Sudanese legislators denounce ICC charges against Bashir
July 16, 2008 (KHARTOUM — Sudanese lawmaker today denounced unanimously accusations of genocide leveled against the President of the Republic, saying his indictment by the International Criminal Court jeopardizes peace process and democratic transition.
ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir of running a campaign of genocide that has killed 35,000 people outright, at least another 100,000 through a “slow death” and forced 2.5 million to flee their homes in Sudan’s western region.
The National Assembly in an emergency session unanimously passed a resolution supporting the government’s position not to deal or to recognize the ICC for non-membership and uphold the right of Sudan in rejecting the jurisdiction of the court especially that it is not of the United Nations organs.
The Sudanese parliament considered that Ocampo’s accusations have no legal basis, but represent an attack against the President and it is contrary to international law and lack of proper foundations for the prosecution.
The legislators said the ICC charges aim at weakening the position of the head of state and threatening the stability in the country. They added it will have negative impact on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other peace agreements.
The prosecutor on Monday said Bashir had “personally instructed” his forces to annihilate three ethnic groups in Darfur region: “The crime of genocide is a crime of intention. Bashir had the intention to destroy the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups,” engaged in a rebellion in Darfur, he said.
They further said that the inclusion of the names of certain tribes in Ocampo’s report and his claim that they are victims of genocide mean to ignite “ethnic sedition” in the country.
They MPs urged the government to find a swift and comprehensive solution to Darfur crisis.
(ST)
thomas
Sudanese legislators denounce ICC charges against Bashir
First of all: Who are these legislators? Does anyone know their names? NONE of them better be any SPLM MP’s. I’ve noticed SPLM have been a little silent on this whole matter. I think that’s been encouraging so far. as you know; fools who don’t know what they’re talking about always shoot their mouths (read: Arab League and anybody else who supports impunity for Al-Bashir) and the wisest men & women choose their words carefully.
Secondly (regarding all this “denouncing” in general): A lot of the criticism against Moreno-Ocampo seeking an arrest warrant (it is judges who issue warrants) talks nonsense about the possible negative repercussions to Sudanese in general and Darfuris in particular. Yajamaah!, Al-Bashir and his friends in the north have been killing us for decades in the south. if you read the report Moreno-campo filed, with the rape and pillaging, even southerners would be surprised that his evil went this far. Al-Bashir decided to exterminate three whole tribes, what more can be do?! kill some more, rape some more? and who? Darfuris are already suffering. when northern politicians make all these threats to the UN peacekeepers and to Darfuris and all of us Sudanese and foreigners in Sudan. Is that what they are they saying? that not only will they “finish the job” in Darfur but spread their murders to the whole country and the UN peacekeepers and innocent foreigners and aid workers just to make the point that no one should dare challenge an Arabs? doesn’t this betray exactly Al-Bshir’s mentality and guilt(and the Northerners and Arabs all over the world who support him)?
Thirdly: People should understand what law and justice mean and how they work before they make all sorts of statements.
(A) It was the security council itself that referred this case to the ICC and Moreno-Ocampo. They told him “investigate these crimes in Darfur”, so he did. Prosecutors just collect evidence and present them to judges (not just the ICC but this is how most legal systems work).
(B) The judges (in this case it is 3 pre-trial judges) look at the evidence and decide if it’s sufficient for a trial, if so they issue a warrant for arrest.
(C) As for the “who will arrest him” business: Let me use an analogy, all regular police in most countries swear oaths to follow judges orders, if an individual policeman or police force decides to disobey the law or a judge’s instruction, that’s their choice. The judge cannot go out in the street and arrest people, that’s not his job. In the ICC’s case, it doesn’t matter if Sudan or the US are not parties to it (the Rome treaty). They are both UN members, thus every UN member is in this case the police and must arrest him should he step foot in their country (I’m assuming Al-Bashir won’t surrender voluntarily to defend himself in court. Also assuming not of those close to him decide to turn him in). But once again, that’s their individual choice. But the ball will be in their court. Look at this like any legal case, the prosecutor has done his job. Let’s wait and see if the judges will do theirs, and then we will the UN member states will do their job.
AramanaCaani junuba
Sudanese legislators denounce ICC charges against Bashir
WHAT?!
Legislators who are BRIBED to denounce?
When have they denounced Darfur atrocities? WHEN?!!! HYPOCRITES! You don’t deserve to be the legislators!the dead darfuris are not HUMAN BEINGS like you inorder for you NOT TO VALUE JUSTICE? WHAT IRRATIONALLITY MONSTERS!
phillip o
Sudanese legislators denounce ICC charges against Bashir
This so called lawmaker seems to be accomodity in the market that anyone can buy if he/she has the cash. “sudanese lawmaker denounced unanimously accusations of genocide leveled against the president of the republic…”
do you do that out of fear of the sharp knife of Beshir? i would rather you don’t include the issue of CPA as an excuse.you mean to say that the CPA will not be implemented without Beshir?
what if he resigns from the post, will that mark the end of the CPA?
Were you waiting to support the president but not the Darfurians?
if yes,then the best solution is to divide Sudan into countries so that Darfurians have their own share.
otherwise ICC is not meant to destroy but to creat justice in the world.why are you running away from reality?