Sudanese official criticizes political forces supporting ICC
March 4, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — A Sudanese Presidential aide has criticized political forces that announced their support for the trial of those accused of committing war crimes in Darfur at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and described them of being ignorant.
Sudanese Presidential Assistant and deputy leader of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Nafie Ali Nafie reiterated his strong criticism of political forces that announced their support for the ICC decision and said they were politically ignorant. He said by taking this stance these parties were committing political suicide and that their supporters would be given a reason to abandon them and join the national rank.
Nafie further commended position of the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani, and revealed that Al-Mirghani had contacted a number of NCP leaders and reiterated his rejection to handing over any Sudanese citizen for trial outside the country.
He further announced that anyone who evidence indicated was involved in criminal offences that violated the rights of individuals or groups would be tried, to be proven innocent or guilty stressing no one was above the law.
Nafie denied the government was intending to put forward for trial in Sudan those whose names appear on the ICC list and said “this will not necessarily occur”.
However, he categorically stressed that the government would try anyone against whom there was conclusive evidence of committing violations whether they held constitutional or political positions because everyone, according to Nafie, is equal in the eyes of the law.
The opposition National Ummah Party, led by Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, has urged the government, to cooperate with the ICC in the punishment of the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
In a statement, the party asked the government to stop its excitable manner, political buffoonery, procrastination and outbidding that have tarnished the country’s reputation, and instead sensibly accept the results of the investigations into Darfur war crimes and take a sound legal position that will stand up to the case.
In the same regard, the opposition Ummah Party for Reform and Renewal that is led by Mubarak al-Fadil, said the ICC in The Hague was the best place try the state minister for humanitarian affairs, Ahmed Haroun, and the other suspect, militia leader Ali Kushayb accused of war crimes in Darfur.
(ST)