Libyan ambassador to RI quits as protest against Qaddafi

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 02/22/2011

Libyan Ambassador to Indonesia Salaheddin M. El Bishari tendered his resignation on Tuesday as a protest against the brutal acts of Moammar Qaddafi.

“As a response to what’s going on in my country, I have submitted my resignation as secretary of Libyan People’s Burea in Indonesia . It’s effective today (Tuesday), El Bishari told The Jakarta Post in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

In a typical Qaddafi’s regime, Libyan embassy is called Libyan people’s Council and ambassador is called as secretary of the council.

The ambassador is planning to inform the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s Director General for Asia Pacific and African Affairs T.M. Hamzah Thayeb about his decision.

“I was planning to submit a letter to Bapak Hamzah today (Tuesday). It didn’t materialize. Maybe tomorrow,” El Bishari said.

Unlike in Tunisia and Egypt, Qaddafi’s lethal force cracked down harshly on people’s revolt against the 41-year-old tyranny.

“Soldiers are killing unarmed civilians mercilessly. Using heavy weaponry, fighter jets and mercenaries against its own people. It is not acceptable,” the usually calm envoy said angrily.

“I have enough of it. I don’t tolerate it anymore.”

El Bishari is also simultaneously quitting his job in Singapore , Brunei Darussalam and the ASEAN.

The Libyan ambassadors in the US , the United Nations, India, Bangladesh also quit their posts as a protest against the brutal acts of Qaddafi regime.

More than 200 people were killed during the last five days. Libyans have been seeking the ouster of Qaddafi, who has been ruling the country like his fiefdom.