Advocating Constitutional Democracy in Libya

January 30, 2009

Maria Luisa Chavez

Chief of NGO Relations

C/O: NGO Resource Center

Room: GA-37

New York, NY 10017

Re: Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity and Development

Dear Ms. Chavez:

The American Libyan freedom Alliance (ALFA) was founded in September, 2003, and registered as a nonprofit organization in the State of Virginia, USA.   ALFA is dedicated to promotion of democracy and human rights in Libya.  Pursuant to the stated mission of ALFA, we have conducted numerous activities, designed to promote awareness of the abysmal human rights conditions in Libya.

As you might be aware that Libya became independent on December 24, 1952, largely through the efforts of the United Nations, which, prior to Libya’s independence, actively participated in writing its 1951 Constitution.  On September 1, 1969, Muammar Gaddafi and a handful of junior officers staged a military and deposed the democratically elected government of Libya, and annulled its UN-authored Constitution. Gaddafi has ruled Libya through a series of decrees for the past 39 years.  As a result of Gaddafi's ruthless and violent practices in the country, thousands of professional Libyans have left their homeland and settled in other countries

Over the years, Libyans in the Diaspora have expressed their opposition to the dictatorship in Libya, and demanded return to constitutional democracy, and respect for human rights.  As voices and demands of Libyans for the return to the Libyan Constitution of 1951, and for establishment of institutions of civil society, have become louder and more organized, Gaddafi had moved to mute those voices, through creation of a "Constitution," tailored to his specifications, and aimed to prolonging his rule; furthermore, Gaddafi approved the creation of two entities, supposedly dedicated to advocacy of human rights; one headed by his daughter, Aisha and bears the name “Waatasimu”; and the second, headed by one of his sons, Seif El Islam, bearing the name, Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, no other similar institutions exist in the country.  Both of these entities are directly funded by the Government of their father; both of those two entities own companies and possess millions of dollars at their disposal, hardly typical of a not for profit organization. 

Gaddafi senior is using both of the aforementioned entities to whitewash his tarnished image after many years of engaging in bloody violence inside and outside Libya.  For example, 1200 political prisoners, who were held captive in Abuslim prison, on the outskirts of Tripoli, were massacred in cold blood within a matter of a few hours on June 28, 1996. Gaddafi junior, Seif El Islam, is using his “Foundation” to market himself as a credible statesman and heir-apparent to the throne of Libya, once his father’s rule ends.  For the United Nations, of all international institutions to grant legitimacy to a regime which has robbed Libya’s of its freedom, and annulled its UN-authored Constitution, is incomprehensible.  I urge you to reconsider your decision in giving legitimacy to an illegitimate entity; such an act would compromise the United Nations commitment to freedom, the rule of law, and the noble principle of NGOs, Non Government Organizations.

Sincerely,

Mohamed M. Bugaighis, Ph.D.

Chairman, ALFA

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ALFA, P.O. Box 22262, Lehigh Valley, PA 18002, USA; website: http://www.alfa-online.net

Telephone: 610 703 1382, e-mail: info@alfa-online.net