In recent weeks we have watched the rising violence in Libyia with anguish: unarmed civilians killed and injured with weapons sold by our country, and with growing unease we have once more heard the arguments for a "humanitarian war". Now there's a UN resolution that authorises the use of military force, including "all necessary measure". The Wall Street Journal quotes Pentagon officials who speak of using Cruise missiles. We know only too well the price that will be paid in "collateral damage" for this type of strategy.
We reject any military intervention by NATO or any country which has the pretext of of resolving this conflict by military force.
We maintain that states and organisations that have up to now supported interventions against civilian populations, as in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Chechnia, etc or who have trafficked in arms and negotiated with dictators do not have the moral authority to act as "saviours" in the Libyan conflict. We consider these countries jointly responsible for the crimes against civil society.
We maintain that states and organisations that have up to now supported interventions against civilian populations, as in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Chechnia, etc or who have trafficked in arms and negotiated with dictators do not have the moral authority to act as "saviours" in the Libyan conflict. We consider these countries jointly responsible for the crimes against civil society. The wave of civil resistance that has mobilised the Mediterranean basin from Maghreb to Machrek is sending the world a message that goes beyond a protest against dictatorial regimes supported up to now by the western world. Now they are shouting "We've had enough of hypocrisy and interventions for economic and strategic interests!"
For this reason the Women in Black call on the European governments and our own government to change their policy to peace, a policy of peace that no army should be sent to defend. We call for a policy that brings social justice and democracy and that is free from the pressure of other governments and multinationals. It should include the sovereignty of the pople and Esso dovrebbe includere anche la sovranità del popolo and avoid any discrimination against any woman or man in the society. It means a policy of peace without weapons.
Only the women and men of Libya should play the leading role in determining their present and future. It is they who must decide if mediators are needed to end the conflict.
We know from experience that only aid without intervention can be useful. For this reason, we invite all governments, implicated in in the sale of arms to Ghaddafi, Ben Ali and Mubarak to immediately send humanitarian aid to all refuges who are now fleeing Libya, when it is asked for by the population.
Last but not least, we ask that our mass media should show full respect and transparency when dealing with the complex reality of the civil resistance movement and the situation of the civilian population. We ask them to avoid the tendency to present news from the militaristic standpoint and from the standpoint of western interests.
Violence generates more violence. Let's avoid a military intervention that could generate more violence!
