Deputy Speaker, during the past week more than 230 pro- democracy protesters have been killed at the hands of Libyan security forces. The Gaddafi regime, which has been in power for more than four decades, has now threatened a civil war if the protests do not cease.
Libya's continued use of force against civilians is not only a serious affront to our own values and the principles enshrined in the Constitution, but it is in violation of the African Union's African Charter on Human and People's Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It further contradicts our stated foreign policy objectives of pursuing peace and human rights in the international arena.
The Zuma administration has chosen to say very little. The Department of International Relations and Co-operation, while noting with serious concern the situation in Libya, continues to call for a speedy and peaceful resolution between government and the people. There has been no call for Gaddafi, a dictator who has ruled for more than 40 years, to resign.
We have just heard the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co- operation postulating about racism. Why don't you do your work instead, Minister? We call on you to make South Africa's position on the continued violence against protesters clear. Will the South African government unreservedly call for the resignation of Muammar Gaddafi? Will the South African government summon the Libyan ambassador to explain the conduct of his government? Will the South African government withdraw the ambassador to Libya? Will the South African government renounce any previous support for Gaddafi and his dictatorship?
The gulf between what we say our foreign policy is and what we actually do in the international arena continues to grow. It is time that we start to bridge this divide with action, and this is the opportunity to do so. [Applause.]