Las Naciones Unidas impone sanciones a Gadhafi
Por unanimidad las Naciones Unidas el Sabado en la noche impuso sanciones contra Libia que incluyen un embargo de armas, una recomendacion de sus lideres a la Corte Criminal Internacional, asi como saciones financieras y de comercio contra Gadhafi y su circulo, esfuerzos que se esperan eviten mas muertes civiles en ese pais.
Ademas todos los paises deben congelar los bienes y cuentas de Gadhafi.
U.N. Imposes Sanctions on Gadhafi
By JOE LAURIA
The United Nations Security Council Saturday night unanimously imposed an arms embargo on Libya, referred its leaders to the International Criminal Court and slapped financial and trade sanctions on Col. Moammar Gadhafi and his inner circle in an effort to stop them from killing more Libyan civilians.
"Widespread and systematic attacks currently taking place in Libya against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity" and "those responsible for the attacks" must be held accountable, the resolution said. More than a thousand protestors have been killed in the government's violent response to a popular rebellion against 42 years of Col. Gadhafi autocratic rule.
A man dressed as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi takes part in a protest against Gadhafi in Benghazi on Saturday.
.The U.K., France, Germany and U.S. spent eight hours overcoming opposition in the council by several countries to the ICC referral. Diplomats said a letter from Libya's ambassador to the U.N., who has defected to the opposition, that supported an ICC investigation into possible crimes against humanity by Col. Gadhafi and his closest associates committed since Feb. 15, helped sway the holdouts.
Diplomats said the threat of war crimes investigations might push those closest to Col. Gadhafi to abandon him.
Against the backdrop of the rapid pace of events in Libya the measures enacted will take days or weeks to take effect, as the Libyan authorities have stockpiled weapons and cash, diplomats said. Nevertheless, the move is seen as a relatively swift response in U.N. terms.
"When atrocities are committed against innocents, the international community must act with one voice, and tonight it has," said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. She said "targeting Libya's unrepentant leadership sends a clear warning that the killing must stop."
The Security Council action gives international legitimacy to U.S. sanctions announced this week and President Obama's call on Saturday for Col. Gadhafi to step down, defusing the Libyan leader's rhetoric that U.S. imperialism is seeking to undermine his rule.
The Indian ambassador, one of the holdouts for referral to the ICC, told the council after the vote that India would have preferred a "calibrated and gradual approach" but the letter from the Libyan ambassador calling for swift action "strengthened this view and we decided to go along."
Russia and China, which traditionally oppose Security Council interference in the internal affairs of a nation lest it set a precedent that might be used against them in their struggles against breakaway provinces, supported referral to the court because of the severity of Libya's response, diplomats said.
Libya's deputy U.N. ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi, who broke with the regime earlier this week, accused it of being "fascist" and called on more members of the Libyan armed forces to join the revolt. "The Tripoli regime no longer has any legitimacy and this resolution gives moral support to our people who are resisting," Mr. Dabbashi said.
The arms embargo, which comes into effect immediately, involves both imports and exports. Banned are "weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts." Also prohibited is technical assistance, training and "the provision of armed mercenary personnel."
The arms ban is directed against Libyan authorities, allowing the future possibility of arming of anti-government forces.
The resolution calls on nations to inspect "all cargo to and from Libya, in their territory, including seaports and airports if [there are] reasonable grounds to believe the cargo contains the supply, sale, transfer, or export" of items which are banned. Any contraband found must be seized and destroyed and reported to the U.N.
All nations must also immediately freeze assets in their country held by Libyan leaders named in the resolution.
Among those listed are Col. Gadhafi and ten members of his family, including his sons Khamis, commander of the Khamis Brigade; Mohammed Muammar, who runs the country's post and telecommunications company; Mutassim, the national security advisor; Saadi, Special Forces commander; Saif al-Islam for "inflammatory public statements encouraging violence against demonstrators" and his daughter Aisha Muammar for "closeness of association with the regime."
Col. Abdullah al-Senussi, Col. Gadhafi's brother-in-law and director of military intelligence; Maj. Gen. Abu Bakr Yunis Jabir, the defense minister; Col. Mas'ud Abdulhafiz, armed forces commander and Mohammed Abduissalam, head of counter-terrorism are among the 22 individuals named.
They were found to be involved in the "commission of serious human rights abuses against persons in Libya" or in "planning, commanding, ordering or conducting attacks, in violation of international law, including aerial bombardments, on civilian populations," the resolution says.
The government-run Libyan Investment Authority has numerous overseas investments. Among them are a 2.5% stake in UniCredit, Italy's largest bank. The Libyan Central Bank holds a further 4.9% stake in UniCredit. The Authority also owns 3.1% of Pearson, the global media company, 7.5% of the Italian football club Juventus, owns real estate in London and is reported to have about $500 million in U.S. banks.
The Security Council committee set up to monitor the sanctions will consider exemptions to the financial ban, such as allowing funds needed to pay living expenses, taxes, legal services, liens or judgments rendered before Saturday or to receive payment on existing contracts.
The blacklisted leaders are also subject to a foreign travel ban. No country may permit them entering their territory. The committee will consider exemptions for humanitarian reasons, religious obligations, to appear in court, or if traveling would further Libyan national reconciliation, the resolution said.
"This is the beginning of a new era in international relation," said Gerard Araud, France's ambassador to the U.N. "The earthquake [in the region] has reached New York."
The resolution demands an immediate end of the violence and calls on Libyan authorities to respect human rights, allow international human-rights monitors access, guarantee delivery of humanitarian supplies and aid workers, immediately lift media restrictions and ensure all foreign nationals be allowed to leave the country.
"The Security Council tonight rose to the occasion and showed leaders worldwide that it will not tolerate the vicious repression of peaceful protesters," said Richard Dicker, Director of Human Rights Watch's international justice program. "Gadhafi's henchmen are now on notice that if they give, tolerate or obey orders to fire on peaceful protesters they may find themselves in The Hague."
This is the second time the Security Council has referred a head of state to the criminal court. In 2005, the council also referred Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's president, who was later indicted by the court on war crimes and genocide charges.