African rights groups praise ICC on Sudan but ask for fairness
July 16, 2008 (DAKAR) — African human rights organisations on Wednesday praised the request by the ICC’s chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for an arrest warrant for Sudan’s president but warned it of appearing biased against African countries.
On Monday, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo accused President Omar al-Beshir of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for him.
But while African human rights organisations praised the request to indict al-Beshir, there was also criticism Wednesday that the ICC was focusing too much on Africa.
“It is a very courageous act,” Malian lawyer Brahima Kone of Interafrican Union for Human Rights (IUHR) told AFP.
“It is a decisive step forwards in the fight against impunity in Africa,” the president of the Ouagadougou-based NGO, which unites some 30 African human rights groups, added.
In Senegal, human rights watchdog Raddho also praised the demand for an arrest warrant, but urged the ICC to be fairer in its investigations.
“Raddho calls on the judges of the ICC to show their fairness so as not to give the impression of an international justice system at two speeds,” the organisation said in a statement.
“Underdeveloped countries with no real power, African states are the weakest link in the international community and the easiest targets for the ICC … Everything leads us to believe that certain world leaders seem to have immunity from prosecution by the ICC,” it added.
The president of the Burkina Faso human rights organisation MBDHP, Chrysogone Zougmore, echoed the same sentiment.
“The ICC should also open its eyes to what happens in other countries in the world so that it is not perceived as only acting against African leaders at fault,” he said.
If the ICC granted its prosecutor’s request, it would be the first time it had brought charges against a sitting head of state since its creation in 2002.
Al-Beshir is the second African head of state who could be charged by an international court, following the indictment of former Liberian president Charles Taylor by the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The ICC, the world’s first permanent war crimes court, can only prosecute crimes committed by nationals of states party to the court or committed on the territory of state parties.
In rare instances cases involving non-state parties can also be referred to the court by the United Nations Security Council, as was the case with the Darfur investigation.
(AFP)
Sihs
African rights groups praise ICC on Sudan but ask for fairness
That what we looking for justice for everyone without exception , that means accusing western countries of atrocities in Iraq and Afganistan as well as any other dictatorship regime in Africa, Asia and Arab world , Sudan should not be the scapegoat or the Guinea Pig for the ICC , PAYING Sudan sovereginty and INTEGRITY for this UNILATERAL , controversial, and highly selective justice.
I kindly ask other commentator to read before (jumping on my throat) with hatered comments, overall we are all Sudanese , and we have one thing in common known as Sudan.
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
African rights groups praise ICC on Sudan but ask for fairness
I personal believe that we are tired of this guy he must be punished properly without any fair arrest, please African human rights organisations we don’t need beshir to act with his genocide policy in Sudan anymore and we don’t expect any fair trials, he must face any necessary action judge by ICC or UN.
Baggaran
African rights groups praise ICC on Sudan but ask for fairness
Of course the ICC should be fair and arrest every other president who has caused the deaths of so many thousands of his citizens.
Who are they?