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Libya
Interventions in Libya by the West have been ongoing since the 1980s. In 1986, the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque was wrongfully blamed on Libya, and provided the US and British military forces with justification to retaliate with air strikes, called ‘Operation El Dorado Canyon’. Then, in 1988, Libya was again accused of being responsible for a terrorist attack, on a Pan Am flight which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland and killed all on board and 11 people on the ground. This led to heavy UN sanctions, which Bernie Grant firmly opposed. Grant recognised the treatment toward Libya at this time as imperialist, and was as such an outspoken advocate for an end to these sanctions. Grant was involved with the ‘No Intervention in Libya’ campaign, and travelled to the country on a fact finding mission with his staff in 1991, where he met with Gaddafi and other political representatives to offer his solidarity. In 1992, the Libyan government attempted to try the two accused persons of the Pan Am terrorist attack, but the British government requested the two be handed over and tried in Britain. Grant, utilising his platform in the House of Commons, argued for Libya’s right to self determination, and indeed for the government to adhere to the 1971 Montreal Convention in this case. Grant further explained his advocacy for Libya in the House: “As a person of African descent, I am particularly concerned about the plight of African countries and their peoples. That is why I am so keen to see justice done in the case of Libya. I am also opposed to terrorism, and keen to see the perpetrators of this horrendous crime brought to justice—but not tried by a kangaroo court”. In 1999, Gaddafi eventually agreed to hand over the two accused to be tried in the Netherlands, where one was found guilty and the other accuitted. In 2003, 8 years before his assassination, Gaddafi formerly accepted responsibility for the attack due to the pressure of international sanctions, and agreed to pay $1 billion in compensation for the families.
No Intervention in Libya [BG_P_5_2]
This document is a campaign leaflet from the No Intervention in Libya (NIL!) group, opposing military action and sanctions against Libya following the 1986 US air raids and the Lockerbie bombing accusations. It provides insight into Bernie Grant's political activism by highlighting community mobilization efforts within the Labour movement and black communities to challenge UK government policy and advocate for an independent international inquiry.
