ICC’s decision against Sudan Bashir received with joy, worries at Jonglei Capital
By Philip Thon Aleu
March 4, 2009 (BOR TOWN) — Listening to news of endorsement of charges brought against Sudan President over Television channels and local radio live coverage at 4pm local time, Bor town residents were thrown in silence; reviving the atrocities committed in Southern Sudan but neglected by ICC and fear of the outcome.
Some people are silence in extraordinary happiness or worries of the aftermath from Khartoum brutal government following Judges’ decision to release arrest for Mr. Bashir. But justice must take its course no matter when it is achieved, what it takes or how is approached.
Some of the southern Sudanese regret that the ICC does not treat their case depite the atrocities committed during the long years of war during which more than two million were killed. “Where was the International Crime Court when our people were killed massively in the 1990s by Khartoum forces?” an elderly man identified as Panchol asked. However, the ICC mandate does not allow it to review cases many years in the past.
Another resident identified as Yuana holds his arms above and shouts “we are happy.” Yuana was joined by youthful colleagues and performed what they describes as “those who killed by spear will be killed by spear.”
The ICC‘s Pre-Trial Chamber 1 issued on Wednesday an arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir charging him of war crimes and crimes against humanity excluding the charges of genocide.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo has requested an arrest warrant for President Omer Al-Bashir including three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. The charges are connected to the conflict that broke out in Darfur in 2003.
Contacted to comment on the ICC announcement to arrest Al-Bahsir, SPLM Jonglei State Secretary Both Chuol says his position is for SPLM yet to be heard from Juba.
“If I comment now, what about the SPLM head office in Juba,” he told the Sudan Tribune Wednesday evening.
Other Jonglei State officials contacted refused to talk on record but moods of happiness could be sense from their tunes.
The Chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the Sudan’s First Vice President voiced on Wednesday his support for Al-Bashir yet urging calm and stability.
“This episode should not be viewed as a crisis but as an opportunity to consolidate peace, justice and stability in our country,” Kiir said.
(ST)