AFP
Regime ‘ordered sex drugs for rapes’
Investigators have evidence that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ordered mass rapes and bought containers of sex drugs to encourage troops to attack women, the chief ICC prosecutor said.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he may ask for a new charge of mass rape to be made against Col Gaddafi following the new evidence.
The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor is expecting a decision from judges within days on his request for charges of crimes against humanity to be laid against the Libyan leader, one of his sons and his intelligence chief.
“Now we are getting some information that Gaddafi himself decided to rape and this is new,” Mr Moreno-Ocampo told reporters.
He said there were reports of hundreds of women attacked in some areas of Libya, which is in the grip of a months-long internal rebellion.
There was evidence the Libyan authorities bought “Viagra-type” medicines and gave them to troops as part of the official rape policy, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said. “They were buying containers to enhance the possibility to rape women,” he said.
“It was never the pattern he used to control the population. The rape is a new aspect of the repression. That is why we had doubts at the beginning, but now we are more convinced that he decided to punish using rape,” the prosecutor said.
“It was very bad – beyond the limits, I would say.”
Col Gaddafi’s regime had not previously been known for using rape as a weapon against political opponents and Moreno-Ocampo said he had to find evidence that the Libyan leader had given the order. A UN human rights investigator yesterday cast doubts over claims by the chief ICC prosecutor of evidence that Col Gaddafi had ordered mass rapes.
In March, a Libyan woman made international headlines when she entered a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by Gaddafi troops. According to a UN official, the rape victim is currently recovering from trauma at a refugee centre in western Romania.
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Alfred Falzon
Jun 13th 2011, 19:28
@John O'Rourke
You have taken exception to my reference to the IRA and to the fact that it was financed by none other than Gaddafi's regime. Of course, no mention of this bare truth is made in your biased and unruly criticism of what I wrote to this effect! It sounds fishy, no?
And what about the other reference I made to the Lockerbie bombing? Is this also anathema to the debate since it might be, according to your logic, another figment of the imagination!
You choose and pick what you feel you should pontificate upon! But that's a lop-sided debate!
Your language is disgusting and exposes in no uncertain way your arrogance and blind reasoning in favour of a lost cause!
So, contradicting yourself, you now find time in engaging once more in a dialogue on the topic in questiont! In spite that you are unwilling, for obvious reasons, to call a spade, a spade!
You have chosen to use disparaging remarks against me (now so characteristic of you), which shows how low you can abase yourself when attempting to defend a bloodthirsty dictator! I have a feeling that...
You revile people who defend human rights by telling half truths and posing as one who is extremely versed in the subject, without providing any concrete proof of this!
All you do is speak highly in a pompous tone of a doomed dictatorship on its way out leaving a trail of destruction and countless loss of human life!
And you still persist in your servile obstinacy!
It's a lost cause!
Even Germany today has realised that it's time to recognize the Libyan National Transitional Council as the sole interlocutor and legitimate representative of Libya!
Mind you, my country MALTA did this much before!
Stop burying your head in the sand trying to kick back sand dunes whipped up by the Libyan desert sandstorms liable to make of your arguments unwanted relics of a hated past!
Time to call it a day, O'Rourke!
Alfred Falzon
Jun 13th 2011, 18:34
@Bill Khan
I have read your latest comments!
I am somewhat disappointed by the arguments brought up.
There are references to other countries and abuses which you seem to cite as excuses for those mentioned before.
The use of disparaging remarks and the uncalled-for term "pimp" (meaning the Libyan Transitional National Council, seated at Benghazi), comparing it to the former Chilean bloodthirsty dictator Pinochet, is completely out of tune in a serious debate on the unfolding situation in Libya.
This is akin to insults and catcalls!
I shall cease to discuss anything else with you because you have now exceeded the limits of an open and healthy debate, and this is for me is a deep disappointment!
But I still retain high hopes in you once you get rid of such frustration for what is unfolding in Libya today!
The language you're now using is unbecoming, and reminds me of JANA's communiques in a time when Libya's relations with Egypt were stretched to their limits! The former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was at one point in time called "snake" spitting venom!
I never spoke about Chile, nor of the Vietnam War which I still condemn up to this very day, but Bill, you have to understand that in our times, that is the 21st century, there is no room for dictators and that the people are sovereign!
The Iraq war is another apple of discord, as is the conflict in Afghanistan!
Yet terrorism must not prevail, and to counter it there are losses as well and, by the way, mistakes!
Finally, I do not believe in generalizations for all generalizations are false including this!
Mr John O'Rourke
Jun 13th 2011, 17:53
In the second passage of my latest comment two words are missing. It’s supposed to be “… time to spend on arguing …”. My apologies.
Mr John O'Rourke
Jun 13th 2011, 17:31
@Alfred Falzon
Your pathetic argument tactics which are reduced to repeating the same things over and over again in vain expectation of it becoming a reality simply due to its mere repetition are both disgusting and doomed to failure. People are not that stupid as you deem them to be.
As to our dispute you will have to excuse me, but I simply do not have time on arguing with paid shills (the milder option of your just being an idiot I have to dismiss). If (which is not going to happen on obvious grounds) you learn to pay attention to concrete arguments of the other side and comply with other requirements pertinent to serious debate it can be resumed.
Now as to my language. You seem to have thought that the right to mete out is reserved exclusively for you. Well, you obviously thought wrong. And one more thing. You can use any language while talking to me - I do not give a heck. But if you insult a woman once more - as you did in one of your comments on “Powers plot post-Gaddafi Libya as rebels eye cash“ - you will have to try to repeat it with me in person.
However I would like to thank The Times for offering this platform for debating over this critically important issue, I also challenge this paper to provide, in the wake of recently issued David Casa’s “It’s Time for Gaddafi to Go” and Catherine Ashton’s “The message from Benghazi” equal space for something which would be at least more or less consistent with objective reality. If The Times is prepared to do it in its “Opinions” or “Blogs” sections I’m ready to come up with a series of well corroborated and documented articles on what is really happening now in Libya as well as the reasons behind it and its implications - also for Malta specifically.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 12th 2011, 09:37
@John O'Rourke
On whose behalf are you speaking, may I ask?
You say you are a busy man, but you seem to find time indulging in innuendoes, hurling insults and making sweeping statements!
I do not speak on anybody's behalf, but the fact that the NATO Coalition has a UN mandate to make Gaddafi step down and stop slaughtering his people like cattle is enough proof that what this despot has committed are heinous crimes against humanity (please refer to the latest criminal indictment against Gaddafi's regime re systematic gang raping of women in Libya)!
Have you been to Mis(u)rata, to Zintan, Zlitan, Zawiya, Gharyan, the Naffusa Mountains, etc, etc? Have you heard on site what the surviving inhabitants have had to suffer at the hands of Gaddafi's criminal forces, aided and abetted by hired mercenaries from various sub-Saharan lands?
Have you toured these localities, most of which have been reduced to rubble?
Do you know what is brewing in the capital Tripoli, are you aware of the thousands of terrorised Tripolitanian families locked indoors for fear of being assaulted by roaming mercenary thugs speeding down the streets in private cars ready to shoot like snipers at onyone who dares goes out?!
I have other gruesome stories to relate, but this will soon be made known by other reliable sources, not those which have aided Gaddafi help terrorists and extremists from the IRA , bomb civilian planes, and now butcher his people!
A last question: the Maltese Government is one of the many democratic governments that have recognised the Libyan National Transitional Council as the sole interlocutor and legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
It is the voice of the GREAT MAJORITY of the Maltese not the few local Gaddafi stooges who still live in a world of their own and naively quote verbatim from JANA!
Bill Khan
Jun 12th 2011, 18:05
Mr. Alfred Falzon, thank you atleast for sayingyou do not speak for any body. You had prviously given the impression that you were speaking on behalf of the majority of the Maltese people.
Regarding the UN resolution which was abstained by large number f humanity namely india, China, Brazil, Germany and Russia comprising of more than half of world population does not say much for the demoracy we are all routing for. Secondly it is a funny kind of a poplar upsing wicgh needs the heavy bombing by the very countries who have played havoc acoss the world in one form or the other. The funny thing also is that despite the terrrsim conducted by the former colonial powers and their pimp the people of Libya refuse to yield to the pressure amounting t hundreds of deaths on a daily basis.
Most funny pat of al this still is hat the democratic loving resolution holding terrorists are refusing to hold any elections in Libya. The reason is they know Gaddafi and his family could very well win those elections. The solution for Libya is ti cease fire and hold eletion .Only then we will get the true picture regarding the uprising and the popularity of Gaddafi.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 13th 2011, 08:37
@Bill Khan
We know where China and Russia stand as regards their democratic credentials today!
India, Brazil, and Germany have vested interests in Libya and they are more inclined to put business above all other considerations!
Brazil has lately shown how much it flouts international law by harbouring an escaped Italian terrorist condemned for a number of killings and refusing to extradite him to Italy! In this vast South American country, many are those who are being exploited or murdered for their opposition to the destruction of the Amazonian forest by unscrupulous capitalists who are determined to exterminate the few natives that still thrive there!
On the other hand, India is supposedly a democratic country but treats much of its population, left destitute, like trash, with thousands of children being exploited by Indian businessmen for their own greed! Indeed, India is a hotbed of CHILD LABOUR, but is doing very little to eliminate this monstrous abuse!
Germany has now become renowned for sitting on the fence but when it comes to the killer i-coli strain, it did not think twice to pin the blame on Spain without the least reflection as to where it really originated and to the irreparable damage it would cause to the impoverished farmers of this country!
Nothing surprises us when it comes to dirty politics and economics!
These countries are far from paragons of human rights and only seem to react when their interests are at stake or at a low ebb!
As to free and democratic elections in Libya, I think that we have already broached the subject in former comments. I (a voice in the desert) fully subscribe to such a solution provided that they are held under strict United Nations supervision!
Regarding Gaddafi and his family, once they are found innocent of all the indictments levelled at them for allegedly committing crimes against humanity, nothing should preclude them from contesting the elections!
Your assumptions are however too biased and call for some fine tuning as you seem to be too sure of yourself when speaking of elections and Gaddafi's "popularity"!
But that's your personal opinion to which you have a right and I find no fault in that!
Bill Khan
Jun 13th 2011, 12:45
@ Alfred Falzon, You have stated consieable bias against the India, russia, China, Germany and Brazil.
Thes countries neveheless comprise moe than half the world poplation. None of them have had a crel past as fance and the UK and the pim whch has devastated millions of people across the world in just 50 years and the effects of agent orange are stll being felt in vietnam. The pimp deposed 50 govenments in last 50years most f them demoratic not to mention Chile wher the residence of an elected Prime minister was bombed and he was mudered and Pinocet was instaled the eqiuvalent of the Benghazi interim Council in Libya. Suggestion of holding elections in Libya under the Un adminstration is laughable. Might as well hold elections under the French, Bristish and their pimp.
UN has no credibility. You only have to see the resoltions passsed with respect to Israel and the vetoes used by the above ganmg of three. Perhaps by that suggestion you were rying to bring some humour in to the discussion. You mentioned the aleged failings of Chna India et al but not the lie of the WMds allegedy possessed by Iraq, ts invasion and the subsqently the mrder of more than a million people.
The talk of ICJ and the Gadaf and crime is deleberate just to keep him ou of any elections. Why be afraid letting Libyans decide who they want as their leader. Let them chose their leader(s) even if they may or may not have committed any crime. The only crime being commited is that Uk/France and the pimp have been terrorising a sovereign country . And to attack a sovereign country against the charted f the UN.
China, India, Russia, germany and Brazil are roten countries and aways have hiden agendas. Pray tell me what is in the make up of the excolonial powers that makes them angelic and constantly wlling to oust bad leaders to protect civilians? Why are they in your mind (illusion) actdifferently to the bad countries you mentioned? Perhaps i to may then be convinced by your argument.
Mr John O'Rourke
Jun 11th 2011, 23:18
@Alfred Falzon
I have mentioned two major news agencies which are commonly considered beacons of the mainstream media and paragons of credibility or, at least, trying to pose as such - because a critical number of people around the world are starting to wake up while you are continuing to stay in deep slumber (I wish to hope that you are genuinely lost, though, frankly, I have very serious doubts about that). “Other reliable sources of information … from all parts of the planet“ were regurgitating the same nonsense (or rather intended lies) on Iraq, South Ossetia as well as on many other issues as CNN and BBC and evidently can be given exactly as much credibility as those mentioned. So your argument is completely void. I‘m a very busy man, so, please, do not waste my time making me invalidate such petty rhetorical tricks.
However, it’s even more important that the same powers that were behind the occupation of Iraq which was based solely on lies and fabrication (it’s an officially proven fact) and resulted in more than ONE MILLION CIVILIAN DEATHS are now bombing Libya, densely populated areas of Tripoli included, having already produced the following ‘humanitarian’ results: hundreds of deaths, thousands of wounded, ruined crucial civilian infrastructure, and ongoing destruction of the fundamental basis of the civilian lives which those behind this strenuous ‘humanitarian’ effort claim to be saving. If you are unable to continue this analogy I do not think it makes any sense to continue this debate.
Now concerning Gaddafi’s ‘atrocities’. Care to produce any evidences of alleged Gaddafi‘s ‘crimes‘? (and, please, do not cite CNN, BBC and the like - their integrity we have already discussed). Because I can furnish a long list of such evidences proving beyond a shadow of doubt the crimes of those who are bombing him. As soon as you cut your hysterical chanting which contains nothing but void declarations and care to corroborate your biased assertions with a single shred of actual evidence I will be happy to provide a rebuttal. But you won’t - because there are hardly any in existence. And drop these ridiculous claims to speak for the Maltese people. You are not speaking for Alfred Farrugia, Tony Camillery, Deo Cassar and, I’m sure, the vast majority of Maltese who are not as lost as you and do not feel any inclination to indulge in deliberate lying either. Speak for yourself.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 12th 2011, 17:07
@John O'Rourke
Please use civil language when addressing other bloggers on this site!
You are the one who is misleading for pretending to defend a lost cause and throwing mud at reputable news agencies CNN and BBC!
I challenge you to say where I have made "ridiculous claims" when I stated that the Maltese Government is one of the many democratic governments that has recognized the National Transitional Council as the sole interlocutor and legitimate representative of Libya!
I challenge you to deny that Gaddafi was behind the Lockerbie bombing or the financing of terrorism, including support to the military wing of the IRA (Irish Republican Army)!
I challenge you to stop burying your head in the sand and play the ostrich!
I speak on my behalf but I share the same ideals as those of all DEMOCRATIC MALTESE who are the great majority in MALTA!
Alfred Falzon
Jun 11th 2011, 18:00
@John O'Rourke
I did not mention just one news agency but a host of others, so what's all the fuss about the CNN and the BBC?
At least, there are other sources in democratic countries from which one can quote without being hunted down by totalitarian regimes the likes of which we are witnessing in Libya, Syria and Yemen!
These ruthless despots cling to power on the strength of their armed aggressiveness to coerce by hook or by crook the people into submission, using all the foul means at their disposal, including heavy weaponry!
You seem to have purposely left out other reliable sources of information that are exposing Gaddafi et al in their bid to mow down their people just like ants!
You mentioned nothing about the blatant lies and cheap propaganda that are churned day in day out by such servile regime news agencies as Gaddafi's JANA and Assad's SANA in their attempt to camouflage the horrendous crimes against humanity committed by their masters!
You seem to have ignored for some reason or other various news agencies from all parts of the planet which broke the news about young Libyan lawyer Iman al-Obeidi and hundreds of other women who were gang raped by Gaddafi's troops on his own orders!
Isn't this another heinous crime against humanity, especially in Arab countries where such victims rarely survive their trauma?!
But in due time, it will be very difficult for you to turn a blind eye to the Arab dawn that is breaking over Libya and which will be heralded, as expected, by none other than the news and TV agency of FREE LIBYA: AL HURRA!
Then it will be the freedom-loving people of Libya and their democratic leaders who will have the real, much-deserved break, neither me nor you!
We'll remain seated at our keyboard enjoying the new scenario unfolding as free Libya returns gradually to its senses with its oppressed people relieved of their harrowing experience!
At least, the blood of its brave martyred people will not have been spilled in vain!
Mr John O'Rourke
Jun 11th 2011, 14:37
@ Alfred Falzon
You mean that CNN which was yelling for an year about Hussein’s WMD and then it all turned out to be a lie - which, however, did not prevent 1 000 000 + Iraqi civilians from dying in the course of the occupation based on this lie and conducted by the same powers who are now bombing Libya? Or that BBC which was ‘genuinely lost’ for three months in 2008 before they had eventually admitted that the sky is blue, water is wet and it was Georgia who launched an aggression against South Ossetia - in our modern world where you can easily read paper headlines using satellites? Give me a break!
Alfred Falzon
Jun 10th 2011, 21:10
@Alfred Farrugia
What's all the buzz about the latest accusations levelled against ruthless Gaddafi and his corrupt regime?
This tyrant fell into disrepute right from the start of his people's legitimate uprising and no amount of beating about the bush will exonerate such a brutal regime from its heinous crimes against humanity!
You can quote chapter and verse from so-called diplomatic sources for the great majority of the Maltese have eyes to see and ears to hear and will not budge an inch from the stand they have taken together with their Government in favour of human rights and freedom of expression for the people of Libya with whom we stand foursquare at a time of trials and tribulations they are enduring!
Long live free Libya, long live its freedom-loving people!
This is Malta's cry, the one that comes straight from the people's heart not from meany minds!
Alfred Farrugia
Jun 11th 2011, 00:10
Be careful about meany minds. When you point a finger against one of them, take a look at your hand and you may note that three fingers are pointing at you! Is it not better to attack the message rather than the messenger(s) as you have been doing most of the time? That does not necessarily win you the argument. You, like me, do not have a monopoly on what may be right or correct! You, of course, have every right to your own opinions, but you have no right to insult those who do not agree with you. How is it possible to talk about the "human rights and freedom of expression" of the people of Libya and at the same time show such intolerance against to the views of others expressed in these columns?
Alfred Falzon
Jun 11th 2011, 12:30
@Alfred Farrugia
Defending the rights of an oppressed people is qualified by you as an insult and an act of intolerance!
You must be dreaming!
This is far from a debate on your part, it's an imposition!
Your grotesque defence of a ruthless despot guilty of killing his people is baseless and does not warrant further comments!
Alfred Farrugia
Jun 10th 2011, 20:19
According to the UN human rights investigator, Emeritus Professor of Law at DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Cherif Bassiouni, his investigating team uncovered only four alleged cases of rape – including that of Eman Al-Obaidi.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/songoftherushes/gaddafi-viagra-icc-charges-investigated_n_873447_91913823.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/libya-rape-claims-hysteria-investigator/story-fn3dxity-1226072781882
Every single case is of course too many, but it is irresponsible for the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo to make the wild sweeping statements he is making unless he has the evidence. Who is pulling the strings of the Chief Prosecutor? Where was he during the past few years when Permanent Members of the UN Security Council waged their own wars? What has Luis Moreno Ocampo done about the few UN peacekeepers who allegedly misbehaved? Did he bring the UN in front of the ICC? Does the Chief Prosecutor not realize that he is losing credibility and might be undermining his own case?
Mr Steve Sant
Jun 10th 2011, 19:44
He added a new word to our dictionary, FING. Meaning 'fornicate in the name of Gaddafi'.
Mr John O'Rourke
Jun 10th 2011, 16:56
For Christ sakes, people, switch on your brains! What seems to be more probable? That this insane rubbish is true just because CNN and BBC said so - while we know for sure that almost all things that were said about Gaddafi by Western politicians and most media outlets since the beginning of the attack against the sovereign state of Libya were at least not quite accurate? Or that when you have killed hundreds of people and destroyed everything in the country with no military infrastructure left but you are still intensifying bombings of densely populated districts of its capital in violation of all possible standards of international law (which was happening for the last several days and certainly purely accidentally coincided with the emergence of this new ’evidences’), you may be in need for another portion of lies and propaganda issued in an attempt to present those you are bombing as animals? Because when you are trying to justify your intensified onslaught simply by saying that “do not look at us - we have repeatedly warned that we would do so” it might look a little crazy even in our completely insane world.
Mr Paul Sciberras
Jun 10th 2011, 12:26
HA HA HA Is this another fairy tale similar to the one of the Weapons Of Mass Distruction.
Bill Khan
Jun 10th 2011, 18:37
Mr. Falzon, AlJazeera finds faults with every middle eastern countries except those favoured by the US/UK/France. Al Jazeera never seems to make any documentaries about the human right avuses in Qatar. When Al Jazeera was formed, an Arab friend told me the objective was to create a xchannel in the middle East which will have a credibility among the Arab polulation which no longer had any confidence in CNN and the BBC. He also told me of a number of Israelis working for the channel. Many refer to Al jazeera as 'Al khanzeera' ( the Pig). It is also alleged that Al jazeera is run from Israel. That may or may not be true but it seems that Al Jazeera does not act like an independent news channel. If you look objectively you will see what i mean. It moves with an agenda which is not dissimilar to that of the big
powers. An objective channel will try to put the stories from all sides. Al Jazeera does not appear to do that. It sensationalises the situation with an agenda of some sort.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 10th 2011, 19:31
@Bill Khan
Which other news agencies?
I'm sure you would not dare quote from Agence France Presse, CNN, EuroNews, RAI 3, etc., but would rather shun them and quote chapter and verse from SANA (the mouthpiece of the bloodthirsty Syrian regime) and JANA (the Gaddafi regime's propaganda agency), the latter two notorious for their blatant lies and brazen deceit!
We Maltese know where we stand, that is why our Government has wisely recognized the National Transitional Council of Libya as the Libyan's sole interlocutor and legitimate representative!
Even Russia, which stood by Gaddafi at the start of the uprising, has now acknowledged that the regime is on its way out and that the ruthless despot's days are numbered.
Gaddafi of Libya, Saleh of Yemen and Assad of Syria are on their way out, and their downfall is written on the wall.
The people of their respective country, akin to those of other lands in the Near and Middle East, will be able to turn a new chapter in the history of their country, and the repression and oppression with which these three brutal tyrants have now been associated will remain one of the darkest pages in their nation's history!
I have a feeling, Mr Khan, that you may be nostalgic of better days that the Green Revolution had experienced, but alas! Khadhafi's thirst for absolute power and lust for vain glory, lost as he is in blind illusions of grandeur, have left a people torn asunder, sweating blood, terrorized, destitute and struggling to survive in what are today ghost towns and villages reduced to rubble by his brutal armed forces!
Is it this you are trying to hide from us as a result of your nostalgia?!
You cannot turn the clock back, it's over!
Alfred Falzon
Jun 10th 2011, 11:29
Al Jazeera TV (English channel) is currently showing a gruesome documentary exposing in no uncertain way Gaddafi's crimes against humanity.
It is the latest shocking indictment against a brutal regime which knows no bounds in its butchering of innocent civilians who dared raise a cry for freedom and social justice.
Shame on those who are striving to camouflage his heineous violations of human rights.
Alfred Falzon
Jun 10th 2011, 13:04
Please note that the term "heineous" in the 5th line (last line) should be spelt "heinous".
The processing error is regretted.