Senegal president tells Sudan president no asylum for him if indicted
July 25, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade told his Sudanese counterpart during a phone conversation that he will not be able to offer him refuge if the judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue an arrest warrant for him.
He also said he does not think Al-Bashir “orchestrated the atrocities in Darfur” but blamed him “for not doing enough to avoid the situation”.
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked pre-trial judges last week to issue arrest warrants for 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.
If an arrest warrant is issued all countries which are parties to the ICC have an obligation to arrest Al-Bashir if he arrives on their territory.
The Senegalese president noted that while he has “strong friendship” with Al-Bashir he is also a “fervent campaigner for human rights”.
Wade said he spoke in length with the ICC prosecutor and told him that the move to indict Al-Bashir is “very serious”. However he raised the possibility of suspending the ICC indictment through the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Article 16 of the ICC Statue states that “no investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with under this Statute for a period of 12 months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, has requested the Court to that effect; that request may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions”.
The African Union (AU) this week asked the UNSC to invoke article 16 of Rome Statue and suspend any indictment of Sudan’s head of state.
It is widely expected that China and Russia would back such a step but neither have tabled a formal resolution.
However to gain an agreement within the UNSC, Sudan’s allies China and Russia must ensure that US, UK and France will not use the veto power to block a resolution on suspension.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statue, but the UNSC invoked the provisions under the Statue that enables it to refer situations in non-State parties to the world court if it deems that it is a threat to international peace and security.
(ST)
Kur
Senegal president tells Sudan president no asylum for him if indicted
Thank you Mr. Wade. People should be very clear on the issues that concern human rights. There is no refuge for those who commit such crimes in the 21st century. The era of genocidal regimes is over and people like Bashir must not be allowed to get away with this serious crimes.
Kur
phillip o
Senegal president tells Sudan president no asylum for him if indicted
While Senegalese, sudanese, and majority of the people in the world are compaigning for human rights, Ugandans, Russians, and Libyans are compaigning for the violation of human rights.I think they are terrorists allies.the indicment of the president Al Bashir by mr. Ocampo is highly welcomed by the Sudanese community although some are fearing the president’s RED EYES. I recommend Al Bashir to go to hell in the name of Jesus!