Darfur rebel chief says will surrender to ICC if charged
June 12, 2008 (PARIS) – A Darfur rebel leader living in France hailed the recent report by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo submitted last week.
“We fully support the work of the Ocampo and the ICC and stand ready to provide them with any assistance needed”.
Ocampo delivered his semi-annual report to the UN Security Council (UNSC) last week in which he provided information on his current investigations into the ongoing attacks against civilians in the war ravaged region.
The ICC prosecutor announced that he intends to charge Sudanese officials with war crimes next month. He accused the state apparatus in Sudan of working collectively to commit crimes in Darfur.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he reached this conclusion. Throughout the years the Sudanese government has conspired to kill hundreds of thousands of my people. This is why they fear the ICC” Al-Nur said.
“I will turn myself in to the ICC if accused of war crimes. Unlike Sudanese officials I have nothing to fear. I did nothing wrong” he added.
The SLM leader called on the international community to support the ICC and enforce the arrest warrants.
Costa Rica, a non-permanent UNSC member, circulated a draft presidential statement calling on Sudan to cooperate with the ICC. It is not clear if the statement will gain unanimous approval required for adoption from council members.
There have also been reports that the statement may be tabled as a resolution since Russia, China, Libya and Indonesia raised objections to a weakened presidential statement.
“The UN Security Council (UNSC) referred the Darfur crimes to the ICC. It is only logical that they support the court and force Sudan to comply with its resolutions” he said.
“Anything short of full support by the UNSC sends wrong message to war criminals anywhere in the world; that they can commit crimes with impunity” Al-Nur added.
The rebel leader also rejected views among UNSC members that the issue of ICC may impede political settlement efforts in Darfur.
“This is nonsense. My movement represents a large population of the refugees living in camps today. They want to see those who led them to be in this situation punished” he said.
“The justice issue will not be subject to any compromise whether now or in the future” AL-Nur added.
The judges of the ICC issued their first arrest warrants for suspects accused of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region a year ago.
The warrants were issued for Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, and militia commander Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman, also know as Ali Kushayb. Sudan has so far rejected handing over the two suspects.
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)
Uncle Louish
Darfur rebel chief says will surrender to ICC if charged
Dear Exilee,
In the first instance, I salute you now that the truth is beginning to shine in you. Perhaps, it is the westernisation of Wahidism that talks but not your real identity as Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur we knew!
You are talking like a distanced man knowing that nothing may befall you. When have you and your movement provened worth your language and by the way, have you forgotten the fact that you are altogether the cause of Darfur attrocities? So, stop betraying others in order to be seen as innocent Leader.
Darfur attrocities need Darfur solution but not threats which we have long heard yet do not yield positive results. What we all know about ICC and those who are always convicted is enough for us to jusify our own cause; otherwise OCampo as an agent of ICC is only to prosecute the war criminals but not to bring peace to Darfur. Therefore, as a Southerner who is so much concerned about Darfur war, I feel good to hear of tidings that will, sooner than later, lead to a lasting peace in Darfur and Sudan as a whole.
As for you, may I ask that you come back in order to find solution to Darfur war and jointly support the ICC to accomplish the set task of prosecution as well as sealing a comprehensive Darfur deal in full but not in parts!
In-sha ALah, we will cease to hear of Darfur war ya Sudanese!!!
Uncle Louish can be reached at: [email protected]