[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1075-S1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN LIBYA
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 85, which was
introduced earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 85) strongly condemning the gross and
systematic violations of human rights in Libya, including
violent attacks on protesters demanding democratic reforms,
and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask the resolution be agreed to, the
preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be
printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 85) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
[[Page S1076]]
S. Res. 85
Whereas Muammar Gadhafi and his regime have engaged in
gross and systematic violations of human rights, including
violent attacks on protesters demanding democratic reforms,
that have killed thousands of people;
Whereas Muammar Gadhafi, his sons and supporters have
instigated and authorized violent attacks on Libyan
protesters using warplanes, helicopters, snipers and soldiers
and continue to threaten the life and well-being of any
person voicing opposition to the Gadhafi regime;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council and the
international community have condemned the violence and use
of force against civilians in Libya and on February 26, 2011,
the United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed to
refer the ongoing situation in Libya to the International
Criminal Court, impose an arms embargo on the Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya, including the provision of mercenary personnel,
freeze the financial assets of Muammar Gadhafi and certain
family members, and impose a travel ban on Gadhafi, certain
family members and senior advisors;
Whereas Muammar Gadhafi has ruled Libya for more than 40
years by banning and brutally opposing any individual or
group opposing the ideology of his 1969 revolution,
criminalizing the peaceful exercise of expression and
association, refusing to permit independent journalists' and
lawyers' organizations, and engaging in torture and
extrajudicial executions, including the 1,200 detainees
killed in Abu Salim Prison in June 1996;
Whereas Libya took formal responsibility for the terrorist
attack that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie,
Scotland, killing 270 people, 189 of whom were U.S. citizens
and high-ranking Libyan officials have indicated that Muammar
Gadhafi personally ordered the attack; and
Whereas Libya was elected to the United Nations Human
Rights Council on May 13, 2010 for a period of 3 years,
sending a demoralizing message of indifference to the
families of the victims of Pan Am flight 103 and Libyan
citizens that have endured repression, arbitrary arrest,
enforced disappearance or physical assault in their struggle
to obtain basic human and civil rights: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) applauds the courage of the Libyan people in standing
up against the brutal dictatorship of Muammar Gadhafi and for
demanding democratic reforms, transparent governance, and
respect for basic human and civil rights;
(2) strongly condemns the gross and systematic violations
of human rights in Libya, including violent attacks on
protesters demanding democratic reforms;
(3) calls on Muammar Gadhafi to desist from further
violence, recognize the Libyan people's demand for democratic
change, resign his position and permit a peaceful transition
to democracy governed by respect for human and civil rights
and the right of the people to choose their government in
free and fair elections;
(4) calls on the Gadhafi regime to immediately release
persons that have been arbitrarily detained, to cease the
intimidation, harassment and detention of peaceful
protestors, human rights defenders and journalists, to ensure
civilian safety, and to guarantee access to human rights and
humanitarian organizations;
(5) welcomes the unanimous vote of the United Nations
Security Council on resolution 1970 referring the situation
in Libya to the International Criminal Court, imposing an
arms embargo on the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, freezing the
assets of Gadhafi and family members, and banning
international travel by Gadhafi, members of his family, and
senior advisors;
(6) urges the Gadhafi regime to abide by United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1970 and ensure the safety of
foreign nationals and their assets, and to facilitate the
departure of those wishing to leave the country as well as
the safe passage of humanitarian and medical supplies,
humanitarian agencies and workers, into Libya in order to
assist the Libyan people;
(7) urges the United Nations Security Council to take such
further action as may be necessary to protect civilians in
Libya from attack, including the possible imposition of a no-
fly zone over Libyan territory;
(8) welcomes the African Union's condemnation of the
``disproportionate use of force in Libya'' and urges the
Union to take action to address the human rights crisis in
Libya and to ensure that member states, particularly those
bordering Libya, are in full compliance with the arms embargo
imposed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970
against the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including the ban on the
provision of armed mercenary personnel;
(9) welcomes the decision of the United Nations Human
Rights Council to recommend Libya's suspension from the
Council and urges the United Nations General Assembly to vote
to suspend Libya's rights of membership in the Council;
(10) welcomes the attendance of Secretary of State Clinton
at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva
and 1) urges the Council's assumption of a country mandate
for Libya that employs a Special Rapporteur on the human
rights situation in Libya and 2) urges the U.S. Ambassador to
the United Nations to advocate for improving United Nations
Human Rights Council membership criteria at the next United
Nations General Assembly in New York City to exclude gross
and systematic violators of human rights; and
(11) welcomes the outreach that has begun by the United
States Government to Libyan opposition figures and supports
an orderly, irreversible transition to a legitimate
democratic government in Libya.
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