From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Feb 06 2009 - 05:42:59 EST
Gaddafi defends Somali pirates
Februar 06, 2009 06:45 AM
In Summary
AU chairman says groups are fighting against greedy and capitalist West
Addis Ababa, Thursday
AU chairman Muammar Gaddafi has said that his priority will be to claim
colonial compensation and to limit the power of Western nations
The Libyan leader further said he believed that piracy was a way of counter
defence against the greedy Western nations.
Col Gaddafi expressed the sentiments Thursday morning when he paid his first
day official visit to African Union head quarter in Addis Ababa. He
addressed AU officials and staff.
Col Gaddafi wore a colourful shirt decorated with Africa Union founding
fathers portraits including Tanzanian Julius Nyerere, Ethiopian Haile
Selassie, Kenyan Jomo Kenyatta, and Ghanaian Kwame Nkrumah.
During the inaugural tour, Col Gaddafi revealed his plan for the next
seasons, saying he doesn't believe that Somalia piracy was a crime.
"It is a response to greedy Western nations, who invade and exploit
Somalia's water resources illegally,'' he said.
"It is not a piracy, it is self defence. It is defending the Somalia
children's food," Col Gaddafi argued.
He pointed out that some countries, particularly Western nations, were
penetrating into a Somalia's sovereign water territory, against the
international law .
European, the US and China fleets are entering in the sovereign Somalia
territory, because Africa doesn't have strong and modern defence to push
them back, Col Gaddafi said.
Nowadays, Somalis are reacting for justice and trying to defend their
country against the unfair exploitation of resources, but Western countries
have labelled it as piracy, Gaddafi explained.
The long-serving Libyan leader said he planned to convince other African
leaders to claim compensation from colonial masters for their crimes and
exploitation during the colonial era.
He disclosed that Libya will this week be claiming quarter billion dollars
per year for the next 20 years compensation from Italy.
He said it was a time to ask Western world to pay for Africa's past
suffering and exploitation.
Italian parliament has agreed to pay the money to Libya, he said
Col Gaddafi has refused any invitation from Italy for official visit for the
past 40 years as part of his protest and claim.
During my term in AU, I will initiate an organised compensation claim for
Africa and I will fight for a greater voice for Africa in the United Nations
Security Council.
"If they (Western nations) do not want to live with us fairly, it is our
planet and they can go to other planet," Gaddafi added.
AU chairman says groups are fighting against greedy and capitalist West
Earlier Col Gaddafi asked for the support and 'wisdom' of Tanzanian
president Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, his predecessor, on how to handle the
53-member group's day-to- day affairs.
Col Gaddafi, who was elected on Monday as a chairman of AU for the next one
year, said as the group's 12th summit ended: "I need the support of my son
Kikwete from his wide experience on how to handle AU issues.''
President Kikwete, who retired from the chairmanship of the AU on Monday,
headed the group at one of the most turbulent times during which he played a
key role in mediating an end to the post-election violence in Kenya and the
election dispute in Zimbabwe.
Had been picked
At the same time, Colonel Gaddafi said he would also seek the advice of
former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on how to deal with the
continent's matters. Col Gaddafi said that Obasanjo was in Addis to meet
him.
Earlier, AU chairman Jean Ping said former South African president Thabo
Mbeki had been picked by the AU to coordinate its legal matters like the
threatened ICC indictment against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
At the press conference, Mr Ping was asked by journalists about his
impression about the capability of Col Gaddafi, who took power through a
coup close to 40 years ago, to lead a continent where coups are rampant.
Mr Ping said Col Gaddafi was "Elected democratically representing North
Africa and it's a decision of the assembly" .
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