Indian workers who were employed by a construction firm return home after being evacuated from Tripoli, because of the ongoing strife in Libya, at Indira Gandhi International airport, in New Delhi on February 27. Meanwhile, three Indian Navy ships have also sailed to Libya to help in the evacuation of the 18,000 Indians in the country, according to news reports. (AP Photo)
NEW Delhi, February 27 (Agencies): The dawn of Sunday brought more than 500 Indians here from Libya with tales of suffering and killings in the strife-torn country. Some said they had gone without food and water and vowed never to return. Relieved family members hugged and kissed those who flew in on two Air India flights. Almost all those who escaped from the turmoil in Libya left behind all their assets and jobs. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao received the evacuated Indians at the airport.
The first flight, a Boeing 737, carried 291 Indians and the second, an Airbus A330, had 237 on board. While the Boeing landed at about midnight, the second came around 4.10 a.m. Most of those who flew in Sunday were from Tripoli and had been the first to reach the Indian embassy in the Libyan capital. They admitted that most of the trouble was outside Tripoli. Sajjan Lal, a doctor, said many Indians underwent agony in the last few days, with even water and food supplies being snapped in the turmoil that has seen anti-government protests and the regime of Muammar Gaddafi hitting back. Over 1,000 people are reported to have been killed in the violence.
“There was no water to drink, no food supply,” Lal told reporters. Another Indian, Mohammed Sali, said he and some other Indians did not have anything to eat for four or five days. “Somehow we escaped” the rampaging mobs, he said. Another woman who did not give her name insisted she would never go back to Libya, even if peace returned to the country. Sunday’s flights are the first in a series meant to evacuate some 18,000 Indians in Libya, which has seen massive anti-Gaddafi protests since the middle of February. Opposition groups have taken over some cities and have vowed to bring down Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya since 1969.
“The trouble was mainly outside Tripoli. We were not involved in the trouble but feared it could affect us in Tripoli in the near future,” said one of the passengers. Minister Ahamed said arrangements had been made to help the returning Indians reach their hometowns at government cost. Rao said she visited the airport to receive “our citizens”. Officials said the Indians who flew home were provided food and allowed to telephone their families. Meanwhile, three Indian Navy ships have sailed to Libya to help in the evacuation of the Indians. The external affairs ministry said a passenger ship, now in the Mediterranean Sea, had been chartered for evacuation and was expected to reach Benghazi Monday.
INS Jalashwa and INS Mysore have medical facilities on board, including operation theatres, doctors and paramedical staff. They set sail from Mumbai. The ships are also carrying helicopters and Special Forces personnel. Another ship, INS Aditya, is accompanying the rescue ships to provide them logistics support. The rescue fleet is expected to reach Libya in 10 days, an official said.
The first flight, a Boeing 737, carried 291 Indians and the second, an Airbus A330, had 237 on board. While the Boeing landed at about midnight, the second came around 4.10 a.m. Most of those who flew in Sunday were from Tripoli and had been the first to reach the Indian embassy in the Libyan capital. They admitted that most of the trouble was outside Tripoli. Sajjan Lal, a doctor, said many Indians underwent agony in the last few days, with even water and food supplies being snapped in the turmoil that has seen anti-government protests and the regime of Muammar Gaddafi hitting back. Over 1,000 people are reported to have been killed in the violence.
“There was no water to drink, no food supply,” Lal told reporters. Another Indian, Mohammed Sali, said he and some other Indians did not have anything to eat for four or five days. “Somehow we escaped” the rampaging mobs, he said. Another woman who did not give her name insisted she would never go back to Libya, even if peace returned to the country. Sunday’s flights are the first in a series meant to evacuate some 18,000 Indians in Libya, which has seen massive anti-Gaddafi protests since the middle of February. Opposition groups have taken over some cities and have vowed to bring down Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya since 1969.
“The trouble was mainly outside Tripoli. We were not involved in the trouble but feared it could affect us in Tripoli in the near future,” said one of the passengers. Minister Ahamed said arrangements had been made to help the returning Indians reach their hometowns at government cost. Rao said she visited the airport to receive “our citizens”. Officials said the Indians who flew home were provided food and allowed to telephone their families. Meanwhile, three Indian Navy ships have sailed to Libya to help in the evacuation of the Indians. The external affairs ministry said a passenger ship, now in the Mediterranean Sea, had been chartered for evacuation and was expected to reach Benghazi Monday.
INS Jalashwa and INS Mysore have medical facilities on board, including operation theatres, doctors and paramedical staff. They set sail from Mumbai. The ships are also carrying helicopters and Special Forces personnel. Another ship, INS Aditya, is accompanying the rescue ships to provide them logistics support. The rescue fleet is expected to reach Libya in 10 days, an official said.
India backs UN sanctions against Libya
UNITED NATIONS, February 27 (Agencies): India joined other UN Security Council members to back sanctions against Libya and to refer the bloody crackdown on anti-government protests to the International Criminal Court. The Council late Saturday voted 15-0 to adopt Resolution 1970 imposing a comprehensive arms embargo and a travel ban and to freeze assets on the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya since 1969. This is the first time a country has been unanimously referred to the International Criminal Court by the Security Council.
Council members called for full implementation of the sanctions in a bid to stop Gaddafi from further killing civilians seeking his ouster. Over 1,000 people are reported to have been killed in anti-government protests in Libya since the middle of February. Explaining India’s vote, Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri said as India was not a member of the International Criminal Court, it would have preferred a calibrated and gradual approach. Of the 192 members of the UN, only 114 are members of the court, he noted. Five of the 15 members of the Council, including three permanent members, are not parties to the Rome Statute.
“We, however, note that several members of the Council, including our colleagues from Africa and the Middle East, believe that such a referral would have the effect of immediate cessation of violence and restoration of calm and stability,” Puri said. Noting that a letter from the permanent representative of Libya Saturday also called for such a referral, he said: “We have, therefore, gone along with the consensus in the Council.” India, Puri said, has followed with serious concern the developments in Libya. “We deplore the use of force, which is totally unacceptable. We earnestly hope that calm and stability are restored at the earliest without any further violence,” he said.
Expressing concerns about the safety of Indians and their assets in Libya, Puri urged the authorities there to ensure their safety and welfare and facilitate the departure of those desirous of leaving the country. Libya’s UN Ambassador Abdurrahim Shalgham welcomed the resolution as a “moral support” for protesters. “The regime no longer has credibility,” Shalgham told the council. “This resolution will be a signal to end the fascist regime. I urge the Libyans to renounce Gaddafi and denounce his criminal behaviour.”
Council members called for full implementation of the sanctions in a bid to stop Gaddafi from further killing civilians seeking his ouster. Over 1,000 people are reported to have been killed in anti-government protests in Libya since the middle of February. Explaining India’s vote, Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri said as India was not a member of the International Criminal Court, it would have preferred a calibrated and gradual approach. Of the 192 members of the UN, only 114 are members of the court, he noted. Five of the 15 members of the Council, including three permanent members, are not parties to the Rome Statute.
“We, however, note that several members of the Council, including our colleagues from Africa and the Middle East, believe that such a referral would have the effect of immediate cessation of violence and restoration of calm and stability,” Puri said. Noting that a letter from the permanent representative of Libya Saturday also called for such a referral, he said: “We have, therefore, gone along with the consensus in the Council.” India, Puri said, has followed with serious concern the developments in Libya. “We deplore the use of force, which is totally unacceptable. We earnestly hope that calm and stability are restored at the earliest without any further violence,” he said.
Expressing concerns about the safety of Indians and their assets in Libya, Puri urged the authorities there to ensure their safety and welfare and facilitate the departure of those desirous of leaving the country. Libya’s UN Ambassador Abdurrahim Shalgham welcomed the resolution as a “moral support” for protesters. “The regime no longer has credibility,” Shalgham told the council. “This resolution will be a signal to end the fascist regime. I urge the Libyans to renounce Gaddafi and denounce his criminal behaviour.”
