Arab-African delegation fails to convince UNSC on Darfur ICC deferral
February 12, 2009 (NEW YORK) — A joint Arab League-African Union (AU) delegation in New York met today with UN Security Council (UNSC) members to discuss deferring any charges that may be brought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
Japan’s UN Ambassador Yukio Takasu told reporters afterwards that AU envoy Ramadan Amamra argued that such a step would not undermine justice in Darfur.
The informal meeting was held in a closed session amid reports that a decision by ICC judges on Bashir’s case is imminent.
Diplomats who attended the meeting said that the delegation’s demand was met with strong resistance from the US, UK, Austria and Croatia.
“At this moment we’re not ready to support an initiative that would implement Article 16” French Deputy Ambassador Jean-Pierre Lacroix said.
The ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked pre-trial judges in mid-July 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.
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.
Earlier today US officials reiterated their position of blocking any deferral of ICC investigations.
“We want to see those who commit atrocities, who are responsible for atrocities taking place anywhere around the world, held accountable” the US State department Acting Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters today.
The French diplomat said that supporters of such an option did not have the nine votes within the council necessary for adoption of a deferral resolution.
The supporters in the UNSC appear to include Burkina Faso, China, Libya, Russia, Uganda and Vietnam.
However the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said that efforts will continue with the UNSC to push for a deferral.
The UN and many other Western embassies in the Sudanese capital have created security plans aimed at protecting their staff from any possible backlash following the decision by the ICC judges.
Sudanese officials have pledged to ensure safety of Western missions and UN staff but cautioned that they may not be able to control any outlaws.
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Garang Ayang Kuoi
Arab-African delegation fails to convince UNSC on Darfur ICC deferral
I do not only do not wish them leadership failure, but I strongly wish them shame for they have been the germs in African wounds. God bless my people, and may God give my people a strength to resist any injected fear and choose to cure the wound with iodine, though it is going to be too fainful.
God bless my country, the land of Sud (Black)
Akol Liai Mager
Arab-African delegation fails to convince UNSC on Darfur ICC deferral
“Such a stept would not undermine justice in Darfur” this Arab’s Puppet called Ramadan Amamra must be out of mind.
What other ways would justice be done to victims of actions than bringing perpetrators to stand before judges and defend themselves in the court?
Amamra should be indicted for the crime of attempting to protect mess muderers. Too, African Union should be warned by ICC to stay out of justice road and Arab League as well. Article sixteen [16] that Arab League is trying to have UNSC adopts it should only be considers if there are not enough evidences to prove wrong doing. War crimes in Darfur are facts even perpetrators admitted with their own words that; “we have killed 10,000 Dafur persons only, no prisoners of war [POWs], no wounded and no shelter standing in Darfur” these are Al Bashir words and Amamra is saying Darfurian deaths deserve to be dead. That’s how the world would see it Amamra.
Angelo M
Arab-African delegation fails to convince UNSC on Darfur ICC deferral
To me, ICC is “the hope for so many” who feel the hopelessness that powerful criminals could ever face justice they sow. If ICC fails in this day and age, may be people will have to look for means of justice elsewhere. No one should be above the law at any time in any place.