Darfur war crimes suspect denies attempt to travel abroad
June 8, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese minister accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes in Darfur denied reports that he tried to travel abroad last year.
But Haroun told the Al-Jazeera Arabic language TV that he had no plans to perform pilgrimage last year.
“The ICC is lying in the same way it is breathing. I never planned to go perform pilgrimage. I was part of a committee that presented a report to the Sudanese president two days before the Eid Al-Adha [Muslim holiday following pilgrim season]” he said.
“It is the ICC which committing crime and practicing airplane hijacking” he added.
Earlier this year a well placed source in Khartoum told Sudan Tribune that Haroun, wanted to fly to Saudi Arabia on a forged passport.
Haroun ended up cancelling his travel plans after the Sudanese government found out, the source added.
The Sudanese minister accused the ICC of trying to draw attention away from the attack made by Darfur rebel group Justice and Equality Movement [JEM] on the capital last month.
“The court is not worthy of respect and is using criminal methods” Haroun said.
The judges of the ICC issued their first arrest warrants for suspects accused of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region in May 2007.
The warrants were issued for Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, and militia commander Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb. Sudan has so far rejected handing over the two suspects.
But Ocampo expressed confidence that Haroun will be arrested.
“As soon as Haroun leaves Sudan he will be arrested. He is a fugitive. Inside Sudan he could have freedom. Outside Sudan he will be in jail” the ICC Prosecutor said.
The prosecutor did not rule out the possibility that Haroun might make further attempts to travel abroad.
“He [Haroun] has medical problems so he could attempt. He sometimes he needs to go outside using different passports” he said.
The Sudanese official was in Jordan, the only Arab country who is party to the ICC, for medical treatment when the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo publicly announced charges against him in February 2007. The Sudanese minister returned immediately to Khartoum that day.
Last September Haroun told daily Al-Rayaam newspaper that he is not concerned about the International Police (INTERPOL) red notices distributed worldwide asking for his arrest and he will travel if needed.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statue, but the UN Security Council (UNSC) invoked the provisions under the Statue that enables it to refer situations in non-State parties to the world court if it deems that it is a threat to international peace and security.
(ST)