Darfur JEM deplore Arab league, AU position on ICC indictment
By Wasil Ali
July 20, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — A Darfur rebel group slammed resolution by the Arab League today that backed Sudan in its row with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked pre-trial judges on Monday to issue arrest warrants for Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir.
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.
Ahmed Hussein spokesperson of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) challenged the Arab League statement saying that Sudanese laws do not contain provisions for war crimes.
“Leaving aside the fact that the Sudanese judiciary is heavily influenced by the executive branch, there is nothing in the penal law that punishes perpetrators of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity” Hussein told Sudan Tribune by phone.
“So from a legal standpoint this part of the resolution [Arab League] is a flawed one” he added.
Darfur rebel groups have long been critical of the Arab League accusing it of standing behind Khartoum at the expense of the Darfuris.
“I really fear that the Arab League will find itself in a position where it is conspiring with the Sudanese government against the people of Darfur. In the long run this may turn out disastrous” the JEM official said.
Darfur refugees stranded in Sudan & Chad have expressed joy over the ICC indictment describing it as long due.
Hussein said that the Darfur displaced want peace and returning to normal life but stressed that “justice is a key component of settlement”.
The JEM spokesperson also criticized the African Union (AU) for opposing the ICC indictment.
The African Peace and Security Council have condemned the ICC’s prosecutor request for arrest warrant against Al-Bashir and many African officials called for its uspension.
“Article 4 of the AU’s Constitutive Act confers the right by the body to step in when there are grave violations of human rights in any member state. This includes war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity” he said.
“So why did the AU not invoke this clause? Do they not think that the situation in Darfur is severe enough after 5 years?” he added.
African nations have generally sided with Khartoum with relation to Darfur though sometimes there has been some dissent.
In 2006 former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo labeled the situation in Darfur as genocide, the first labeling by an African leader.
“It is not in the interest of Sudan nor in the interest of Africa, nor indeed in the interest of the world, for us all to stand by, fold our hands and see genocide in Darfur,” Obasanjo said.
The United Nations has said 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million been displaced. Khartoum puts the number of dead at 10,000.
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Petero igaa
Darfur JEM deplore Arab league, AU position on ICC indictment
Dear Ahmed Hussein spokesperson of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM,
I agree with your reaction towards the stand of the Arab League. I would think Muslim brother can not pick a sword / Shef against a muslim brother. The reverse of this scenario would be that, it is a muslim using the sword against a christian of infidel. The government in Khartoum and the Arab league know what they are doing. Such plan by the arab league is no supprise to me. What is intersting is that, how can the AU, UN International community be fooled with the successive notoriuos goverments of Khartoums. Perhaps they have not been fooled but the individual countries constuting these bodies have their interest in these government or the nation sudan, ofcourse we all have our priorities.
UN is suppose to assume the role of world police, but it has shown gorss weakness: AU is suppose to oversee affairs of African states, but it has proved weak and bias.
My fellow Sudaese (Darfuris), the Great God who have created the heavens and the earth is living and seeing what is happening in Darfur. The plight of the children, women old men and women, the helpless will not go for free. God will give the marginalised in the Sudan Justice; whether you are marginalised by your own community or marginalised by the Sudan Arabs. Forget about the AU, UN International Community; Let the living God deal with them, either by bringing them to your side or not.
Whatever good you see happening in this Country now is God’s Good Works, it is not by power nor might, but by the spirit of the Living God. Time has come for liberty, deliverance, freedom for all, no one is gonna stop it.
ICC weapon is over due; this should have been the weapon used form day one.
“Bashir is running like a crazy dog while china is jumping up & down like a big rat dropped into an empty water jug”
My last word is that, the Darfuris should stand united, forget about fights over power, wealth leadership etc. Allie with enemy is like diggin your onw grave. When you feel defeated come back home and tell your brothers and sister that you can not go any further instead of running to side with the enemy in hope of getting better life. JEM SPLM etc unite and fight for a common goal: freedom, Justice liberty, prosperity, wealth, power, Development any good for the Darfuris.
God/Alah bless us all.
Petero