Sudan asks Russian support against the ICC
July 18, 2008 (MOSCOW) — Sudan has asked Russia to defend its president Omar al-Beshir from possible prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Sudan’s ambassador to Russia said on Friday.
“We asked Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to use its influence, ties and contacts to dispel this spectre threatening Sudan,” the Interfax news agency quoted ambassador Chol Deng Alak as saying at a news conference in Moscow.
Vice President Ali Osman Taha said this week that Sudan was in contact with the permanent members of the UN Security Council in an effort to block any formal arrest warrant. Under Article 16 of the Rome Statute, the council has the power to suspend ICC investigations or prosecutions for a year, with the possibility of renewed suspension.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Monday 14 July accused President al-Bashir of being behind genocide, crimes against the humanity and war crimes in Darfur and requested the pre-trial chamber to issue an arrest warrant against him.
“A demand like this undermines trust in international justice, is at variance with international law, and indicates that different standards are being applied to different regions and countries,” the ambassador told a news conference at RIA Novosti.
He said the prosecutor’s demand was very dangerous, “since it requires the arrest of the president of a sovereign state that has not signed the Rome Charter and is not a member of the International Criminal Court.”
“Why should the world community be set against [Sudan] over the Hague court prosecutor’s demand, when the country is on its way to democracy?” he said.
ICC prosecutor charges against the Sudanese president have prompted criticism from African countries, as well as China and Russia.
Last Wednesday, in U.N. Security Council meeting Russia and China expressed concerns that the prosecutor’s move against al-Bashir would hinder efforts to bring peace to the region, potentially opening the door to intervention by the Security Council.
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Baggaran
there is a spectre threatening Sudan
The violence in the Darfur region of Sudan has been marked by summary executions, mass rapes, inhumane treatment, pillaging and the forced displacement of more than 2 million civilians.
The ICC’s prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, accuses Bashir of having “masterminded and implemented” that campaign, which has ravaged Darfur since 2003.
In the five years since the atrocities began in Darfur, diplomatic efforts to solve the crisis have got little co-operation from the Sudanese government. The deployment of the peacekeeping force (which the Sudanese government took four years to agree to) remains slow and unsatisfactory. Only one-third of the authorised force has been deployed. Access by humanitarian workers and peacekeepers to the region is a daily struggle. Attacks and crimes against civilians in Darfur continue unabated. Rapes of women and girls continue on a daily basis.
Ask Chol Deng Alak to condemn the attacks on peacekeepers and aid workers and civilians to dispel this spectre threatening Sudan.
Wise Man
Sudan asks Russian support against the ICC
I wondered why the world, particularly Russia, China, Arab Countries and even the largest organisation (UN)and AU are protecting the potential terrorist by stymying a legitimate world’s court ivestigation. ICC is a body that maintains the laws and regulations and monitors the activaties of the countries believed to be violeting human rights.
I believe many countries fear to beat a drum of justice fearing that non-arab sudanese may become the victims of Al-Bashir reprisals but this is not the case.The truth must be let out. Al-bashir must be brought before the court and faces and defends the charges set against him. MR Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and I shared the basic mind-set held by most Sudanese but I regretted this is a wrong time to liable these charges against him, this should have been done in three years ago to avoid more killings.
all Options on the table, wow! this seems like a real typical threat and an intimidation but will not take Al-bashir and his officials any further. This is indeed a time the world is tired of Al-Bashir and so he must face the justic but I would love to assure all Sudanese not to use the indictment as a main tool for exploiting this notorious regime. There are many ways of killing rats as posted by one of our collegues yesterday’s articles. So let’s not use this indictment as a logical reason to defeat Al-bashir, this may look like we Marginalised Sudanese have had failed in accomplish a victory and now we have got a chance. Let’s not believe that but the principles of life. Power of the People. Power to the People!
Ahmed Chol
Sudan asks Russian support against the ICC
Chol Deng Alak,
You need to shut up over this issue. Let the Arabs fight it out. Defending this monster is going to be your own problem.
Ahmed Chol, the future commander of Anya-nya III