Rabat – British NGO Amnesty International on Friday, August 7, published advice that, if followed, could undermine years of peace-making in Libya. A report by the NGO concluded that the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) “must” prosecute its former opponents, instead of reconciling with them.
While Amnesty International’s assertions on a collective of Haftar-aligned militias are undoubtedly correct, the NGO’s calls to prosecute specific elements of the GNU’s former military foe threatens any real effort to bring together the two sides after nearly a decade of brutal fighting.
A “truth and reconciliation” committee that addresses crimes committed during the country’s civil war is part of the UN’s proposed methods to conflict resolution.
However, prematurely prosecuting one side of the conflict is an altogether different matter. Despite the West’s role in igniting and worsening the Libyan conflict over the past decade, meddling from London appears to still not be considered inappropriate.
One-sided prosecution
The main reason behind Amnesty’s “recommendation” appears to stem from the NGO uncovering horrific crimes committed by the Haftar-aligned Internal Security Agency (ISA), a collective of several militias that have committed atrocities during the conflict.
While the ISA’s crimes are beyond dispute, prosecuting just one side before a truly national political balance has been established, could undermine years of peace-making efforts.
Amnesty International is calling on the GNU to not “legitimize” the militia by integrating it in its bureaucratic structure, without considering the consequences of such an act.
Only once Libya reaches a political equilibrium, which integrates combattants from both sides without prejudice, can a true nationwide reconciliation process begin. Pushing for the prosecution of one militia now, appears to completely neglect the continued influence of Haftar, and the razor-thin line between peace and war.
Minimizing crimes committed by others
Furthermore, prosecuting the ISA now in isolation, as Amnesty recommends, would create the perception that the GNU is minimizing the atrocities committed by its own militias.
The GNU’s allies and militias have been anything but compliant with the Geneva convention themselves. One example of the scope of the blame that lies on both sides of the conflict was last year’s kidnapping of the GNU’s anti-corruption officer by a militia linked with the interior ministry of the Tripoli-based government.
The thinking behind Amnesty’s report appears to be the NGO’s shock at the cruelty its latest report uncovered. Several Amnesty staff members held interviews with the victims of the ISA’s horrible crimes. Shocked by the testimonies, Amnesty published its report without considering the full context, in which both sides have committed horrific atrocities during Libya’s bloody civil war.
There will be a moment when Libya can confront its past and provide a platform that can effectively confront crimes committed by both sides. Attempting to do so against only one element of the conflict amid a highly volatile political process, is likely to undermine progress made recently and even possibly lead to renewed fighting.
