack was caught by a security camera and shows clearly that the class of cadets was directly targeted, they were not collateral victims. These cadets were not involved in the hostilities and were not pausing a threat. The ex-SRSG, Ghassan Salamé, condemned the attack and stated[viii] that “the attack was probably executed by a country supporting ‘the Libyan National Army’ [the self-styled army of Haftar]”.
Your Excellency, we call on your mission to join our organization in condemning the grave violations of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law and constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. We also, call on your mission to ask the Human Rights Council to establish an International Mission of Enquiry to investigate the grave violations of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law.
[i] Human Rights Council, 43rd Regular Session: “Situation of human rights in Libya, and the effectiveness of technical assistance and capacity-building measures received by the Government of Libya”.
[ii] UN News: “UN chief calls for Libya mass grave investigation”, June 13, 2020. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has expressed deep shock at the discovery of mass graves in Libya over recent days, in territory that was recently in the hands of the so-called opposition Libyan National Army (LNA) led by General Khalifa Haftar.
[iii] Official Twitter account of Minister of Interior, Mr. Bashagha: “We discovered many horrific crimes committed by the militias that controlled the city of Tarhuna, and our agencies are now documenting them. We found a container in which all detainees were burned, and we also found a number of mass graves of victims. Our initial reports proved that dozens of them were buried alive.”, June 10, 2020.
[iv] According to latest data from the Libyan Center for Mine and War Remnants, 86 people were maimed/killed by mines in Southern areas of Tripoli during the period May 22 to June 10, 2020. The Center said they receive an average of 50 reports about mines per day. Human Rights Solidarity: “Mines claim lives south of Tripoli amid weak management and coordination of the crisis”, June 16, 2020.
[v] Evidence (including documents, video recordings, materials and equipment) have emerged which indicate that Haftar’s militias and mercenaries planted these mines and IDE’s.
[vi] United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL): “Civilian Casualties Report 1 January- 31 March 2020”, April 30, 2020.
[vii] UN News: “UN Libya Mission strongly condemns bombing of military academy, at least 30 dead”, January 5, 2020.
[viii] RT-Online: “UN envoy: Military college attack may have been carried out by a country that supports the ‘Libyan National Army’”, January 6, 2020.
