Prague, September 5th 2008
For the first time in more than half
a century, American secretary of state is in Libya. Condoleezza Rice
arrived there on Friday to meet with the man whom Ronald Reagan famously
called the "mad dog of the Middle East." But Mohammed Eljahmi, brother of
one of the most prominent Libyan dissidents, Fathi Eljahmi, warns that
Colonel Qaddafi did not change. His brother faces death, held for years in
Libyan jail.
HN: Do you think the conditions for
political prisoners have changed for the better, during Qaddafi´s new era
of good relations with the West?
The Libyan regime has benefited from
good relations with the West but not the Libyan people. The same
oppressive conditions that promote radicalism, hatred and division within
Libya exist today. In Libya membership in or formation of a political
party or independent labor union are crimes punishable by death. Also,
according to the Collective Punishment Law a family, tribe, city or an
entire region are punished when individual(s) oppose the manifesto of
Colonel Qadhafi. The Collective Punishment Law was passed in 1997 under
the name "Honor Law", it remains in effect and enforceable. State Security
or the Revolutionary Committees have the power to imprison, punish or kill
political opponents of the regime. All peaceful political opponents have
suffered a similar fate, disappearance, long term imprisonment, torture or
death.
HN: What is the situation with your
brother Fathi now?
My brother Fathi is currently held
incommunicado at Tripoli Medical Center.
He was last seen over a month ago.
He is held in isolation in a small room with no access to Radio, TV or
newspapers. He is not allowed to walk outside the room and two guards
stand outside the room 24 hours per day. The room is bugged with Audio and
Video devices and visitation is only approved by Libyan Security and the
Qadhafi Foundation with direct orders from Colonel Qadhafi.
Fathi is not the only case; there
are thousands of political prisoners whose fate is unknown. In Libya there
are also hidden prisons that are run by Revolutionary Committees and State
Security. Recently, the cases of Jamal Hajji and Idris Boufayed have
received attention; both dissidents received stiff prisons sentences up to
25 years in prison for voicing a desire to participate in a peaceful
public protest in Tripoli.
The Libyan regime has also stated,
Fathi will be liquidated at the end of President Bush's term in office,
Recently, Saif al-Islam Qadhafi has privately demanded that the Jahmi
tribe disavow and disown Fathi Eljahmi and if they do they will be
rewarded financially but if they don't they risk Collective Punishment.
Historically, the Libyan Regime has sought tribal disownment before
liquidating a political opponent.
HN: Do you think US is right, when
it says Libya is a model for Iran or North Korea, for how to improve their
relations with the world?
Libya is not a model of success. It
is a model where the West has traded the Liberty of the Libyan people with
stability of the Qadhafi regime. I believe this decision will have future
implication for the West, because Colonel Qadhafi cannot be trusted and as
Senator Biden aptly stated, Colonel Qadhafi's change of policies has not
been met with an equal change of heart.
HN: So, in your opinion, it is not a
good thing for U.S. to open full diplomatic relations with Libya? Can the
Qaddafi regime change thanks to it?
The US is wrong in pursuing full
diplomatic relations with the Qadhafi regime. After five years of
engagement with Libya, the Bush Administration has harmed US credibility
and the cause of human rights in Libya. First, the Administration failed
to engage Libyan society and it appears its Lead diplomat pursues the
engagement on an Ad Hoc basis. Second it failed to display the needed
resolve in dealing with Qadhafi, who has bought his way out of committing
terror crimes against Americans. It is naive to think that Colonel Qadhafi
is capable of understanding the concept of good will in International
Relation. The Libyan ruler has not changed; he is a Messianic Megalomaniac
who claims to have solutions to all problems of mankind. His sons are not
any different.
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