Libya: Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli denounces bombing

Tripoli last summer

Monsignor Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli and president of Caritas Libya, has said he is very shocked by the military undertaking which he says "has proved devastating for civilians and risky on the level of political consequences."

He said: "I cannot approve this type of violence against what until yesterday was a friendly nation, particularly as far as Italy is concerned". Forgetting the "friendship Treaty" signed two years ago, Italian Tornado war planes last night bombed Colonel Gadaffi's anti-aircraft positions. A diplomatic turnaround or maybe, suggests the Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli, "the height of falsity".

He said undoubtedly there was a serious risk of "collateral damages". The president of the Italian Bishops Conference, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco also warned: "Military objectives cannot be hit without hitting civilians and ending up reinforcing Gadaffi's support".

The church leaders said that before resorting to missiles, negotiations should have been attempted between the government and rebel forces of Cirenaica.

As president of Caritas Libya, over the past days Msgr Martinelli has worked in assisting 2,500 Eritrean migrants who fled from their nation. Many of them are recognised by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and dream of reaching Europe.

"Our hope is to soon be able to transfer them toward the border with Tunisia, but now there are additional difficulties. We no longer have the Italian Embassy backing, which closed, and there are air strikes".

Pope Benedict XVI yesterday also emphasised the political and military responsibilities of those involved. The Pontiff called on those in "positions of military and political responsibility" in Libya to have the well being of citizens above all at heart and guarantee the arrival of humanitarian aid" and that they reign so that the entire region "may known a horizon of peace and harmony".

Source: MISNA