Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
June 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Monday accused the United States of pressing countries to deny the plane carrying President Omer Hassan al-Bashir entry into its airspace as he was on his way to China.
A drama unfolded on Monday morning as the plane carrying Bashir failed to show up at Beijing airport where Chinese and Sudanese officials including the ambassador were waiting to greet the visiting head of state at the beginning of his four-day visit.
But as time passed it was clear to officials waiting at the tarmac that Bashir’s plane has been delayed for reasons that were unknown to Sudanese and Chinese officials alike.
Chinese foreign ministry official Guan Enxia afterwards went to tell reporters gathered at the airport that Bashir’s scheduled events for Monday had been delayed but offered no explanation.
She instructed reporters to leave the airport and said they would be alerted ahead of time “if or when” Bashir arrives.
Chang Junling, a media official at the Sudanese Embassy in Beijing, said they did not know the reason for the delay or have any other information.
As news spread in Khartoum of Bashir’s no-show, speculations grew over the possibility that his plane was intercepted in mid air in compliance with an outstanding arrest warrant against him for war crimes and genocide he allegedly committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.
Adding more mystery into this was Iranian presidential officials telling Reuters that Bashir and his entourage have already left Tehran on their way to Beijing. This conflicted with sources in Khartoum telling Sudan Tribune that Bashir’s plane has returned to Iran after takeoff for unknown reasons.
The Sudanese foreign ministry later issued a statement confirming that Bashir circled back to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan.
“The plane of Field Marshal Omer al-Bashir President of the Republic to the Chinese capital Beijing, which had been scheduled for yesterday evening was delayed because of an amendment that took place on the route of the presidential plane over the territory of Turkmenistan at a time that it was no longer possible to pass through the new path forcing the pilot to return to Iran after flying over the territory of Turkmenistan at 9:30 yesterday evening Iran local time” said the statement.
The statement did not elaborate on why the route had to be changed.
But senior diplomatic sources explained to Sudan Tribune that authorities in Turkmenistan revoked its permission to Bashir’s plane and instead suggested another route. The reason for the action on the part of Turkmen authorities was not known.
Turkmenistan has not signed up for the Rome Statute which is the founding text of the ICC and therefore has no legal obligation to arrest Bashir.
According to the diplomats, Sudanese director of intelligence Mohamed Atta and foreign minister Ali Karti accompanying Bashir rejected the proposed route and voiced suspicion that it was a plot to apprehend their boss.
Following advice from Bashir’s aides the plane returned to Iran which received him again with full military honors. The Sudanese embassies in Tehran and Beijing then started working together on a new route that would alleviate any risks.
The sources said they received permission to fly over Pakistan en route to China adding that they believe that Turkmenistan came under pressure from the West to block Bashir’s plane.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted head of the political bureau at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Qutbi al-Mahdi as suggesting that the United States pressed the states in which Bashir’s plane was supposed to pass through its airspace.
Al-Mahdi noted that U.S. wanted China to disinvite Bashir and therefore said he expects that they exerted same pressure on the countries in Bashir’s route. He did not name these states but said that there are some that gave no weight to what the U.S. wanted and as such Bashir was able to travel to China again.
The NCP official acknowledged that there are always dangers surrounding Bashir’s travels abroad saying that this is normal for figures who stand in front of colonial powers. He assured that all safety precautions are put in place during these trips.
It is now expected that the Sudanese leader would extend his visit in China as a result of the one day-delay.
This is Bashir’s last visit to China as the head of a united Sudan. Next month South Sudan officially becomes a new state.
China is a major buyer of Sudanese crude oil, and will be keen to ensure the partition of Sudan into two states, Bashir’s north and a more oil-abundant south, will not descend into fighting that could disrupt supplies and damage Beijing’s stake on both sides of the new border.
Trade between China and Sudan grew to $8.6 billion in 2010, a rise of 35.1 percent on 2009 figures, powered by the rising value of Chinese imports of oil, according to Chinese customs statistics.
Sudan was China’s sixth biggest source of imported crude oil last year, when it supplied 12.6 million tonnes, compared with 44.6 million tonnes from the top supplier, Saudi Arabia.
“During President Bashir’s visit to China, both sides will discuss how to consolidate the traditional friendship between their two countries under new circumstances,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted as saying by a news report by Xinhua news agency confirming Bashir’s arrival.
Lei added that the two sides would also discuss Sudan’s “north-south peace process and the Darfur issue”.
The Chinese government have brushed aside criticism by human right groups on hosting the Sudanese leader who is wanted by the ICC saying that it is “quite reasonable” for Beijing to invite him.
On Monday, the US State department spokeswoman said that Washington is opposed to Bashir’s China visit.
“We continue to oppose invitations, facilitation, support for travel by ICC indictees,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
“We have a longstanding policy of strongly urging other nations to do the same,” she said.
“We have urged China to join the international community in its call for Sudan to cooperate fully with the ICC,” in line with UN Security Council resolution 1593, Nuland said.
This is in contrast to her statements last week in which she said that this is a “national decision” by China.
Bashir has been forced to cancel appearances at many regional and international events as a result of pressure by rights groups since the warrant was issued. This month he shunned attendance at a conference in Malaysia despite confirming attendance earlier after controversy started brewing over his invitation.
The eight-year conflict in Darfur between rebels and Sudan’s army has led to the deaths of as many as 300,000 people, mainly due to illness and starvation, and forced about 2.7 million to flee their homes, according to UN estimates. The Sudanese government has put the death toll at about 10,000.
The insurgents took up arms in 2003, accusing the government of neglecting the region.
(ST)
Meendebai
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
Oh.. great! It’s now becoming crystal clear that Mr Bashier will soon be caught, no matter wherever he might be. He will inevitably face the music.His days are ups, and there is no point to cry.
Aleu
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
Dear International community.
We were about to celebrate if Omar al Bashir was been intercept on air. This man is absolutely should be caught up alive on the air or go hell because has now repeated too many killing on thousand civilians in Abyei and Southern Kordofan State as well as the Darfur genocide.
We are very please to inform the International community that, Omar al Bashir is inhuman that have no room on earth to live he has to get what he had done to none Arab in the Sudan. The most powerful dictatorship men for example, Adolf Hitler, Saadam Hussein and many others they had gone in this earth and I don’t see any reason why Omar al Bashir the most qualified of the double genocides should not go.
Omar al Bashir is become a dangerous man and for International community to prove me wrong, in the beginning of this year alone, he had send some seniors to Middle East to telling them to stop selling oil to all Western nations including United States and send others to North Africa countries, the nations that are dominated by Arabs brothers to cut any relationship with all Western nations. I strongly belief that, the more chances the International community gave to this dangerous man, the more risky the worldwide would faces because he is now seeking to send messages to the bad guys to hate the Western nations.
If there is any way to intercept Omar al Bashir in the air between the place where he was visiting in China and coming back to Sudan, I would say do it please. This man is not only a danger to Sudanese people but there is a consideration to say that, he is one of the base support of terrorist groups.
George Bol
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
The Khartoum government has been exchanging Sudan oil with the China weapon for many years. I wonder how and why the Khartoum government argued that the South Sudan should pay the debt that they borrowed from China and Russia. The Business of Chinese government is well understood by South Sudan and the international world. This communist country( China) has been the weapons suppler to the Bashier regimes to eliminate the South so that they can continue with the exploration of our oil. I am glad that the world is monitoring the movement of Bashier and the China.
Lorolokin
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
For me I don’t care whether they (Chinese) invited Basher for weaponary deal or oil what matter now is that we need to face china,they killed all Southerners during struggle leave alone shelling weapon to Khartoum for cleansing,China will have to pay.To hell with politics.
Kinkak
Emmanuel Ajang Solomon
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
China, China. we are human being and can see what is the real position of our enemy or friend.What Bashir will tell u not to give south money after the independent on the beleave that his Militias are capable of capturing the Government in the South, or possible quop in the South are all known and will be proof wrong before your eyes and all.
China,U can not too close to bashir and expect to Kiir your especial friend,he knows all what you are doing to the people of South Sudan. Giving guns and buying for the War planes here and all the logistics, for plan ( B ) after the successful conduct of the referendum and separation as the result.
Bashir is trying to conveince China to give more time not to give any thing to South as report emarges that the Government will soon be taken by Militias,but nothing of that kind will happen or tribal kind of War, shame on all.
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
Dear readers;
Anything that causes doubt become a breaking news. It is a break news in the first place when Bashir visited Iran on what they two states called “anti-Terrorism Conference” and the trip was linked to visiting China and all visits became a breaking news to entire World. The deal of Bashir is obviouse and maybe the US is the only State aware of this plan and that is why US is bitter to call unspecified states to corporate with the ICC to apprehend Bashir.
From the BBC news this morning China position is very clear that the State stands by the Oil side and nothing else since it is not a signatory of the Rome Statue.
It is now upto the Government of South Sudan who some times called themselves by mistake or intentionally SPLM to cancel in future the deal with China since China is interested in oil. This view to me make China as a parasite to Sudan as a whole. If Bashir like this strategy relationship with China then both leaders Jintao and Bashir are all criminals.
It shall come to a full breaking news if all States fully participated to lock Bashir up in China for One month then they get hold of him. Right now, Bashir return to his State is a headache and need more security clearance and hardwork for him to come back safely. Let us wait to see how Bashir shall come to Sudan. I believe this shall be horrible and final trip for Bashir if he survives and win this trip without shame.
Senior Human
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
I am really praying to let this man be caught and brought to jusitice in USA
monduloka
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
once upon a time a cat cash a rat
puokbai
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
Time for Bashir near even though his plane is not hijack next time the cat will catch the rate.
Albino Kuel
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
No matter,how Bashir was lucky to get to China but next time .Almighty is watching us who is right in all does ,otherwise Omar must be arrest in coming two months and those countries supporting Bashir must be ask by ICC to explain what deal? they had agreed with Omar Bashir,If not then they should remove their fingers from now and they should cooperate with ICC from now onward.A good beginning makes a bad ending and friend is easier lost than found.
Kuel Madut
Thondet Manyang
Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane
Why Khartoum is panicing?????
There is prove now that Bashir is criminal.
For you South Sudanese, don’t mind about Bashir eviction or not for we are freed from him. Let him continues killing Northerners and they will know soon the impact of this regime.