American Lisa Gibson, who founded the Peace & Prosperity Alliance after her 20-year-old brother Ken died in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, spoke to DAVID ADAMS about recent events in Libya…
American Lisa Gibson’s 20-year-old brother Ken was among the 270 people who died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.
Having written to the only man ever convicted of the bombing, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, to tell him she forgave him, Ms Gibson went on to found the Peace & Prosperity Alliance, a non-profit organisation dedicated to creating cross-cultural partnerships between government, business, civic and religious leaders in an effort to bring about lasting change.
Ms Gibson spoke about recent events in Libya…
Lisa Gibson
“I thought that after years of being isolated by the world community and punished for his terrorist acts, that (Gaddafi) had learned. But what we are seeing is that he cares nothing for the people of Libya, and will continue fighting until he regains control or is stopped.”
– Lisa Gibson
Are you surprised by the events we’ve seen taking place in Libya in recent weeks?
“I have been working in Libya for the last four-and-a-half years and on my multiple visits to Libya, I have heard the stories of the people about Gaddafi’s oppression and horrific acts against them. But I thought that after years of being isolated by the world community and punished for his terrorist acts, that he had learned. But what we are seeing is that he cares nothing for the people of Libya, and will continue fighting until he regains control or is stopped.”
Do you support the Western enforcement of the no-fly zone?
“I believe that the world community tried to reason with him first. But unlike the other dictators in the region who stepped down in response to the demonstrations, he refused. I realised when Libya’s ambassadors around the world so quickly turned on him, that they knew he had no intention of stepping down. As such, the only realistic option was to enforce the no-fly zone. The complicated issue is what our exit strategy is and whether air strikes will be sufficient to bring the fighting to an end.
What are you hearing from people inside Libya about what’s happening there?
“I have been in contact with friends in Libya and the situation is bad. One friend escorted a truck of medical supplies into Ajdabiya, a city that has been in the news most in the last week and the sight of a massacre by Gaddafi. His family lives there and he had lost contact for a week, because Gaddafi cut cell phone service. Food and medical supplies are the biggest need right now. A truck load of food was brought in with food and other resources to Benghazi last week through Egypt.”
How is it affecting your projects there?
“We have been actively engaged in the process of raising funds for relief. In the next couple months we are trying to raise an additional $US25,000 for another truck load of food, medical supplies and blankets to go in. We have set up the Libya Relief Fund where people can give at www.peaceandprosperityalliance.org.”
What do you see as the future for Libya from here? What’s the best result from the current situation?
“One of the biggest areas of prayer is that one of the things Gaddafi did well, was to hold back the Islamic fundamentalist. So, we know they are waiting in the wings. The people are crying out for freedom and democracy, but that won’t come with Islamic fundamentalism. So, we are praying for the new leadership of Libya to be a just leader who brings in true freedom.”
What would you ask people to be praying for with regard to Libya?
“Pray Gaddafi would step down. Pray for the medical and food needs of the people. Pray for the relief workers who are heading into the country in the coming weeks to bring salt and light. Pray protection over innocent civilians in the midst of the air strikes and fighting.”
