Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
July 21, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Chadian government today flatly rejected calls by rights groups to arrest visiting Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir who arrived today in Ndjamena despite an outstanding arrest warrant for him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
But senior Chadian officials made it clear this will not happen.
“Omar al-Bashir was invited to the summit in his capacity as president of a CEN-SAD member and he has nothing to worry about,” said Chad’s Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Mahamat said Chad was following the position of the African Union in allowing Bashir to visit, a position agreed by the regional body after the initial ICC warrant was issued.
“Everybody is working for the resolution of the Darfur crisis. It is not the moment to add other charges to complicate the situation. Our priority is peace in Sudan,” Mahamat said.
The AU resolution pushed by the host Libya last year states that none of the countries in the continent shall cooperate with the ICC in arresting Bashir. Several countries including Chad said they will not abide by it because they were not given a chance to express their reservations.
The ICC issued its second arrest warrant al-Bashir just last week adding three new counts of genocide to the already existing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The interior minister stressed that his country is under no obligation to nab Bashir and extradite him to The Hague.
“What country has ever arrested a sitting head of state? Bashir won’t be arrested in Chad,” Interior Minister Ahmat Mahamat Bachir told Agence France Presse (AFP).
“Chad is a sovereign and independent state…. We are not dependent on the injunctions of international organizations” he added.
Deby and Bashir held closed talks after which they told reporters that they have started a new era in their relationship after years of proxy wars and accusing each other of backing the rebels.
AFP reported that neither the French ambassador in Chad nor the US charge d’Affaires took part in the welcoming reception for Bashir at Ndjamena airport, although they were present for the earlier arrivals of the Somali and Comorian leaders.
The U.S. said today that Chad had obligations under the Rome Statue but was careful not to condemn Ndjamena for receiving the Sudanese president.
“Chad is a party to the Rome Statute and has obligations as a result. We’ll leave it to the Government of Chad to explain why it did or did not take actions in – related to those obligations” said U.S. state department spokesperson Philip J. Crowley.
“We strongly support international efforts to bring those responsible for genocide and war crimes in Darfur to justice. We believe that there cannot be a lasting peace in Darfur or stability in Sudan without accountability and justice. And we will continue to call upon Sudan and other parties to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court. As we’ve said many times, ultimately President Bashir must present himself to the court and answer the charges that have been leveled against him” he added.
Crowley said he doesn’t know whether U.S. brought up the issue with Ndjamena but refused to say whether Washington was happy about Bashir evading arrest saying “I’m not going to characterize our mood”.
The U.S. is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and has been hostile to the court despite warming up to it in recent years.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said through a spokesman that it was up to countries that are party to the court “to live up to their obligations as they see fit.”
“Of course he said repeatedly that… there are charges that have been put forward by the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court and these charges are very serious,” Ban’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said Wednesday.
Both Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI) urged Chad to arrest Bashir or bar him from entering the country.
“Chad risks the shameful distinction of being the first ICC member state to harbor a suspected war criminal from the court,” said Elise Keppler, International Justice Program senior counsel at Human Rights Watch. “Chad should not flout its obligations to arrest al-Bashir if he enters Chad.”
Before Bashir left for Chad, the Sudanese government expelled three senior Chadian opposition leaders including Timan Erdimi, Mahamat Nouri and Adouma Hassaballa.
President Deby, who made a landmark visit to Khartoum in February for the inauguration of Bashir’s new presidential term, had expelled Khalil Ibrahim who leads the powerful Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
“After Khalil’s expulsion, it was Sudan’s turn to respect their side of the deal” and expel the rebels, said another Chadian rebel on Tuesday.
A Chadian diplomat agreed. “President Bashir must show that he has done his work and that there are no more Chadian rebels in Sudan if he goes to Chad,” the diplomat told AFP.
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mikes
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
I want to asure chadian president,what you do is a criminal act by keeping bashir safe in chad, I hope you would have arrest him immediately,it’s an encouragement of criminal activities to continued in sudan,is good that chad would have not decive its self to be member of international criminal court of justice,chad seem to be biase not really state of ICC,shame on chadian president ,you are not real African by keeping this criminal safe in your country,please reverse your Idea Mr president and arrest this criminal call Bashir.By keeping bashir safe will not make your country to be safe is batter to keep Africa safe rather than individual interest,soon Bshir will face Justice not only Bashir is safe In chad but elsewhere may make him to be apprehended
soldier boy
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
I think Chadian government do not give a shit about other people life as long as they getting what they want..other wirse there is no way they could recieve fugitive in their land. unless is all about what you want other wires I could say there is no human rights any more.And God bless US
Chol Nyok
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
What a mess! How should a president accussed of mass manslaughter could walk in red carpet. This is a true betrayal to people of Darfur and entire world of justice. It shows how ignorance African are, toward Justice. Instead of Chadians handing him over to ICC, they welcomed him on the red carpet.
Bashir has abused the importance of the Red carpet. It is not meant for murders and that is why Kiir walks outside it.
I wish Sarkrozy could use his veto power to capture him.
DASODIKO
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
Debe he himself is wanted by the ICC for the killing of the indiginous Saara population on NOIR SEMEDI. So either he arrest this criminal Bashir or he himself face very soon the same warrant of arrest. We don’t know what was the deal between Iddris Debe and Moreno when they met in Paris last month.
Simpleman
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
Guys, Chadian government is so wise enough on its action, they know that arresting bashir at this time will betray the South Sudan Referendum because it will cause chaos all over the Country. So pleases stay calm and wait what Chadian government will do when he sets his two legs to Chad again other you have achieved your referendum result.
Padiet Deng Alony
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
How can chad do that to host the criminal,Debbe should be charged for hosting criminal wanted by ICC.
Warning our Southern Sudan President should limit his movement with bashir or just be in Juba. bashir now do not care about himself, he is commiting suicide and working dead body, he want to let others die with him.
Akuma
Chad rolls red carpet for Sudanese president, says Bashir is safe from arrest
Why International Criminal Court fear to arrest Al-Bashir in Sudan then to put much support to others nations to arrest Bashir. If Bashir was to be arrested. I think will not take such months and years not to be criminal jail/shell. Bashir has no forces and airplans that can prevent him not to be arrested. International Criminal court want to create confussion among African countries about Bashir’s arrest.
So, We african should not put our hands on Bashir arrest because our leaders are always fallens victims of such atrocities. Any one found/ involves himself or herself because of international money given to them to arrest Bashir. Would be the guilty for crime.
Internation criminal court have several groups/department and has many offices around. They should not confused people about Bashir arrest. Why Ocampo came to sudan last year and fail to arrest Bashir if he need to arrest him?
Don’t be push into traps like rats.
Dr. Akuma
USA