ICC urges global pressure on Sudan to hand over Darfur crimes suspects

April 25, 2008 (THE HAGUE) — The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday called for global pressure on Sudan to hand over two Darfur war crimes suspects for trial.

Almost one year after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Sudan’s secretary of state for humanitarian affairs Ahmed Harun and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb, Khartoum didn’t give sign of cooperation with the international justice over their case.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told AFP the time has come for the international community to “take sides,” three years after the United Nations Security Council mandated the court to prosecute.

“We are entering a decisive phase, a time of definition,” the ICC prosecutor said. “You have to choose which side you are on — we need a consistent approach.”

The magistrate said enforcing the warrants was “a challenge for diplomats,” and he would present a new report to the UN Security Council on June 5 which would show who in the Sudanese chain of command was protecting Harun.

“If the Sudanese authorities arrest him, they’ll show that they are not supporting crimes,” Moreno-Ocampo said.

“If not, a lack of arrest will give me additional proof … that they are part of a cover up.”

The ICC has been investigating crimes in the region following a decision three years ago by the UN Security Council to refer to it the situation in Darfur.

On April 27, 2007 – the ICC issued two arrest warrants against Sudan’s former State Minister of the Interior Ahmad Harun and Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb for 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Sudan has refused to surrender either Ali Kushayb or Ahmad Harun to the ICC. Instead, Harun has been promoted to State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, responsible for the welfare of the very victims of his alleged crimes.

As well as having considerable power over humanitarian operations, he is responsible for liaison with the international peacekeeping force (UNAMID) tasked with protecting civilians against such crimes.

The other suspect, Ali Kushayb, was in custody in Sudan on other charges at the time the ICC warrants were issued, but in October the government announced he had been released, reportedly due to “lack of evidence.”

(ST)