Aegis calls for International fund to support ICC indictments

Feb 25, 2007 — The Aegis Trust welcomes the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor’s imminent indictment of some of those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, expected within days.

In past instances of mass killings it has taken many years for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Twelve years on, the genocidaires of Rwanda are still being tried in Rwanda’s gacaca courts and the International Tribunal in Arusha. Many of the war criminals and genocidaires of the former Yugolslavia are still on the run. However, the international community can learn from past mistakes and introduce the following measures now in order to maximise the chances of arrest and trial.

No peace without justice

Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust, stated: “In Rwanda many victims and survivors never lived to see the perpetrators caught and tried. The international community has a moral and legal obligation to the people of Darfur to make sure that this doesn’t occur again.

“There will be those who argue that the indictments should be put to one side in the interests of the struggling peace process in Darfur. However, the Darfur crisis is the latest in a string of mass atrocities committed by the Government of Sudan. Long term peace will only be achieved in Sudan if perpetrators are brought to account for their crimes against humanity.”

Four-point recommendation

“That is why the Aegis Trust is calling for the establishment of an international fund offering rewards for information leading to the location and arrest of named Sudanese war criminals; the United Nations Security Council to set a deadline for Sudan to hand over the suspects or face international sanctions; states to arrest any suspected war criminals travelling into their jurisdiction – including government officials, there should be no immunity, even for heads of state; and the UNSC to introduce targeted sanctions (asset freezes and travel bans) against all suspects.”

Janjaweed attack leader named

Survivors of the Janjaweed attack in which a village between El Fasher and Nyala was destroyed on Monday have identified the leader of the attack as Mohammed Ali Guma, of the Maalia tribe, a commander nick-named ‘Clay’ after Cassius Clay (original name of the boxer Mohammed Ali). They stated that the attack took place at 2pm in the afternoon, and involved the use of tanks. They claim that no rebel fighters were present in the village at the time, only civilians. Eight dead and four wounded have been named. The village is reported to have been burned to the ground. A more detailed account of the attack, and of the Janjaweed unit responsible, has been passed to war crimes investigators.

ENDS

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