Madam, – Your continuing reports on Libya should act as a spur to anybody interested in international peace and human rights. Once more in Europe’s near abroad innocent civilians are been slaughtered by a despot. It is encouraging that some Nato and UN Security Council members are considering meaningful action. There are a range of measures that could be taken. However, given the deployment of significant air power against the civilian population by this regime, anybody interested in the human rights of the Libyan people must see the need to address this urgently.
One can only wonder what the position of the Irish government is. While politicians have had a lot on their plate recently, surely it is to address this type of situation that people get involved in politics? The outgoing taoiseach, who also holds the Foreign Affairs portfolio, had time to campaign in an election and carry out other ceremonial functions, and indeed had several empty days in his diary.
Yet it appears that nobody in our government has had anything to say about this unfolding humanitarian and human rights tragedy. If political protocol was an issue a phone call to the opposition could surely have been made.
The leaders of our government have been completely silent on the events in Libya, how can this be acceptable? Indeed, at crucial EU meetings called to debate a common position on the matter, Ireland was represented by civil servants, unlike other EU countries who consistently send their ministers.
We hear a lot of talk about Irish foreign policy and its values: isn’t this crisis an opportunity to see some action? – Yours, etc,