By Hadi Fornaji.
Tunis, 14 June 2016:
The UN human rights organisation UNHCR has called on the Government of National Accord in Tripoli to carry out an investigation into the murder last week of 12 Qaddafi-era soldiers and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The investigation must be “effective, thorough and impartial”, it insists.
“A complete disregard for human life and breakdown in the rule of law continue to prevail in many parts of Libya,” UNHCR said a statement issued today.
Noting that the victims had been beaten and tortured, with burn marks on their bodies, their hands and feet tied, and shot several times, UNHCR also warned that the case may be taken up by the International Criminal Court.
“Torture and attacks against civilians are crimes under international law,” OHCHR stressed, urging the Libyan authorities to investigate promptly.
The GNA has in fact already ordered an inquiry but its ability to find the facts and publish them will be severely limited. The GNA is dependent on militias for its security and it is widely believed that it was members of one of these militias that killed the 12.
According to Ali Al-Saadi, the head of the Ruwaimi prison where the victims had been held, they had been handed over to their families following a court order to release them. However, this has not been confirmed by the families who identified the bodies.
UN Special Envoy Martin Kober has already called for an investigation which, he says, should have international involvement.
