Sudanese kids view ICC prosecutor as a ‘devil’: Official
October 8, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The children of Sudan look upon the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo as a devil, a Sudanese official said today.
“Sudanese kids view Ocampo as a devil so this is why they call his name for help; because he is an evil and frightening character” the Sudanese minister for science and technology Ibrahim Ahmed Omer told the daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper today.
Omer was responding to a question on the popularity Ocampo gained among the Sudanese people since his move to indict president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The Sudanese official speaking to the London based newspaper from Austria downplayed the significance of Ocampo’s name used on a new style of traditional Sudanese female dress (tobs) reported to be priced at 500 US dollars.
“I never heard of this Ocampo tobs. If it is found then it is worth no more than two pennies” he said.
Omer also dismissed reports that the Sudanese public acted indifferently to Al-Bashir’s indictment saying that the head of state gained more popularity.
In mid-July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced that he is seeking an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. It was only last week that judges have started reviewing the case in a process that could possibly drag on to next year.
His announcement sparked outrage in Sudan, with supporters of Beshir and his National Congress Party taking to the streets shouting “Death to Ocampo!” — albeit in nothing like the numbers predicted by frenzied observers, Agence France Press had reported.
A number of regional organizations including the AU, Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned Ocampo’s request and called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution deferring Al-Bashir’s indictment.
However Western countries with veto powers in the UNSC have been hesitant to endorse such a move saying that there needs to be progress on the ground before such a resolution is adopted.
The Sudanese minister accused Ocampo of using the case to cover up political motives for regime change and reiterated that Khartoum will not deal with the ICC. However he said that Sudan’s “friends will put a leash on the court”.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute, but the UNSC triggered the provisions under the Statute 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)