NATO pilots bombed the Libyan Down
Syndrome Society, a parent-funded school for children with Down
Syndrome, early in the morning on April 30. The missile destroyed the
main wing of the school and the adjoining office of the government’s
commission for children. The bombing also damaged an orphanage in the
building. Fortunately, no children were on campus at the time.
Although the reason behind the attack
is unclear, Libyan government officials have stated that their leader
Moammar Gaddafi,
who was giving a live speech in a nearby television station, was the
intended target.
“They maybe wanted to hit the
television. This is a non-military, non-governmental building,”
said civil societies council head Mohammed al-Mehdi.
Despite the imperialist rhetoric about
protecting civilians, NATO forces are clearly attacking civilians and
have been doing so throughout their war on Libya.
“I felt sad really. I kept
thinking, what are we going to do with these children?” said the
founder of the school, Ismail Seddigh.
