Digital Journal has provided extensive coverage of the violent political upheaval currently occurring in Libya. At least 500 people have been
feared dead and hundreds more have been wounded. The United Nations Security Council has
applied sanctions on Libyan dictator Moammar Gaddafi.
Despite international pressure and internal strife, Gaddafi has
vowed to stay in power.
On Saturday, demonstrations in support of the Libyan people were held
across Canada from Vancouver to Calgary to Toronto to Montreal. Between 300 and 500 people in Toronto gathered at the Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto and called for ousting of Gaddafi and urged for more freedoms in the north African nation.
Protesters in Toronto supporting the Libyan uprising
The demonstrators marched around the square carrying signs and flags of Libya and Canada. The protestors chanted: “The world must know, Gaddafi has to go,” “The people united will never defeated” and “Hey hey, ho ho, Gaddafi has to go.”
The Libyan-Canadians and supporters, many wrapped in the Libyan and Canadian flags, held signs stating: “Tunisia First. Egypt Second. Libya Now,” “Stop killing our people in Libya,” “Egypt supports Libya,” “When media is out, massacres are in: Press freedom NOW!” and “Enough!”
“Enough is enough,” said Mohammed Khan, an activist who attended Saturday’s Toronto rally. “I’m sure that the people of Libya will defeat Gaddafi, but, unfortunately, Gaddafi will not relinquish power soon enough and will continue his reign of terror on the people of Libya.”
Khan added that democracy is prevailing throughout the Arab world and through the means of peace, not war.
CBC News reports that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has stated that his government is considering applying sanctions against Libya because “the actions by the Libyan regime are absolutely unacceptable.”
Despite considerations, Harper said Friday in the House of Commons in Ottawa that he supports the UN’s decision to implement an embargo on arms, asset freezes and individual sanctions on certain Libyan public officials.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay promised on Friday that the Canadian government and military are “read to assist, of course.”
“The country and the region at large deserve peace and stability,” said the Minister of Defence in a speech to the Conference of Defence Association’s annual meeting in Ottawa Friday. “Simply put, the outrageous and insidious abuse of government power in Libya must stop and we, Canada, stand united with like-minded peaceful nations in support of legitimate aspirations of the people of Libya.”
Saturday’s protest in Toronto was the
second one since mid-February in support of Libya. Last month, demonstrations were held at
Yonge-Dundas Square and in front of the
Ontario Legislature to support the initiatives of the Egyptian people.
