By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 30 September 2014:
The Libyan government has misled and misinformed the people regarding Benghazi assassinations, Libyan Human Rights . . .[restrict]Solidarity (LHRS) has claimed. The organisation said that if the government had investigated incidents from the beginning, as it claimed it had, it would have been possible to stop this bloodshed. The lack of prosecution has opened the door for individuals and groups to commit more crimes because they have felt immune to prosecution and punishment, LHRS says.
According to a report by the civil society organisation, the security situation in Benghazi had reached its lowest point during September 2014 and particularly during the last week, when 30 Libyan citizens—both military and civilian—were assassinated and four wounded during assassination attempts. In fact, according to the report, there have been about 200 assassinations since summer 2012 in Benghazi alone, and not one investigation has been opened.
In addition to this, dozens have died in clashes near Benina Airport and shipping has been disrupted because the Benghazi port has been under the threat of bombing.
There is a real risk of humanitarian disaster if no action is taken to address the situation in Benghazi, LHRS says.
“This cannot be considered simply as negligence or an error or an underestimation of the situation. This is a serious failure that clearly could be considered as a crime against the people, and this cannot be tolerated,” said activist and human rights researcher at LHRS, Giumma Al-Omami.
The LHRS has called on the Libyan authorities to impose an immediate ceasefire, but the President of LHRS, Khaled Alagily, has little faith that it will happen without outside intervention.
“Given the serious deterioration, the inability of local authorities and the authorities in Tripoli, due to the political strife, and the rejection of Khalifa Hafter of the cease-fire as a result of the support he is receiving from the Tobruk-based parliament, the only means we have is to go to the Committee of Experts of the Security Council of the United Nations . . . We will also send the same reports to the International Criminal Court.”
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