Governor calls to handover Darfur crimes suspect to ICC

July 2, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The governor of West Darfur, who is a former rebel, has urged on the Sudanese government to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and handover Darfur crimes suspect to The Hague, Al-Ayam newspaper reported.

The governor of Western Darfur State, Abuelgasim Imam al-Haj called for handing over of those suspected of committing war crimes in Darfur to the ICC. He was speaking during a briefing presented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mutrif Sidiq in the capital of West Darfur State, Al-Geneina yesterday.

AL-Haj, who is a former SLM/A commander from South Darfur, signed a peace deal with the Sudanese government in Tripoli, Libya, on November 18, 2006.

Last February, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC prosecutor, filed evidence of 51 counts of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity against the two individuals, Ahmad Mohamed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs and Ali Mohammed Ali Abdelrahman, also known as Ali Kushayb who is a militia leader.

The situation in Darfur was referred to the ICC prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council in March 2005, but Sudan rejects to cooperate with The Hague saying it does not recognize the court and it does not have any jurisdiction.

The Sudanese Justice minister Ali Al-Mardi rejected last May the arrest warrant issued by the ICC against the two suspects. This order “is, in our view, absolutely null and void and should have no consequence. Its invalidity stems from the fact it is a violation of the principles of international law. We are a sovereign state with a seat at the UN and a state that is internationally recognized – which has legal, constitutional and geographical jurisdiction over its territory. Therefore all those who are within its territory are subject to state jurisdiction.”

(ST)