ACCORDING TO A REPORT TODAY BY REUTERS THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBYA INTENDS TO DESTROY TANKERS OF ANY FLAG TRADING WITH THE PORTS IT'S EMBARGOED IN A LABOR DISPUTE OVER UNPAID WAGES FOR PORT WORKERS. THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT A NATION HAS ATTEMPTED TO APPLY DEADLY FORCE AGAINST THIRD PARTIES IN A LABOR DISPUTE.
DAVID VS GOLIATH AT THE SEA BUOY Official U.S.Navy Photos
Just yesterday we praised the restraint and ingenuity displayed by the Libyan Navy patrol boat JANZOUR in enforcing the closed port without blood shed despite a determined effort by the tanker A WHALE to enter the port. Apparently the Libyan Government doesn't appreciate the adherence of its naval forces to international law while attempting to obey an unpopular and highly ill advised order from their civilian government. An order to close a port is lawful. Doing so in order to force a settlement in a labor dispute is high handed, vicious, and sure to make long term and bitter enemies, but probably not against international law. But the policy clarification by the Libyan government as reported below is a serious violation of international law. The very idea of "destroying ships" of other nations under the circumstances amounts to wanton destruction of property and will probably lead to murder. Shooting to disable propulsion is about the limit of force authorized to enforce a non war time port closure, and then only when signals to turn away and warning shots have been ignored. We hope that on scene naval commanders will continue to ignore the "destroy order" and remind them that they are personally responsible for adherence to international law. They can enforce the port closure without guilt, but can not destroy shipping , and most especially can not pursue turned away vessels and destroy them as "punishment" for disobeying an edict of a national government in a labor dispute. What's next Libya are you just going to machine gun the strikers? We tried that in America once, it was called the PEABODY COAL STRIKE. It didn't work, the industry still unionized. Below is a lead in and a link to Reuters coverage:
(REUTERS) - Libya warned on Monday it will attack and destroy any tanker
illegally exporting oil after forces last week fired at a Liberian-flagged
tanker close to the country's largest crude oil export terminal.
The tanker, which sought to load crude oil that armed protesters blocking
the country's main export ports were attempting to sell illegally, managed
to flee, Abdul Razak al-Shbahi, the spokesperson for the minister of
defence, told Reuters.
Es Sider is the largest of several ports including neighboring Ras Lanuf
located in the country's east that have been mostly shut since end of July
when protests by security guards and oil workers over pay and other
political demands led to the closure of many oilfields.
For the full article click on this link: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/08/26/libya-oil-tanker-idINDEE97P0DM20130826
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