Gaddafi crackdown: Doors shut on rebel staff

On April 14,when Salah tried getting into his office,he was stopped by guards

It was their Jasmine Revolution moment. However,two months after the Libyan Ambassador in New Delhi quit in protest against Muammar Gaddafis crackdown on protesters,the Colonel has proved hard to dislodge while officials seen as loyal to the rebels find themselves locked out.

A sheet of white paper on the white wall of the Libyan Embassys compound in Golf Links,Delhi,demarcates the line between supporter and antagonist to the government of Gaddafi. On it are names of five men from the mission who supported the opposition,who are not to be allowed access onto the premises,including former Charges dAffaires and one of its senior-most members,Salah Bin Aamer Mohammed Abdul Salam.

On April 14,when Salah tried getting into his office,he was stopped by guards. They would not let me in; the new Charges dAffaires had called the police for back-up, he told The Indian Express over the phone. In one instant,I was out of a job because I chose to support the will of the people.

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Following the resignation of Ambassador Ali Al-Essawi at the start of the protests against Gaddafi,Salah had assumed command as he was the highest-ranking official with 16 years of service behind him. But a formal letter from Tripoli sometime in late March appointed Ramadan Eid El-Bahbah,a former member of Gaddafis Republic Forces,as Charges dAffaires.

And on April 14,Salah was barred from the embassy premises,along with Ibrahim Aburass,Jelal Beram,Hasan Aghnya and Mohammed al Mwanuf.

On February 26,the five had issued a statement saying: We announce that we represent the Libyan people and its civil establishments and we do not represent the former regime which violated the religion and tradition and international conventions and human rights….

Apart from loss of jobs,the five now also live under the fear of persecution should they return home. We were expecting the Indian government to take our side,fight on the side of democracy. But the Indian government chose to follow the official line. Should we be kicked out of India,we will not be able to return home, said Salah.

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Defending his decision,El-Bahbah said the services of those five were no longer needed. They have an opportunity to serve the government in Libya (still). That is the most appealing option for any Libyan. These men have chosen not to serve the country,that is not our problem, he said,adding that he had taken over from Salah as he was more senior. He also claimed that authorities in Libya had recalled some members from the mission.

The staff strength,in fact,is down from 16 men to five men and one woman. The Embassy itself is desolate,with visa services stopped and its front doors closed to the public. For the past few months,not many have ventured inside.