The President’s Office has issued a statement refuting the legitimacy of the Libyan government, and recognising the rebels as the country’s official representatives.
“The Maldives has decided to recognise the Libyan National Transition Council (LNTC) as the sole legitimate representative body of the Libyan people,” the President’s Office said.
The decision followed Qatar’s decision on March 28 to recognise the LNTC, a body given legitimacy on March 10 by France following a meeting with rebel leaders in Paris.
“The Maldives will always support people who stand up against human rights violations,” said President Nasheed. “The Libyan National Transition Council has become the sole legitimate representative of Libya and its people.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Naseem said that Muammar Gaddafi’s government had lost legitimacy through “gross and systemic human rights violations, which appear to amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
The rebel advances made in the wake of NATO airstrikes after Gaddafi’s tank columns came within miles of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi have stalled. Both sides have entered a push-pull statemate over key towns such as Brega
Al Jazeera journalist Hoda Abdel-Hamid, present in Ajdabiya, reported that the rebels were only advancing when Gaddafi’s forces retreated and lacked the discipline to hold ground when pushed back, or coordinate with NATO.
In once instance of friendly-fire, rebels confessed that an air-strike that killed 13 fighters near Brega on Sunday was triggered during a celebratory firing of an anti-aircraft gun while NATO aircraft were operating in the area.
“If you compare where we are today to where we were a few weeks ago, then we are in the exact same position,” Abdel-Hamid said.
Western powers are seeking a diplomatic end to the civil war by persuading Gaddafi to give up his rule of the country, while US President Barack Obama signed an order authorising the use of covert action in Libya, obstentiously providing training and possibly weapons to the rebel fighters.
However Western – and Maldivian – support of the LNTC is likely to be complicated by the complex tribal power struggles in the country once the rebels reach Tripoli.
Veteran war correspondent Robert Fisk, writing for the UK’s Independent newspaper, previously observed that the West has largely ignored that the powerful tribal group leading the rebellion in Libya, the Senoussi, were overthrown in 1969 when Gaddafi deposed their King Idris, and the red, black and green ‘rebel’ flag – the old flag of pre-revolutionary Libya – is in fact the Idris flag, a Senoussi flag.
“Now let’s suppose [the rebels] get to Tripoli. Are they going to be welcomed there? Yes, there were protests in the capital, but many of those brave demonstrators themselves originally came from Benghazi. What will Gaddafi’s supporters do? ‘Melt away’? Suddenly find that they hated Gaddafi after all and join the revolution? Or continue the civil war?”
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Its a good move. The least we can give them (Libya TNC) is moral support by recognizing them.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Naseem said that Muammar Gaddafi’s government had lost legitimacy through “gross and systemic human rights violations, which appear to amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
There is no evidence of this. Gadaffi was in line to receive a UN award for his human rights record! Sad to see how the propaganda, half truths and downright lies put out by Obama, Sarkozy and Cameron have been swallowed without question by the Maldives government.
This ignores the probability that the rebellion was instigated simply because Gadaffi was thinking of nationalising Libyan oil production..this could not be allowed to happen so the country is plunged into civil war. CIA and their Al Qaeda proxies amongst the "rebels" are behind this chaos.
Convoys of arms and ammunition looted from the Libyan army by Al Qaeda pass into Mali for use in Algeria and elsewhere. New world order in progress!
It is duty of every nation to support democratic movement anywhere. Maldives has done right.
I hope Libya will ban old trade to Maldives through OPEC, Mohamed Nasheed's crazy administration does not understand how powerful Libya is,they are oil producing nation and powerful member in OPEC. By the way I haven't heard such silly statement by any other country other than this small country called Maldives by its silly government.
I hope Libya will ban oil trade to Maldives through OPEC, Mohamed Nasheed’s crazy administration does not understand how powerful Libya is,they are oil producing nation and powerful member in OPEC. By the way I haven’t heard such silly statement by any other country other than this small country called Maldives by its silly government.
Quoted from CBS News
President Obama today strongly condemned Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi for his violent crackdown against protesters in the country and said the United States is considering a full range of options -- including military options -- to respond to the crisis there.
"Colonel Qaddafi needs to step down from power," the president said in a joint press conference at the White House with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. "You've seen with great clarity that he has lost legitimacy with his people
"Ibrahim Nasir was challenged in 1959 by a local secessionist movement in the southern atolls that benefited economically from the British presence on Gan. This group cut ties with the Maldives government and formed an independent state with Abdullah Afif as president.
The short-lived state (1959–63), called the United Suvadive Republic, had a combined population of 20,000 inhabitants scattered in the southernmost atolls Huvadu, Addu and Fua Mulaku. In 1962 Nasir sent gunboats from Malé with government police on board to eliminate elements opposed to his rule." (Source - Wikipedia)
So, that internal rebellion was put down by force, which is what Gadaffi was trying to with that in eastern Libya, before the trio of Obama,Sarkozy and Cameron interfered. Is there as difference? I can't see one.
If Maldives dismisses Gaddafi's government, believe me its doomed LOL. Why just we cant stay silent. Much stronger countries like Germany, Russia and India still did not take any side. Its very premature decision from Maldives.
Derek Postance on Tue, 5th Apr 2011 8:16 PM
Hi Dereck,
The difference today is that you have your head up your @SS.
Tragic as the "Suvadive Republic" incidents had been, what bearing does it have on todays government?
European colonizers subjugated and even committed genocide on entire populations, does this mean they don't have any moral right to criticize in todays world?
Get help, pull your head out, then you may see differently.