REBELS LOSE TOWN AS FIGHTING RAGES

REBEL ADVANCE IN LIBYA

SET BACK BY HEAVY ASSAULT

Ras Lanuf, Libya - With tanks, helicopters and fighter planes, troops loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi attacked rebel troops in the coastal town of Bin Jawwad on Sunday and pushed them east.  Air strikes targeted rebel positions yesterday and outgunned insurgents were forced to retreat.  The rebels said they had withdrawn from the coastal hamlet of Bin Jawad, occupied on Saturday in an advance westward on Gadaffi’s home town Sirte, after clashes which doctors said left two dead and around 50 wounded.  It was the first time since the uprising against the Libyan leader began on February 15 that the rebels have admitted conceding ground to his forces.  Ali Errishi, Gadaffi’s former immigration minister, who joined the rebellion, voiced growing rebel frustration at a lack of international assistance for the ragtag and ill-equipped force. 

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, one of those pressing for a “no-fly” zone, said any international military intervention in Libya would have “absolutely negative” effects, during a visit to neighbor Egypt.  “Given the possibility that the fighting could become bloodier, we must prepare ourselves to react, and that’s the reason why we have to plan for a flight interdiction zone over Libya,” Juppe said.  An estimated 100,000 mainly foreign migrants have entered Tunisia from Libya since February 20.  Many have been repatriated in an international effort, but thousands remain in temporary camps facing growing problems of hygiene.

Troops loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi have launched several counter-offensives on rebel-controlled villages, thereby increasing the fear that Libya falls into the well of a short civil war. The heaviest fighting was experienced this past weekend, mainly in the oil enclave of Ras Lanuf, which was ‘won’ by the rebels two days ago, and both sides fight to see which of the two is definitely in control.  Unfortunately, the civilian population, especially women and children, is the one who suffers most these violent attacks by supporters and opponents of the Libyan leader.  We must understand that we are parts of one Organic System, sons and daughters of only one Father, and then find solutions without violence.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

There is an outbreak of conflagration of group clashes throughout the world. ... When there are different centers of interests, nobody can avoid clashing of individuals, groups, nations etc. As for example, if circles are drawn with different centers, circumferences will cross, but if there is one center of interest there may be smaller or bigger circles but there will be no crossing. According to Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu there should be knowledge of the real self, real interest and one center of interest.  Supreme Lord Sri Krishna who is ‘Achyuta’ can only be the common center of interest from whom all the spirit souls have emanated. If we pour water at the root of the tree, whole tree is nourished with all its parts, in like manner, by serving Krishna we serve all.

Śrīla Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Mahārāja :
“Strongest Spiritual Force on Earth”
Statements at a press conference, 12-29-2000, Mumbai.
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math - http://www.sreecgmath.org