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Independent reporters escape NATO rebels safely

Deborah Dupre's photo
Human Rights Examiner

After an international outcry by human rights workers over the weekend, intense negotiations, and 36 hours riding rough seas, on Monday, all members of Voltaire Network news team arrived safely at the port of Valletta, Malta after independent reporters Thierry Meyssan, Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Mathieu Ozanon, Julien Teil and also British journalist, Lizzie Phelan of Press TV  plus the team of Telesur were reportedly all in danger.  Voltaire Network reported that it has been very moved by messages of support has received since its reporters were threatened for targeted killing.

"Thank you all. Your mobilization was tremendous," said Thierry Meyssan when he arrived in Malta, thanking everyone who lent support since he and Mahdi Darius Naemroaya had been threatened for targeted killing.

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"We owe you our lives."

Meyssan was one of the two independent reporters who received death threats last week.

Walter E. Fauntroy, former United States congressman and former assistant to Martin Luther King also arrived safely.

"The boat that they boarded to leave Libya had room for only 12 people. It eventually accommodated 52 refugees in addition to the crew. It took them 36 hours to reach Malta in very rough seas," reported Voltaire Network News on Monday.
 
A report by Meysann sent to South Journal read, “Before departing Libya, the list of passengers was submitted to intense revision and evaluation by different authorities currently controlling Tripoli; until the last minute we were afraid that the Voltaire group and some other friends were not allowed to depart, while someone, whose name we do not know, was arrested by the rebels onboard the boat.
 
Voltaire reported:
"Before departure, the passenger list had been the subject of intense negotiations and was finally approved by the various authorities who now control Tripoli. Until the last moment, the journalists of Voltaire Network and their friends were worried they would be unable to embark. At the end, one person, whose name we don’t know, was arrested on the boat by the rebels."
 “Fifty-two persons were able to make it to the boat and save their lives, but they left many friends behind,” the report stated.
 
"While NATO has proven its capacity to kill thousands of Libyan soldiers from the skies, it has failed to convey respectability to the marauding "rebels" under its wing, posing as freedom fighters." wrote Glenn Ford, as reported by Voltaire.
 
"The latter, however, should not get too used to their spot in the limelight, which is sure to wane when their usefulness as NATO stooges eventually dries up.
Thierry Meysann, Independent Journalist, Voltaire Network
Thierry Meysann, Independent Journalist, Voltaire Network
Photo credit: 
Voltaire Network

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Deborah Dupre' holds American and Australian science and education graduate degrees plus thirty years human rights, environmental and peace activism; led Aboriginal Pacific Islander and Australian research; holds pivotal role in FUEL; co-founded America's Green Team, FUEL; lectures on Ancient...

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