Libya: Opposition Arbitrarily Detaining Suspected Gaddafi Loyalists

Libya: Opposition Arbitrarily Detaining Suspected Gaddafi Loyalists

(Tunis) – Libyan opposition authorities are arbitrarily detaining dozens of civilians suspected of activities in support of Muammar Gaddafi, Human Rights Watch said today. The opposition authorities, which exercise control in eastern Libya and parts of the west, should provide the detainees with full due process rights or release them, Human Rights Watch said.

The authorities should also bring volunteer security groups that have formed in the east under a recognized civilian authority and investigate their alleged abuses, Human Rights Watch said. One detainee of a volunteer group was apparently tortured to death in custody.

“There is no excuse to delay the rule of law in areas under opposition control,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should rein in volunteer security groups, establish a clear civilian authority for criminal justice, and make sure detainees get full due process rights.”

Arrests should be made only by civilian authorities based on concrete criminal charges backed by evidence, rather than on vague accusations of pro-Gaddafi activity, Human Rights Watch said. Civilian detainees should be informed of the grounds for their detention, have access to a lawyer, and be able to challenge the allegations before an independent judicial authority.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/06/05/libya-opposition-arbitrarily-detaining-suspected-gaddafi-loyalists

Chad says citizens abused in rebel-held Libya
Sun Apr 3, 2011 10:04pm GMT Print | Single Page <-> Text <+>
* Chad says citizens harassed, abused, executed

* Says dozens have known the "sad fate"

N'DJAMENA, April 3 (Reuters) - Chad on Sunday called on coalition forces to protect its citizens in rebel-held areas in Libya, saying dozens had been accused and executed for allegedly being mercenaries in the pay Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

When protests against Gaddafi's government led to violence in February, rebels said Gaddafi had brought in African mercenaries from countries such as Chad and Zimbabwe to help in the crackdown after Libyan troops proved unreliable.

"Since the beginning of the Libyan crisis, Chadians in Libya, especially those in areas controlled by the transitional national council, have been singled out," a statement from Chad's government spokesman Kalzeubet Pahimi Deubet said.

"Dozens of Chadians have known this sad fate," he said.

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFLDE7320JH20110403