Sudan says no intention to announce emergency law
January 3, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government today denied reports that it will impose emergency law following the issuance of an arrest warrant for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq said in a statement that these reports are “incorrect” and “mere speculations”.
On Thursday the Saudi based Al-Watan quoting Sudanese diplomats said that Al-Bashir will conduct a ministerial reshuffle and form an emergency cabinet in wake of a possible arrest warrant.
Other measures would include restricting movements of aid organizations, diplomats and UN Darfur peacekeepers as well as monitoring planes.
The newspaper further said that these measures would effectively suspend implementation of the North-South peace agreement signed in 2005.
The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) which is a partner in the government announced its rejection of any such step describing it as a “violation of the constitution”.
However the deputy parliament speaker Atem Deng representing the SPLM said that emergency law can be implemented only if in agreement with ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Ali-Al-Sayed from the opposition democratic Unionist Party (DUP) criticized any such move saying it amounts to “military coup which is meaningless”.
Al-Sayed proposed forming broad based coalition government to deal with the ICC row, something which the NCP has vehemently rejected in the past.
In mid-July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno- Ocampo filed 10 charges against Al-Bashir: 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.
The ICC judges are still reviewing the evidence before making a ruling that could come as early as in a few weeks.
Many observers fear a backlash by Khartoum against peacekeepers and aid organizations in the event of an arrest warrant. Opposition parties voiced concern that the NCP would impose further restrictions on political life and media.
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
Sudan says no intention to announce emergency law
No CPA implemataion No matter we can not be convince by CPA, we have seem that Bashir is playing around with CPA implemtation. But violating the constitution because of this sadist al bashir is another crime to be slove by ICC. Bashir is nothing why should people agree on emergency law? and what kind of law is this?