Sudan announces new phase in Darfur war crimes probe
February 15, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government announced today that it began field investigations into alleged right abuses that occurred in Darfur during the heights of the conflict 2003-2004.
Sabdarat also said the commission headed by Darfur prosecutor Nimr Ibrahim Mohamed will also examine the victims’ graves and will then head to the capital of South Darfur.
He noted that the investigations are not yet complete.
In August 2008 Sudan appointed a special prosecutor as part of legal means to deflect ICC jurisdiction over Darfur case.
Sudan news agency (SUNA) said that the special prosecutor will report monthly on the progress of his work.
However little has emerged about the findings of the committee though Sudan said that the commission is reviewing allegations made against militia commander Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman, also know as Ali Kushayb.
Kushayb is one of two suspects named by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2007 in relation to 51 counts of alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, including persecution, torture, murder and rape committed in Darfur in 2003 and 2004.
According to SMC the militia leader is among of 28 suspects in the Delaij village incident who may be prosecuted under criminal code relating to co-perpetrating, looting, murder and kidnapping.
Kushayb was previously cleared in 2007 by Sudanese courts from any wrongdoings in the Delaij case.
The announcement come as the ICC is preparing to issue an arrest warrant for president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on an unspecified number of counts.
Furthermore an African Union (AU) panel headed by former South African leader Thabo Mbeki will head to Sudan this week to come up with recommendations on ways to reconcile the need for accountability in Darfur with opposition to calls for Bashir to be prosecuted.
The deputy Sudanese ambassador to Ethiopia Akoy Bona Malwal told reporters earlier this month that this committee will evaluate the ability of Sudanese courts to look into crimes committed in the Sudan’s western region since 2003.
Malwal said that if the panel is not satisfied with the performance of Sudanese court then a hybrid court could be setup to conduct trials.
However a senior ruling National Congress Party (NCP) denied any intention to accept foreign judges.
In 2004 the UNSC formed a UN commission of inquiry to look into Darfur abuses headed by former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Italian Antonio Cassese.
The commission concluded that the government did not pursue a policy of genocide in the Darfur region but that Khartoum and government-sponsored Arab militias known as the Janjaweed engaged in “widespread and systematic” abuse that may constitute crimes against humanity.
They further said that Sudanese judiciary is “is unable or unwilling” to prosecute those crimes and thus recommended referring the situation to the ICC.
(ST)
buokdeng
Sudan announces new phase in Darfur war crimes probe
Mr. Sabdarat, as a lawyer you know very well that there is no evidence to be collected from those villages. The crime seen has been tempered with if not destroyed by your thugs. Why pretend this time that there are crimes to be investigated? The ICC already has the real records of crimes committed by you and your thuggish president Bashir. Do you think you have any smartness left to fool the world and the people of Darfur? Shut up and wait for your arrest warrant, you are a criminal who is supposed to be investigated and locked up.
manis
Sudan announces new phase in Darfur war crimes probe
MR; Sabdrat and sudanese regime do not west your time and sudan people’s money, the arrest warranty will become reality at very soon and victims and their families in Darfur will not accept less than ICC trial,where have you and your regime been last six year of brutality killing,burning,and raping.Why your investication came after accusing of criminal Al Bashir,why your regime care about trial of one criminal and does not care of 500,000 innecent civillian killed by regime is that justice that you and your regime looking for,it is toooooooooooooooooooooooooo late.