ICC prosecutor accuses Sudan of ‘covering up’ Darfur war crimes

By Wasil Ali

December 5, 2007 (NEW YORK) — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, accused the Sudanese government of systematically targeting civilians in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region.

“We are witnessing a calculated, organized campaign by Sudanese officials to attack individuals and further destroy the social fabric of entire communities. All information points not to chaotic and isolated acts, but to a pattern of attacks Ocampo told the UN Security Council (UNSC) today in his semi-annual briefing.

“Calling those crimes chaos or sporadic violence or ‘inter-tribal clashes is a cover up” he added.

The UNSC issued resolution 1593 under chapter VII in March 2005 referring the situation in Darfur to the ICC.

After 18 months of investigation Ocampo charged Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, and militia commander Ali Kushayb with crimes including murder, torture, persecution and intentionally attacking civilians.

The judges of the ICC approved Ocampo’s request last May and issued their first arrest warrants for Haroun and Kushayb accused of war crimes in Darfur.

Ocampo formally told the UNSC that Khartoum “has not complied with resolution 1593. The government of Sudan is not cooperating with my office or the court”.

The French envoy at the UNSC Jean-Maurice Ripert called on the council to remind Sudan of its obligations under resolution 1593.

But other UNSC members appeared reluctant to go beyond expressing moral support to the ICC work in Darfur.

“We’re not making any statements or threats now but clearly sanctions is one element in our armory and we’ll need to consider that when we see how the government of Sudan responds” British Ambassador John Sawers told reporters after the briefing.

Sawers said that the UNSC is working on a presidential statement that would express concern over the failure to arrest the suspects. He said that he hoped that the statement can be adopted this week.

But the Chinese ambassador voiced objections to pressing Sudan on the issue of the Darfur war crimes suspects.

China’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Liu Zhenmin said that “ignoring the overall situation and simply stressing the ending of impunity would be unlikely to receive the cooperation of the government of the Sudan and would not be conducive to the solution of the overall problems”

The ICC prosecutor warned that Haroun’s position enables him to threaten the life of Darfur refugees.

“Ahmad Harun had been present himself during specific operations against internally displaced persons camps in the past months” Ocampo said.

Sudan’s U.N. ambassador Abdel-Mahmood Mohamad called Ocampo’s report “the mother of all fabrications”.

“Ocampo exposed his moral bankruptcy… He came here in our opinion to make life miserable for the peace process.” He added.

The Sudanese envoy reiterated that his government will not hand over any of its citizens to the ICC.

Ocampo alleged that Khartoum is resettling Chadian refugees in Darfur and take over land that was destroyed during the war.

“Approximately 35,000 Chadians had also been encouraged to settle in destroyed villages or surrounding” he said.

The prosecutor appealed to the UNSC to prevent the commission of further crimes in Darfur by assisting in the arrest of Haroun.

“When will be a better time to arrest Harun? How many more women, girls, have to be raped? How many more persons have to be killed? You can make a difference, you can break the criminal system. What is at stake is, simply, the life or death of 2.5 million people”

The ICC official disclosed that some countries are assisting his office with tracking the movements of Haroun and Kushayb.

“I want to thank all those who have responded to our requests for information on possible movements of our indictees. I am pleased to report that no state has been reluctant to share information” Ocampo said.

It is not clear what countries Ocampo has requested information from but some unconfirmed reports said that Haroun has attempted to travel and perform yearly pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia using a forged passport.

ICC court officials speaking to Sudan Tribune would not confirm or deny the information but stressed that they are closely monitoring the movements of the two suspects.

Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statue, but the UN Security Council triggered the provisions under the Statue that enables it to refer situations in non-State parties to the world court if it deems that it is a threat to international peace and security.

(ST)