ICC prosecutor urges Security Council to act over Darfur crimes
June 5, 2012 (WASHINGTON) — Implementing the International Criminal Court
(ICC) arrest warrant against those indicted for war crimes committed
in Darfur will produce a “dramatic change” to the situation in Sudan’s
troubled western region, the ICC chief prosecutor told the UN Security
Council (UNSC) on Tuesday.
The Hague-based court also seeks to arrest the Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir after his refusal to cooperate with the ICC, to investigate his responsibility in genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Sudan refuses to cooperate with the war crimes tribunal saying its charges are politically motivated and baseless.
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ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who briefed on Tuesday the Security Council for the last time because he finishes his term at the end of June, said next phase of the case should involve arresting those indicted whose locations remain well known.
“The failure to arrest and surrender Mr. Harun, Mr. Kushayb, Mr.
Hussein and President Al Bashir is a direct challenge to the Council’s
authority, Ocampo further pointed out.
“[The] Reality is that Council members have to reconcile their
national interests with their responsibilities for peace and
security,” he further added.
Alluding to the possible arrest of Sudanese official abroad, he asked Council to implement the ICC arrest warrant issue by
requesting UN member countries or regional bodies to execute arrest
operations, if possible.
“Such discussion will be problematic, but the victims will receive a
clear message: they are not ignored. And the perpetrators will receive
a clear message: there will be no impunity,” he,
adding that, “Time is running out.”
Speaking about the situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile where the Sudanese army fight against the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North since one year ago, Ocampo said there are “serious allegations of thousands
of crimes committed in a vast territory by different parties.”
The ICC, its chief prosecutor said, conducted an impartial
investigation, receiving documents collected by the UN Commission of
Inquiry and reports from the Government of the Sudan itself. Hundreds
of testimonies were also reportedly collected from victims and eye
witnesses who escaped from the Sudan.
Most of the evidence, he said, is confidential to protect the lives of
the witnesses and their relatives.
The ICC chief prosecutor also accused the Sudan government of failure
to the arrest of its leader. He further blamed President Al Bashir of using his powers to continue
with his strategy and to ensure his own impunity and those of others
who follow his instructions.
He said Sudan threatened the international community to commit new crimes in other areas, “announcements of justice initiatives followed only by new announcements, not by action” or continued blackmailing of the international community over humanitarian files and peace talks.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeffrey DeLaurentis in his remarks to the Security Council briefing over Darfur and the ICC regretted that “justice has not been served.”
He however added that “Today’s report offers us an opportunity to reflect on what steps we can take to strengthen international efforts” to deal with the responsible of Darfur crimes.
He further agreed that the lack of progress and failure to arrest the indicted officials “merits renewed attention by this Council.”
Richard Dicker, Human Rights Watch’s International Justice Program director, told Reuters that Khartoum’s obstruction of justice had helped “spawn further abuses in Darfur and a surge in violence in South Kordofan,” where Haroun is now governor.
“It’s long past time for Security Council members to speak forcefully on Sudan’s obligation to cooperate with the ICC,” Dicker further said.
(ST)