Three Arab ministers slams ICC move against Sudan president
July 17, 2008 (??CAIRO) – Three Arab foreign ministers have condemned the move of the International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor who asked the pre-trial chamber to issue an arrest warrant against the Sudanese President.
Twenty four hours before an emergency meeting of the Arab foreign minister to discuss the indictment of President Omer al-Bashir by the ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit described the move as “very dangerous”.
Abul Gheit who was speaking on Thursday in a press conference with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, said Justice can only be achieved in Sudan through a political settlement.
He warned of “the danger of dealing irresponsibly with the situation in Sudan, which could lead to a breakdown in security and rattle political stability, particularly in the region of Darfur.”
Abul Gheit further expected Arab foreign ministers to take a clear stance against Ocampo indictment of the Sudanese president.
The Kuwaiti minister, for his part, wondered “if issuing such arrest warrant by the ICC would end the fighting and problems experienced by the Sudan”. He also warmed that “this decision will make matters worse and lead to further deteriorations.”
He expressed wishes that the pre-trial chamber would reject the prosecutor charges against al-Bashir.
“What matters is the protection of Sudan from collapse” al Sabah said he pointed that there are many conspiracies against Khartoum while it faces the challenges of achieving peace in Darfur and the south.
In Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem denounced the ICC Prosecutor charges against president al-Bashir. He added that the charges constitute “a dangerous precedent” against an elected president.
“This procedure is a serious unprecedented incident in the history of international relations and should not be allowed to be passed, particularly as it aims at destabilizing the situation in Sudan and thwarting attempts to establish peace in Darfur,” he said.
Yesterday the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has telephoned al-Bashir to express support, calling the indictment “a grave and unacceptable interference in Sudan’s internal affairs and in the affairs of all Islamic and Arab countries.”
On Monday 14 July, ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo formally requested an arrest warrant against al-Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. Judges are expected to take months to study the evidence before deciding whether to order Al-Bashir’s arrest.
In addition to seeking the arrest warrant, the prosecution asked the court to seize Bashir’s property and freeze his assets.
“Al-Bashir is the President. He is the Commander in Chief. Those are not just formal words. He used the whole state apparatus, he used the army, he enrolled the Militia/Janjaweed. They all report to him, they all obey him. His control is absolute.” added Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo.
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Dhieu Dok
Three Arab ministers slams ICC move against Sudan president
The Arab foreign ministers should shut up instead of talking. Thousands of people have been murdered systematically in Darfur while the foreign ministers including their head of states were silent. Didn’t they know people were being killed in Darfur? Is the life of Beshir more than over 200,00 Darfuris murdered by forces of evil. They must stop they hyporicy and face the truth. The ICC will not backup from arresting Beshir. China has been quiet because there is now way out.
Dhieu Dok
Bior-Makech
Three Arab ministers slams ICC move against Sudan president
I don’t blame you Arab Ministers for having no concern on what is happening in Darfur because they are not Arabians, these are true Africans that is why you took less concern to solve their problem. Icc indictment is the way forward to Darfur peace process otherwise Khartoum will continue commiting atrocities if not done.
One thing I want to ask, Is sudan arab country? if yes decide now for Darfur and if not then shut your mouths and leave Sudan issue to African Union.
Baggaran
Why are the arab ministers silent on the murder of 300,000 black muslims in Darfur?
Why are the arab ministers silent on the murder of 300,000 black muslims in Darfur?
«All they can do is to issue a statement of condemnation to console the Sudanese president,» wrote Abdel-Rahman al-Rashid, a leading Saudi columnist for the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Monday. «We must remember that the Arab League did not care about extermination of 300,000 Darfuris. It even refused to stand a moment of silence to the killings, displacements and burning.
Some have welcomed the charges against al-Bashir.
«This has long been overdue. Arab governments have not only turned their back to the sufferings of the Darfuris but encouraged al-Bashir to continue with his crimes,» said Bahey Eddin Hassan of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.