1. Libya
Civil War & Transition 2011

2. Outline Historical Background Key Event Action of Intl’ Community
Characteristics of Libya Case
RtoP Criteria
Conclusion

3. Historical Background Basic Factors of Libya
North African country
Capital: Tripoli
Language: Arabic
Population: 5.7 million
Religion: 97% Muslim
Economy: Mainly depends on oil sector

4. Historical Background History of Libya
Occupied by Italians.
Occupied by British (Tripolitania & Cyrenaica) & French (Fezzan)
1951 Declared independence as United Kingdom of Libya
Kingdom of Libya (King Idris)
Under Gaddafi’s administration
2011-present National Transitional Council

5. Historical Background Libya Under Gaddafi Administration
In office:
Official leader of Libya Arab Republic
“Brother leader” of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Killed by NLA fighters on Oct 20, 2011(age 69)

6. Historical Background The Arab Spring (aka. Arab Awakening)
Began on Dec 18, 2010

7. Key Events Libyan Revolution (Feb-Oct, 2011)
UNSCR 1970
Feb 27
Establishment of NTC
Feb 15
Demonstration in Benghazi
Indiscriminate Attack against Civilians

8. Key Events Libyan Revolution (Feb-Oct, 2011)
Ending of NATO Campaign
Oct 17
Capture and Death of Gaddafi
Oct 23
Ending of Conflict declared by NTC
Mar 17
UNSCR 1973
Aug 23
Fall of Tripoli

9. Action of the Intl’ Community
UNSCR (Feb 26, 2011)
Recognition of NTC
UNSCR (Mar 17, 2011)

10. Action of the Intl’ Community UNSCR 1970
Unanimously adopted on 26 Feb
Demanded immediate cessation of violence
Non-violent sanctions (arms embargo, travel ban, asset freeze)
Referred the case to ICC

11. Action of the Intl’ Community Recognition of NTC
France (Mar 1)
“legitimate representative of the Libyan people”
Qatar, Maldives, Italy, Gambia, UK, Senegal, Jordan, Malta, Spain, Australia, UAE, Germany, Canada…..
UN recognition (Sep 16)
Arab League (Sep 20)

12. Action of the Intl’ Community UNSCR 1973
Approve 10
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Columbia, France, Gabon, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal, South Africa, UK, US
Abstain 5
Russia, China, Brazil, India, Germany
Opposed

13. Action of the Intl’ Community UNSCR 1973
Proposed by France, UK and Lebanon
Adopted on 17 March
Immediate ceasefire
Establishment of no-fly zone
Use all necessary measures for protecting civilians and civilian populated areas (without the consent of Libya)
No ground operation, in the limited duration

14. Action of the Intl’ Community Situation of the UN
2001 Report (ICISS)
2005 World Summit
“right” of intervention →“responsibility” to protect
“whether to act” →“how to act”
It became harder for states to stay aside

15. Action of the Intl’ Community Situation of the US
“Leading from behind”
Domestic and international cost of actions in Iraq and Afghanistan →reluctant to intervention
“America cannot use our military wherever repression occurs. And given the costs and risks of intervention, we must always measure our interests against the need for action.”
A lead role in the initial air strikes was assumed by France, and the entire operation was later handed over to NATO

16. Characteristics of Libyan Case
Extraordinary clarity of threat of mass atrocity crime
Role played by regional organizations
Taking one side (partiality)

17. Characteristics of Libyan Case Clarity of Mass Atrocity
“Officers have been deployed in all tribes and regions so that they can purify all decisions from cockroaches” (like Rwanda)
“All Libyan who takes army against Libya will be executed”
In the face of Gaddafi’s record and his public utterances, states couldn’t plausibly argue that the threat of mass atrocities was not real.
Benghazi’s imminent collapse showed the threat was imminent

18. Characteristics of Libyan Case Regional Organizations
The role of regional organizations had important meanings
Arab League, GCC, OIC supported no-fly zone
All African states in the Council supported UN Resolution 1973
China and Russia abstained (instead of using veto )
It changed US attitude from skepticism about intervention in Libya to forcible advocacy.

19. Characteristics of Libyan Case Taking One Side
One of genuine (impartiality)→ one of taking sides
Resolution 1973 was adopted not only for the protection of civilians, but also for the protection of “civilian populated areas”
It’s clear that international community took “one side” and restricted the movement of another.
With Libyan case, the Council is reasserting its right to point its finger at the “wrongdoer.”

20. RtoP Criteria Just Cause ◎ Right Intention ◎/△ Last Resort ◎
Proportional Means △
Reasonable Prospect
Legitimate Authority

21. RtoP Criteria Just Cause
Libyan government employed various war tools against demonstrations and funeral processions.
Security forces targeted paramedics.
Injured demonstrators were refused access to hospitals and ambulance transport.
etc.
Apprehended large scale loss of life.

22. RtoP Criteria Right Intention
Responsibility to protect Libyan civilian
Arab Spring - demand of democracy and social reform
Supporting NLA
*Political interests
to halt or avert humanitarian suffering supported by regional opinion and victims.

23. RtoP Criteria Last Resort
Statements denouncing Gaddafi’s atrocities
UNSCR 1970
International Criminal Court
Arrest warrant by Interpol
Absence of viable alternative non-military option

24. RtoP Criteria Proportional Means
Non-fly zone (Mar 17)
Regular Strike Mission
Duration: Feb 15 ~ Oct 23, 2011 (8 months and 8 days)
Casualties: 25,000 ~ 30,000 killed, 4,000 missing ( from both side)

25. RtoP Criteria Reasonable Prospect
Gaddafi’s unpopularity
Regional support
Foreseeable massacre in Benghazi
Imminent collapse of Benghazi
Viable military intervention and effective reduce of humanitarian suffering.

26. RtoP Criteria Legitimate Authority
UNSC adopted UNSCR 1973 with 10 approval, 5 abstention and 0 opposition.
Responsibility to Protect.

27. Conclusion Failure of Intl’ Community
Murder of Gaddafi
Accidental Injury of Civilian

28. Conclusion Current Situation of Libya
Run by NTC
Recognition of NTC by UN General Assembly with 114 approval, 17 opposition and 15 abstention.
Recovering

29. Thank you!!!!