Sudanese media hail expected China ‘veto’ to block Bashir arrest warrant
September 1, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese media appeared poised for a Chinese veto in the UN Security Council (UNSC) to block a possible arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The pro-government daily Al-Rayaam used a similar headline “China does not rule out using veto to deflect Ocampo’s allegations”.
The (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in mid-July filed charges against Sudan president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir. Judges are still deliberating on the application in a process which could take from a few weeks to several months.
Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder and accused Al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.
Yesterday the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun delivered a letter from the Chinese President Hu Jintao to Al-Bashir.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted the Chinese official as criticizing the ICC move saying it does not help efforts undertaken to resolve the Darfur crisis.
Sudan’s deputy foreign minister Ali Karti said the letter from Jintao contained “the biggest and strongest truthful expression of support to Sudan’s different stances”.
But the Chinese envoy denied to reporters any intention to use the veto “at this stage” when an arrest warrant has not been issued yet. He also said that Beijing believes that there are “criminal issues [in Darfur] that require resolution”.
It is not clear what veto Jun Zhai Jun was referring to. Under Article 16 of the ICC Statute the UNSC only has the power to suspend ICC prosecutions through a chapter VII resolution.
But any such resolution introduced appears to have little chances of surviving a vote in the UNSC particularly with the veto wielding members such as US, UK and France opposing it.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statue, but the UNSC triggered 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)