MP Azwer tells Parliament:

Attack on Libya causes worldwide anger

Text of the speech made in Parliament by UPFA National List MP, AHM Azwer on the Adjournment motion moved by him on the Libyan crisis

“The Military attack presently carried on in the Libyan Jamahiriya has caused great consternation and bewilderment throughout the world.

The indiscriminate bombings by the Western Alliance have already caused loss of human lives and destruction to places of worship and other buildings.

The military intervention in Libya by the joined forces of America, the UK and France has raised a huge uproar throughout the world. This is an act of blatant violation of the UN Charter. Some of these countries responsible for death of over one and a half million civilians in Iraq and in Afghanistan were also accomplices on the crimes against the Palestinian people.

They stand by and watch as the Zionist Israelis massacre innocent Palestinians. This has been continuing for over five decades.

The international media opines that the military intervention in Libya is directed both to secure access to oil resources and to bring strong military presence in this region which would be a potential danger to the Arab and Muslim World in the future.

United Nations Charter

The conscience of the world community is highly disturbed by this deliberate violation of human rights and the violation of the United Nations Charter on Non-interference on the internal affairs of other countries.

This Parliament therefore appeals to all people and Governments to cry an immediate halt to the attack carried on by the Western Alliance on Libya and also recognize the honour, dignity and the freewill of the people of the Libyan Jamahiriya to decide their future course of action by themselves. The Almighty God has not abdicated His Almighty power and given that power to any nation to invade another country and carry on aggression in that country. Now, this is being done by the so-called superpowers. The whole world is crying out: “Stop it, stop it!” They want this to be stopped. Now, what is happening in Libya? It is rather sad. It is a challenge to the right-thinking people of the world, the common sense and the conscience of the people and it is an affront to world peace and justice.

LTTE terrorism

In a country, if somebody wants to change the ruler, the administration or the government, it is purely the business of the people of that country to do so. There was this war - LTTE terrorism - in our country for the last 30 years completely endangering our lives and almost threatened the annihilation of the nation. Now, suppose, if some so-called super power came to Prabhakaran’s place and said, “Stop the war” and if our President did not heed to such request, what would be the fate of this country? Now, this is the real threat that people all over are facing.

You look back at Egypt 60 years ago, there was King Farouk. He was overthrown via a military coup by the Free Officers Movement of Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1952. Later, they both were Presidents at various times. Now, that is the will of the people; the people rose up and deposed the King of that country. The Shah of Iran, Muhammed Reza Phalavi too suffered the same fate in 1979.

Western interests

What is happening in Libya today is the continuity of imperialism, which malady has spread over the globe after the collapse of colonialism. The oilfields offer grand incentives for the imperialist forces to move in under the guise of protecting the masses of that country.

Evidently, vested interest in usurping the Black Gold which are awaiting to be reaped.

Western interests are foremost when it comes to establish so-called democracy in specific Middle-Eastern countries.

We see the fate of the poor Palestinians who are massacred by Israel, day in and day out. Where is justice there? It is really double standard in weighing justice.

If you apply the same yardstick that the Western powers are applying in Libya today, who is the power that will bomb Israel? These are questions the people must ask.

The world must rise up. No more can the people sleep.

What is so sensitive about establishing democracy in Libya? There is hardly a whimper from the West as far as those autocracies are concerned.

Now, there is a new disease that is spreading in the ranks of the United National Party. The UNP is always an enemy of anyone who is a friend of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Muammar al-Gaddafi, King Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia and all the others including Hosni Mubarak, Dr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa of Qatar, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE, Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa of Bahrain, Sheikh Salim al-Sabah of Kuwait, Sultan bin Qabood of Oman are all friends of our President; no doubt, they are all friends of Sri Lanka. These friendships are based on the concept of the ‘Mahinda Chinthana - Nawa Dekma’. That is the clear foreign policy that this Government is following now. Whether it be the West or the East, we are friends of all.

During the war, America up to Japan, India, Pakistan, all these countries helped us at the crucial stages.

Recently the President commissioned the Norachcholai Coal Power Plant. There was a time we were without oil. We were to be sunk in darkness. At that time Iran helped us. We cannot forget this timely help. After all, we are human beings.

That is the majestic quality of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. These friends therefore, automatically turn out to be enemies of UNP. That is why they are against Hosni Mubarak and Muammar al-Gaddafi. If the people of Libya wanted a change in leadership, they could do on their own will.

Now, this Mahinda Chinthana has been tested thrice over in the country.

People gave their mandate after mandate at several elections. Presidential Election, Parliamentary Election, Local Government Election, and now, quite recently in the Pradeshiya Sabha Election. People are voting for President Mahinda Rajapaksa into power in accordance with this Mahinda Chinthana.

I always carry a copy of this document wherever I go. If somebody would dare come and say you are staying too long in that position and therefore get out, as self-respecting people could we do it? Nonsense!

Grass-roots level

Now, I would like to ask what the Opposition is doing to assert its defiance against such atrocities in Libya and other places in the Middle East. There are also UNP people who desist imperialism at grass-roots level. Where are the free media people now? When there is a fall of a leaf, they jump into the compound of the Fort Railway Station.

The Fort Railway Station and the Lipton Circus are ghost-ridden with such UNP stalwarts and the free media is silent today. But, I must emphasize here, Sir, the Muslim Media Forum led by N M Ameen, a well-known senior journalist had issued a very fine statement containing imperialist aggression on Libya. It states, I quote: "Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum vehemently condemns the brutal attack on 'Libya by the US-NATO forces. It is reported that hundreds of innocent people have been killed..." by American bombing. It further states, I quote:

"....and even hospitals have been bombed. It is no doubt that this illegal military operation is intent upon establishing US/Western hegemony in North Africa".Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa, It is evident that the armed insurgency in Libya was directly supported by foreign powers to topple Ghaddafi regime and take control of Libyan oil reserve.

US and NATO military advisors and special forces were already on the ground. The operation was planned to coincide with the protest movement in neighboring Arab countries. Public opinion was led to believe that the protest movement had spread spontaneously from Tunisia and Egypt to Libya.

Oil reserves

An invasion of Libya under a humanitarian mandate would serve the same corporate interest as the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq. The underlying objective is to take possession of Libya's oil reserves, destabilize the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and eventually privatize the country's oil industry, namely transfer the control and ownership of Libya's oil well into foreign hands.

The heads of state and heads of government of NATO countries are the architects of war and destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. In an utterly twisted logic, they are heralded as the voices of reason, as the representatives of the "international community".

We call upon all peace-loving people of the world to stand united against this heinous crime against humanity by the so-called super powers under the pretext of safeguarding human rights".

Therefore, the All Ceylon Jammiyethul Ulema has issued a very fine statement and also the President of the Ulama Katchchi, Alhaj Moulavi Mubarak Abdul Majeed has also issued a statement. This is not purely a Muslim affair. But, we and the Moulavis, are expected to pray for world peace, for the salvation of humanity. To page 10