Sanction against Libya will not end Gadhafi’s Reign of Terror

By: LENG Bun Meng 


Security Council has unanimously voted to impose sanction against Libya because of Moamar Gadhafi’s violent crackdown on the innocent protesters by means of using machine gun to fire live ammunition, using bombing planes and helicopters to bombard the protesters. The sanction is to pressure Gadhafi to step down. The main question is “Will the sanction be able to make Gadhafi resign?” In my view, I doubt it. Sanction alone will not help Libya but only destroy the Libyan people.

Throughout the course of history, how many times has sanction imposed against a country work effectively? For instance, Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi government is known to have survived for more than 10 years despite the sanction until the invasion of the United States. Sanction against Burma and North Korea are other clear examples. The leaders of Burma and North Korea show no sign of backing down. The bottom line is that the Libyan government would not collapse even with sanction because Gadhafi can still do business in black market as Saddam did. He can still reign in his throne, killing and oppressing many more civilians.    

Furthermore, sanction against Libya will only harm the lives of many more innocent lives. Let’s take Iraq as an example. The sanction did not hurt Saddam and his top elite but only starved a massive number of innocent Iraqi people to death. Saddam could still kill those who oppose him; Saddam could still kill more women and children. Gadhafi can do the same thing. 

Gadhafi has crossed the border and arrived at a point where there is no way of turning back. Gadhafi’s scenario is completely different from Mubarak’s. If Gadhafi decides to step down as Mubarak did, he will definitely face trial in the International Criminal Court, charged with crime against humanity and war crime. If he wants to live in exile, which country would allow an international criminal to stay? As a Chinese quote says: “A dog at deadlock has no choice but to bite back.”, Gadhafi will not give up his power easily without a tough fight. He will do whatever it takes to keep his position even if he has to kill his own people again.

The future of Libya is in a dark prospect more than ever. The Security Council must consider military intervention in Libya before it is too late. It appears that civil war in the country with the population of just 6 million is inevitable. If civil law really happens, bloodbath and annihilation is to be foreseen.