AJA urges Gadhafi resignation

The Asia Journalist Association (AJA) urged Colonel Moammar Gadhafi to resign and return press freedom to Libya.

The new democratization movement seen in the region reached Libya last week, and demonstrators took to the streets, later joined by military defectors. Gadhafi, who has been in rule for four decades, has been panned internationally for his violent crackdowns. The week of protests has left more than 1,000 people dead.

“The Asia Journalist Association also urges Col. Gadhafi to step down as soon as possible for his iron hand dictatorship for 42 years, outrageous suppression of reasonable demands by the Libyan people employing foreign mercenaries and fighter planes and even destruction of oil facilities on Libyan land,” according to the statement.

“The Gadhafi government is causing international isolation by blocking the Internet and reports from local and foreign journalists but this can never extinguish their burning desire and passion for the truth through social networks and all other means.”