The vote ended three straight days of punishing debate in the Assembly. But the political standoff over the bill — and the monumental protests at the state Capitol against it — appear far from over.
The Assembly's vote sent the bill on to the Senate, but minority Democrats in that house have fled to Illinois to prevent a vote. No one knows when they will return from hiding. Republicans who control the chamber sent state troopers out looking for them at their homes on Thursday, but they turned up nothing.
"I applaud the Democrats in the Assembly for earnestly debating this bill and urge their counterparts in the state Senate to return to work and do the same," Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said in a statement issued moments after the vote.
The plan from Republican Gov. Scott Walker contains a number of provisions he says are designed to fill the state's $137 million deficit and lay the groundwork for fixing a projected $3.6 billion shortfall in the upcoming 2011-13 budget.
The flashpoint is language that would require public workers to contribute more to their pensions and health insurance and strip them of their right to collectively bargain benefits and work conditions.
Democrats and unions see the measure as an attack on workers' rights and an attempt to cripple union support for Democrats. Union leaders say they would make pension and health care concessions if they can keep their bargaining rights, but Walker has refused to compromise.
Tens of thousands of people have jammed the Capitol since last week to protest, pounding on drums and chanting so loudly that police providing security have resorted to ear plugs. Hundreds have taken to sleeping in the building overnight, dragging in air mattresses and blankets.
With the Senate immobilized, Assembly Republicans decided to act and convened the chamber Tuesday morning.
Democrats launched a filibuster, throwing out dozens of amendments and delivering rambling speeches. Each time Republicans tried to speed up the proceedings, Democrats rose from their seats and wailed that the GOP was stifling them.
Debate had gone on for 60 hours and 15 Democrats were still waiting to speak when the vote started around 1 a.m. Friday. Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, opened the roll and closed it within seconds.
Democrats looked around, bewildered. Only 13 of the 38 Democratic members managed to vote in time.
Republicans immediately marched out of the chamber in single file. The Democrats rushed at them, pumping their fists and shouting "Shame!" and "Cowards!"
The Republicans walked past them without responding.
Democrats left the chamber stunned. The protesters greeted them with a thundering chant of "Thank you!" Some Democrats teared up. Others hugged.
"What a terrible, terrible day for Wisconsin," said Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee. "I am incensed. I am shocked."
GOP leaders in the Assembly refused to speak with reporters, but earlier Friday morning Majority Leader Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, warned Democrats that they had been given 59 hours to be heard and Republicans were ready to vote.
The governor has said that if the bill does not pass by Friday, the state will miss a deadline to refinance $165 million of debt and will be forced to start issuing layoff notices next week. However, the deadline may not as strict as he says.
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau said earlier this week that the debt refinancing could be pushed back as late as Tuesday to achieve the savings Walker wants. Based on a similar refinancing in 2004, about two weeks are needed after the bill becomes law to complete the deal. That means if the bill is adopted by the middle of next week, the state can still meet a March 16 deadline, the Fiscal Bureau said.
Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach said he and his colleagues wouldn't return until Walker compromised.
Frustrated by the delay, Senate Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Jeff Fitzgerald's brother, ordered state troopers to find the missing Democrats, but they came up empty. Wisconsin law doesn't allow police to arrest the lawmakers, but Fitzgerald said he hoped the show of authority would have pressured them to return.
Erpenbach, who was in the Chicago area, said all 14 senators remained outside of Wisconsin.
"It's not so much the Democrats holding things up," Erpenbach said. "It's really a matter of Gov. Walker holding things up."
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Japanese-Americans seek news of quake back home
LOS ANGELES – Nancy Niijima switched on the TV in her room at the Keiro retirement home to see images from her native country of submerged neighborhoods, cars being carried in giant ocean tides, collapsed buildings and cracked roads.
"It's like science fiction, not like what really happens in Japan," said Niijima, who is concerned about her sister in the Okinawa island chain, whom she has been unable to reach. The good news is that she has no family near the hardest-hit areas.
In the Los Angeles area and other U.S. regions with large Japanese-American and Japanese expatriate populations, those with ties to the Asian country expressed shock at the damage wrought by the 8.9-magnitude quake and fear for the safety of their loved ones there.
They also grew frustrated with their inability to reach family and loved ones back in Japan, normally not an issue in such a technologically advanced nation where the Internet and cell phones provide numerous ways to communicate with people in the U.S.
"I tried calling my sister in Japan, but all the phone lines were jammed," said Misa Washio, a clerk at a counter selling pens in a Kinokuniya Japanese language bookstore in New York City, who learned of the quake from a friend early Friday and quickly switched on the radio. "I tried about 10 times."
The quake, the largest that Japan has experienced in recorded history, struck when it was 1 a.m. in New York and 10 p.m. in California. Doug Erber, president of the Japan America Society of Southern California, said his office has been fielding a constant stream of queries from people who have not been able to reach friends and family in Japan.
"The phone has not stopped ringing, and text messages and e-mails," he said. "It's been a busy day just trying to keep up. I think I got about 45 minutes of sleep last night."
Erber's organization had added a special section to its website with links to resources that could help users track down loved ones in Japan. These included services by Japan's biggest mobile phone providers that allow users to input friends' phone numbers to access messages posted about them.
The site also links to Google's Person Finder service for the Japan earthquake, where users can ask for and provide information about individuals in Japan they've been unable to reach.
Google spokesman James Yood said many of roughly 17,000 entries on the site by midafternoon Friday were from the United States, although he did not know how many.
Erber said his group is also soliciting donations for the Red Cross' response to the disaster, while in New York, the Beholders Group humanitarian group was gearing up to help earthquake-hit communities.
Beholders member Taty Sena said she had been trying to reach people and organizations in Japan to offer assistance, but that that the apparently overloaded communication circuits wouldn't let her messages through.
"Nothing worked — not the phones, or Skype," she said. "And I didn't get any replies on e-mail."
At Mitsuwa Marketplace, a Japanese grocery chain store in the Southern California city of Torrance, many of the Japanese-born shoppers and workers said they were also still trying to reach loved-ones to make sure they're safe.
Michi Hirose, 54, who is from Tokyo but has lived in California for years, said she was finally able to reach her husband, who is in Japan. However, she remains worried about a number of relatives she has been unable to reach.
Naomi Takara, 76, another of Keiro's mostly Japanese-American residents, said her biggest concern was for the Tokyo-area-based headquarters of her church. She feared the nearly 100-year-old wooden building may not sustain even the weakened tremors in the area more than 200 miles from Sendai.
But Takara said she had failed to reach the church staffers to make sure they and the patients they care for in church complex's health building were safe.
"It's frustrating and you get over-concerned because you don't know what's happening," she said. "I was getting panicky. The Japanese people don't get panicky, but I did."
___
Associated Press writer Noaki Schwartz in Torrance and Verena Dobnik in New York contributed to this report.
"It's like science fiction, not like what really happens in Japan," said Niijima, who is concerned about her sister in the Okinawa island chain, whom she has been unable to reach. The good news is that she has no family near the hardest-hit areas.
In the Los Angeles area and other U.S. regions with large Japanese-American and Japanese expatriate populations, those with ties to the Asian country expressed shock at the damage wrought by the 8.9-magnitude quake and fear for the safety of their loved ones there.
They also grew frustrated with their inability to reach family and loved ones back in Japan, normally not an issue in such a technologically advanced nation where the Internet and cell phones provide numerous ways to communicate with people in the U.S.
"I tried calling my sister in Japan, but all the phone lines were jammed," said Misa Washio, a clerk at a counter selling pens in a Kinokuniya Japanese language bookstore in New York City, who learned of the quake from a friend early Friday and quickly switched on the radio. "I tried about 10 times."
The quake, the largest that Japan has experienced in recorded history, struck when it was 1 a.m. in New York and 10 p.m. in California. Doug Erber, president of the Japan America Society of Southern California, said his office has been fielding a constant stream of queries from people who have not been able to reach friends and family in Japan.
"The phone has not stopped ringing, and text messages and e-mails," he said. "It's been a busy day just trying to keep up. I think I got about 45 minutes of sleep last night."
Erber's organization had added a special section to its website with links to resources that could help users track down loved ones in Japan. These included services by Japan's biggest mobile phone providers that allow users to input friends' phone numbers to access messages posted about them.
The site also links to Google's Person Finder service for the Japan earthquake, where users can ask for and provide information about individuals in Japan they've been unable to reach.
Google spokesman James Yood said many of roughly 17,000 entries on the site by midafternoon Friday were from the United States, although he did not know how many.
Erber said his group is also soliciting donations for the Red Cross' response to the disaster, while in New York, the Beholders Group humanitarian group was gearing up to help earthquake-hit communities.
Beholders member Taty Sena said she had been trying to reach people and organizations in Japan to offer assistance, but that that the apparently overloaded communication circuits wouldn't let her messages through.
"Nothing worked — not the phones, or Skype," she said. "And I didn't get any replies on e-mail."
At Mitsuwa Marketplace, a Japanese grocery chain store in the Southern California city of Torrance, many of the Japanese-born shoppers and workers said they were also still trying to reach loved-ones to make sure they're safe.
Michi Hirose, 54, who is from Tokyo but has lived in California for years, said she was finally able to reach her husband, who is in Japan. However, she remains worried about a number of relatives she has been unable to reach.
Naomi Takara, 76, another of Keiro's mostly Japanese-American residents, said her biggest concern was for the Tokyo-area-based headquarters of her church. She feared the nearly 100-year-old wooden building may not sustain even the weakened tremors in the area more than 200 miles from Sendai.
But Takara said she had failed to reach the church staffers to make sure they and the patients they care for in church complex's health building were safe.
"It's frustrating and you get over-concerned because you don't know what's happening," she said. "I was getting panicky. The Japanese people don't get panicky, but I did."
___
Associated Press writer Noaki Schwartz in Torrance and Verena Dobnik in New York contributed to this report.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wis. Assembly passes bill taking away union rights
MADISON, Wis. – Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly took the first significant action on their plan to strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers, abruptly passing the measure early Friday morning before sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
PM for integrated project to develop southern region
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said here yesterday that her government has a plan to formulate an integrated project for overall socio-economic development of the country's southern region.
“Barisal and the entire southern region were very much neglected as regards economic development. We've a plan to implement an integrated project to change the situation,” she said.
Hasina was addressing an opinion-exchange meeting with high officials of Barisal Division at the local Circuit House in the afternoon. Divisional Commissioner Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Momenin presided over the meeting.
Awami League advisory council members Amir Hossain Amu and Tofail Ahmed, communications minister Syed Abul Hossain, principal secretary to the prime minister M A Karim and press secretary to the prime minister Abul Kalam Azad were, among others, present.
About the potentials of ship-breaking and shipbuilding industries in Barisal and other coastal areas, the prime minister said environment situation must be considered first in case of implementing any such project.
If necessary, she said, the government will set up another port in the region for economic uplift of the people.
She observed that once the much-awaited Padma Bridge is built, economic activities in the entire southern region will get a big boost.
Hasina directed the authorities concerned to take effective steps to increase food production in Barisal to restore its past glory.
“In the past, Barisal was known as the granary of the country but these days the accolade has shifted to the northern region,” she said.
In this connection, she asked the Agriculture Minister to supply quality seeds to the farmers in Barisal region.
The prime minister also informed the meeting that her government is thinking of introducing rail communication in Barisal division.
Following a demand from the officials of the law enforcing agencies present at the meeting, she assured taking immediate steps to provide them with river transport to take fast action against the pirates.
The prime minister also directed the authorities concerned to stop plying of battery-run vehicles on the roads of the areas as these are not environment-friendly.
She directed the LGED engineers and other officials to make the bridges in this region with more height so that boats and other river transports can operate easily when water level rises in the rainy season.
When the officials informed that Hijbut Tawhid, a religious organisation, is very active in the Barisal region, Hasina asked them to see whether this organisation is involved with any activities that inspires or patronises militancy.
Gaddafi defies revolt with tanks, planes as refugees flee
Libya's Muammar Gaddafi used tanks, helicopters and warplanes to quell a growing revolt, witnesses said yesterday, as the veteran leader scoffed at reports he was fleeing after four decades in power.
The UN refugee agency urged to Libya's neighbours not to turn back those fleeing the violence, as hundreds of refugees streamed into Egypt on tractors and trucks, describing a wave of killing and banditry unleashed by the revolt.
Meanwhile, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Philippines and The Netherlands were among several countries who wanted to evacuate their citizens.
Warplanes bombed portions of the capital Tripoli yesterday in new attacks in the Mediterranean coastal city, and mercenaries fired on civilians, Aljazeera reported.
In the eastern town of Al Bayda, resident Marai Al Mahry told Reuters by telephone that 26 people including his brother Ahmed had been shot dead overnight by Gaddafi loyalists.
"They shoot you just for walking on the street," he said, sobbing uncontrollably as he appealed for help.
Protesters were being attacked with tanks and warplanes, he said.
"The only thing we can do now is not give up, no surrender, no going back. We will die anyways, whether we like it or not. It is clear that they don't care whether we live or not. This is genocide," said Mahry, 42.
Security forces have cracked down fiercely on demonstrators across the country, with fighting now spreading to Tripoli after erupting in Libya's oil-producing east last week following uprisings that have toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt.
Human Rights Watch says at least 233 people have been killed and opposition groups put the figure much higher but independent verification is impossible.
Meanwhile, the UN's human rights chief yesterday demanded an immediate end to the "grave human rights violations" committed by Libyan authorities, warning that attacks on civilians could amount to "crimes against humanity".
"The authorities should immediately cease such illegal acts of violence against demonstrators," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.
"Widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity," she said.
The revolt in OPEC member Libya has driven oil prices sharply higher, with US crude for April delivery rising at one stage to almost $99, around a two-and-a-half-year high.
As the fighting has intensified across the country, cracks appeared among Gaddafi camps. Some ambassadors resigning and calling for his removal, the justice minister resigned in protest and a group of army officers urged soldiers to "join the people." Two pilots flew their warplanes to nearby Malta.
Gaddafi's son Saif on Sunday vowed his father would keep fighting "until the last man standing" and the Libyan leader appeared on television yesterday after days of seclusion to dismiss reports he had fled to Venezuela.
"I want to show that I'm in Tripoli and not in Venezuela. Do not believe the channels belonging to stray dogs," said Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya since taking power in a military coup in 1969.
World powers have condemned the use of force against protesters, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accusing Libya of massacre.
"This must stop immediately," said Ban.
The Security Council and Arab League ambassadors were scheduled to discuss Libya separately later yesterday, diplomats said.
The UN refugee agency urged to Libya's neighbours not to turn back those fleeing the violence, as hundreds of refugees streamed into Egypt on tractors and trucks, describing a wave of killing and banditry unleashed by the revolt.
Meanwhile, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Philippines and The Netherlands were among several countries who wanted to evacuate their citizens.
Warplanes bombed portions of the capital Tripoli yesterday in new attacks in the Mediterranean coastal city, and mercenaries fired on civilians, Aljazeera reported.
In the eastern town of Al Bayda, resident Marai Al Mahry told Reuters by telephone that 26 people including his brother Ahmed had been shot dead overnight by Gaddafi loyalists.
"They shoot you just for walking on the street," he said, sobbing uncontrollably as he appealed for help.
Protesters were being attacked with tanks and warplanes, he said.
"The only thing we can do now is not give up, no surrender, no going back. We will die anyways, whether we like it or not. It is clear that they don't care whether we live or not. This is genocide," said Mahry, 42.
Security forces have cracked down fiercely on demonstrators across the country, with fighting now spreading to Tripoli after erupting in Libya's oil-producing east last week following uprisings that have toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt.
Human Rights Watch says at least 233 people have been killed and opposition groups put the figure much higher but independent verification is impossible.
Meanwhile, the UN's human rights chief yesterday demanded an immediate end to the "grave human rights violations" committed by Libyan authorities, warning that attacks on civilians could amount to "crimes against humanity".
"The authorities should immediately cease such illegal acts of violence against demonstrators," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.
"Widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity," she said.
The revolt in OPEC member Libya has driven oil prices sharply higher, with US crude for April delivery rising at one stage to almost $99, around a two-and-a-half-year high.
As the fighting has intensified across the country, cracks appeared among Gaddafi camps. Some ambassadors resigning and calling for his removal, the justice minister resigned in protest and a group of army officers urged soldiers to "join the people." Two pilots flew their warplanes to nearby Malta.
Gaddafi's son Saif on Sunday vowed his father would keep fighting "until the last man standing" and the Libyan leader appeared on television yesterday after days of seclusion to dismiss reports he had fled to Venezuela.
"I want to show that I'm in Tripoli and not in Venezuela. Do not believe the channels belonging to stray dogs," said Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya since taking power in a military coup in 1969.
World powers have condemned the use of force against protesters, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accusing Libya of massacre.
"This must stop immediately," said Ban.
The Security Council and Arab League ambassadors were scheduled to discuss Libya separately later yesterday, diplomats said.
লিবিয়ায় দমন-পীড়নের নিন্দায় জাতিসংঘ
লিবিয়ায় আন্দোলনকারীদের ওপর ক্ষমতাসীনদের দমন-পীড়নের তীব্র নিন্দা জানিয়েছে জাতিসংঘের নিরাপত্তা পরিষদ। এক বিবৃতিতে নিরাপত্তা পরিষদের পক্ষ থেকে লিবীয় সরকারের প্রতি অবিলম্বে সহিংসতা বন্ধের আহ্বান জানানো হয়।
বিবৃতিতে বলা হয়, সরকারকে জনগণের বৈধ দাবি-দাওয়ার কথা শুনতে হবে।
বিবিসি অনলাইন বুধবার এ খবর জানায়।
এরআগে আন্দোলনকারীদের ওপর হামলা চালানোর জন্য সমর্থকদের প্রতি আহ্বান জানান লিবীয় নেতা কর্নেল মুয়াম্মার গাদ্দাফি।
গাদ্দাফি বিক্ষোভকারীদের সতর্ক করেন, যারাই লিবিয়ার বিরুদ্ধে অস্ত্রধারণ করবে তাদের মৃত্যুদণ্ড দেওয়া হবে।
পরবর্তী সময়ে দেশটির স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী আবদেল ফাতাহ ইউনিস আল আবিদি পদত্যাগ করেন। তিনি সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর প্রতি জনগণের দাবির সঙ্গে একাত্ম হওয়ার আহ্বান জানান।
এই পরিস্থিতিতে নিরাপত্তা পরিষদ দেশটিতে সরকারের ভূমিকার নিন্দা জানিয়ে বিবৃতি দিল।
১৫ টি সদস্য রাষ্ট্রের সমন্বয়ে গঠিত জাতিসংঘের এই পরিষদ বিবৃতিতে বলে, "জনগণের নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করার যে দায়িত্ব্ তা পূরণ করতে হবে।"
পাশাপাশি সহিষ্ণু আচরণ, মানবাধিকার ও আন্তর্জাতিক মানবাধিকার আইনের প্রতি সম্মান দেখানোরও আহ্বান জানানো হয় ওই বিবৃতিতে।
ব্রিটিশ রাষ্ট্রদূত মার্ক লেআল নিরাপত্তা পরিষদের এই বিবৃতিকে 'সর্বোচ্চ কঠোর' বলে দাবি করলেও জাতিসংঘে নিয়োজিত লিবিয়ার স্থায়ী উপপ্রতিনিধি ইব্রাহিম দাবাসি একে 'যথেষ্ট কঠোর নয়' বলে মন্তব্য করেন। তবে লিবিয়ায় রক্তপাত বন্ধে এটি একটি ইতিবাচক বার্তা বলে মনে করেন তিনি।
আরব লিগও লিবিয়া সরকারের এই দমনাভিযানের নিন্দা জানিয়ে একে আন্দোলনকারীদের বিরুদ্ধে 'অপরাধ' আখ্যা দিয়েছে।
মঙ্গলবার রাষ্ট্রনিয়ন্ত্রিত টেলিভিশনে দ্বিতীয় দফা ভাষণ দেন গাদ্দাফি। ৭৫ মিনিটের ওই ভাষণে গাদ্দাফি বলেন, "এখনো বিক্ষোভকারীদের ওপর শক্তি প্রয়োগ করা হয়নি, প্রয়োজন হলে তা করা হবে।"
এ সময় তিনি বিক্ষোভকারীদের ওপর হামলা চালানোর জন্য তার সমর্থকদের প্রতি আহ্বান জানান।
গাদ্দাফি বলেন, তিনি দেশ ছাড়বেন না, প্রয়োজনে শহীদ হবেন।
গত সপ্তায় লিবিয়ায় রাজনৈতিক সংস্কার ও গাদ্দাফির ক্ষমতা থেকে সরে দাঁড়ানোর দাবিতে আন্দোলন শুরু হয়।
আন্দোলনকারীদের সঙ্গে নিরাপত্তা বাহিনীর সহিংসতায় এ পর্যন্ত প্রায় ৩০০ মানুষ নিহত হয়েছে বলে হিউম্যান রাইটস ওয়াচ দাবি করছে।
বিবৃতিতে বলা হয়, সরকারকে জনগণের বৈধ দাবি-দাওয়ার কথা শুনতে হবে।
বিবিসি অনলাইন বুধবার এ খবর জানায়।
এরআগে আন্দোলনকারীদের ওপর হামলা চালানোর জন্য সমর্থকদের প্রতি আহ্বান জানান লিবীয় নেতা কর্নেল মুয়াম্মার গাদ্দাফি।
গাদ্দাফি বিক্ষোভকারীদের সতর্ক করেন, যারাই লিবিয়ার বিরুদ্ধে অস্ত্রধারণ করবে তাদের মৃত্যুদণ্ড দেওয়া হবে।
পরবর্তী সময়ে দেশটির স্বরাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রী আবদেল ফাতাহ ইউনিস আল আবিদি পদত্যাগ করেন। তিনি সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর প্রতি জনগণের দাবির সঙ্গে একাত্ম হওয়ার আহ্বান জানান।
এই পরিস্থিতিতে নিরাপত্তা পরিষদ দেশটিতে সরকারের ভূমিকার নিন্দা জানিয়ে বিবৃতি দিল।
১৫ টি সদস্য রাষ্ট্রের সমন্বয়ে গঠিত জাতিসংঘের এই পরিষদ বিবৃতিতে বলে, "জনগণের নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করার যে দায়িত্ব্ তা পূরণ করতে হবে।"
পাশাপাশি সহিষ্ণু আচরণ, মানবাধিকার ও আন্তর্জাতিক মানবাধিকার আইনের প্রতি সম্মান দেখানোরও আহ্বান জানানো হয় ওই বিবৃতিতে।
ব্রিটিশ রাষ্ট্রদূত মার্ক লেআল নিরাপত্তা পরিষদের এই বিবৃতিকে 'সর্বোচ্চ কঠোর' বলে দাবি করলেও জাতিসংঘে নিয়োজিত লিবিয়ার স্থায়ী উপপ্রতিনিধি ইব্রাহিম দাবাসি একে 'যথেষ্ট কঠোর নয়' বলে মন্তব্য করেন। তবে লিবিয়ায় রক্তপাত বন্ধে এটি একটি ইতিবাচক বার্তা বলে মনে করেন তিনি।
আরব লিগও লিবিয়া সরকারের এই দমনাভিযানের নিন্দা জানিয়ে একে আন্দোলনকারীদের বিরুদ্ধে 'অপরাধ' আখ্যা দিয়েছে।
মঙ্গলবার রাষ্ট্রনিয়ন্ত্রিত টেলিভিশনে দ্বিতীয় দফা ভাষণ দেন গাদ্দাফি। ৭৫ মিনিটের ওই ভাষণে গাদ্দাফি বলেন, "এখনো বিক্ষোভকারীদের ওপর শক্তি প্রয়োগ করা হয়নি, প্রয়োজন হলে তা করা হবে।"
এ সময় তিনি বিক্ষোভকারীদের ওপর হামলা চালানোর জন্য তার সমর্থকদের প্রতি আহ্বান জানান।
গাদ্দাফি বলেন, তিনি দেশ ছাড়বেন না, প্রয়োজনে শহীদ হবেন।
গত সপ্তায় লিবিয়ায় রাজনৈতিক সংস্কার ও গাদ্দাফির ক্ষমতা থেকে সরে দাঁড়ানোর দাবিতে আন্দোলন শুরু হয়।
আন্দোলনকারীদের সঙ্গে নিরাপত্তা বাহিনীর সহিংসতায় এ পর্যন্ত প্রায় ৩০০ মানুষ নিহত হয়েছে বলে হিউম্যান রাইটস ওয়াচ দাবি করছে।
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