SLM chief says ICC will bring justice to Darfur
By Jimmy Mulla
July 22, 2008 (WASHINGTON) – Abdel-Wahid al-Nur, leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) reaffirmed the support of his organization to the ICC indictment of President Omar al-Bashir, adding that only the international court will bring justice to Darfur and to the Sudanese people.
The Paris based rebel leader who is in visit to the U.S., briefed the members of Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom, a Washington-based advocacy group about the current developments in Sudan, on July 19.
Al-Nur said, “There will not be any reconciliation unless those who commit crimes against humanity in Darfur and Sudan are prosecuted.” Anyone charged with genocide, he added, must face justice, without exception.
Al-Nur is in Washington to discuss the Darfur situation with U.S administration officials. With no real progress on the ground and uncertain peace mediation efforts, American officials are eager to exchange views about the situation in Darfur and seek ways to bring peace to that region.
Once considered a dissident in the peace negotiations, Al-Nur is now considered an honorable interlocutor, holding meetings at the State Department with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazier, and with administration officials on the African desk at the White House.
The rebel chief said available to the ICC whenever it might call on him, “today, tomorrow or any time in the future,” because the SLM is seeking for justice and nothing less. He added that since Sudan is a country with no laws and no due process to prosecute those who commit crimes, the ICC indictment is that much more crucial, and he called on the United States, France, United Kingdom, the UN and all countries that embrace human rights to support the ICC.
On Monday July 14, 2008 ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused Sudan’s President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on 10 charges of genocide related to an almost five-year long campaign to exterminate three Darfur tribes.
According to the U.N, an estimated 300,000 lives have been lost in Darfur and 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes. The indictment marks the first time a sitting head of state has been charged by the world war crimes tribunal.
Al-Nur also talked about unity among the various factions in Darfur, and the role of the international community to bring peace to Darfur.
On unity with other Darfur rebel groups, al-Nur said the SLM is working to unite its ranks, but admitted there are significant ideological differences between his group and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
According to al-Nur, the JEM follows an “Islamic ideology similar to one practiced by the current ruling Khartoum-based National Congress Party”, whereas his group embraces secularism.
In another development, Al-Nur said Minni Minawi, special assistant to the President of Sudan and leader of the only rebel faction which signed the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), is at odds with the government of Sudan.
Al-Nur concluded his remarks by saying that justice before peace is the way forward because the Sudanese believe that those who commit crimes must be prosecuted, to avoid “counter-genocide when victims gain power.”
(ST)