Sudan reportedly offers India investment slots in return for political backing
November 23, 2008 (NEW DELHI) — The Sudanese government has offered India a wide array of investment opportunities and privileges in return for supporting its stance on International Criminal Court (ICC) indictment of Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir, an Indian newspaper reported.
“Sudan has offered India a surprising free run of its economy although there is a quid pro quo attached” the Indian Tehelka weekly magazine reported.
The proposal came during a visit of the Sudanese minister of finance and economy Awad Al-Jaz to New Delhi last month in which he delivered a message from Al-Bashir to his Indian counterpart.
Tehelka weekly described the Sudanese offer as a “bounty” which included building railways, setting up paper, sugar, and food processing industries as well as having Indian banks operate in the East African nation.
“We are asking our embassy in India to take care of every man and woman who wants to come to Sudan. We look forward to seeing more Indians in our country” Al-Jaz told reporters during the visit.
“The reason for the economic open season is simple: Sudan believes that India has global clout, especially with the US after the civilian nuclear deal between the two countries. Sudan could use a little of that influence, considering that the international community seems to be acting against the Sudanese president for alleged crimes during the conflict in Darfur” the magazine said.
The ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo Ocampo announced in mid-July that he requested an arrest warrant for Al-Bashir on 10 counts of war crimes and genocide.
The African Union, Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) called for invoking Article 16 which allows the UNSC to suspend the ICC prosecutions in any case for a period of 12 months that can be renewed indefinitely.
India as a leading member of the NAM supported a resolution condemning the indictment of Al-Bashir.
The statement by the India foreign ministry after Al-Jazz noted that New Delhi “is neither a signatory to nor has it ratified the instrument establishing the said body. Any action that might detract from ongoing efforts to reach an early resolution of the Darfur conflict might have undesirable consequences”.
But the statement feel short of condemning The Hague based court or defending the Sudanese head of state.
Khartoum has reportedly asked Jordan and Saudi Arabia to mediate with Western countries on agreeing to an ICC deferral but was turned down.
(ST)
tergeli
Sudan reportedly offers India investment slots in return for political backing
i am so sorry for all the attempts,trials being made by the stooges of Bashir on the issue of ICC, it’s already too late.
You people you need to understand that life can’t be revived, where on earth will bashir bring back millions of life lost in darfur, peace in darfur is not the main issue of Ocampo with his team but the atrocities done to people. He is really Observing CAMPs Optically soon he will be reaching all of you.
India has nothing to do with ICC, Let’s welcome them to make some changes since the country is “failed state” as Pagan put it. Be yourselves and you can do something good to the nation.