Sudan to press terrorism charges against the ICC prosecutor
June 19, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese justice ministry filed terrorism charges against the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo, according to press reports.
Earlier this month the ICC prosecutor told Sudan Tribune that the a plane carrying Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, was going to be diverted on his way to Saudi Arabia in December to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
The disclosure of the arrest attempt angered the Sudanese government which described Ocampo as a “terrorist” and demanded that he be removed from office.
This week an ICC official told Sudan Tribune that the responsibility for arresting Darfur war crimes suspects lies with the states.
“The ICC does not have a police force to execute arrest warrants. We rely on countries to help us on that” the ICC official said on condition of anonymity.
The Sudanese officials told the newspaper that the case against Ocampo is pending but provided no details on specific steps taken.
The Rome Statue which forms the basis of the ICC confers diplomatic immunity on the prosecutor similar to “heads of diplomatic missions”. Moreover the prosecutor retains lifetime immunity from legal proceedings relating to any actions taken by him during his term in office.
This is not the first time Sudan has attempted filing charges against international figures.
Last year Khartoum filed an application with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) for the arrest of Irene Khan, the Secretary General of Amnesty International for “malicious reporting” on the torture of a jailed opposition leaders.
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.
Earlier this month Ocampo made his harshest condemnation of Khartoum in a report to the UN Security Council (UNSC) saying that he collected evidence of a “criminal plan based on the mobilization of the whole state apparatus, including the armed forces, the intelligence services, the diplomatic and public information bureaucracies, and the justice system”.
The ICC prosecutor said that his office is investigating who “is maintaining Haroun in a position to commit crimes; who is instructing him and others”.
The statements by Ocampo were taken to suggest that he is going after senior Sudanese officials.
“The Office anticipates that it will be able to present a new application under Article 58 of the Statute to the Judges by July 2008” the prosecutor said in his report to the UNSC.
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)
John Mou
Sudan to press terrorism charges against the ICC prosecutor
Mr. Moreno, it is you who have sharpen the terrorists, teeth to the extent that they claim of filing terrorism charges against you as the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
These people (Khartoum bin Ladenists) do not understand any language except that of Guantanamo Bay.
They are just only playing tricks with you so that you can not take any action against them. Don’t let them distract you from the right course but go on with your duty and let the world see that the most wanted are brought to justice without failure. Failing to bring such elements to justice will show that the ICC is powerless.
All the best.
Atenymaker
Sudan to press terrorism charges against the ICC prosecutor
‘Mr Luis Moreno a terrorist’!
ha!ha!ha!
Blaspamous NCP and its allies of facist Islamist (alqeada) are drowning in deep sea of Inocences Saviour Mr. Luis Moreno -Ocampo.
Analysis
Hi Ocampo and readers. know that your rifle is your mind full of knowldge of know-how to rescue meanwhile they are using rockets and heavy atoms to destroy people’s lives mercilessly in Africa. They are taught by devils deadlock to give baseless evidences upon you. Well you have mandates to do your work but where is Salah-al-deen’s mandates? If he can quoted his, proof me wrong if is not going to be terrorist mandate/donor.
Let them gnite their teeth to bear the same agony they have cause to inocents for years. keep on, vulnerable groups are cheering you despite their agony let’s see those Tyrrant in ICC, pliz donot forget their leaders who are the backing and shelling them. They are 51 and 100 others will emerge from hides.
Go on good Samaritan! God knows what you are doing but human is blindfold.