SLM-Minnawi backs ICC move against Sudan president
March 6, 2009 (PARIS) — The major Darfur rebel faction that signed an agreement with the Sudanese government issued a statement today “strongly supporting” the International Criminal Court (ICC) accusation against president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
SLM-Minnawi said the indictment “is a realistic result for the un-sapience and irrational means of tackling political conflicts”.
On Wednesday the ICC judges approved a request by prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to charge Bashir on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include murder, rape and torture. The three-judge panel said it had insufficient grounds for genocide.
“SLM/A regrets the government polices that led the country to this miserable end” the statement read.
Minnawi who is also Bashir’s senior presidential assistant said yesterday that he is committed to implementing the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed over two years ago in Abuja, Nigeria.
He made his remarks at a gathering at Bashir’s residence with representatives of Sudanese political powers and civil society movements.
Following the signing of DPA Minnawi was appointed to his position as a senior assistant but constantly complained about lack of implementation of the agreement.
Minnawi said that enforcing national justice is the “ideal solution” for many problems in the context of Darfur conflict.
However Minnawi did not specifically mention the ICC arrest warrant for Bashir.
A senior official at the SLM-Minnawi speaking to Sudan Tribune denied that there is any contradiction in stances with regard to the ICC.
“Minnawi was speaking in his capacity as a government official and all the obligations that come with it. However the SLM which he chairs has a very clear position on this”.
The SLM official referred to what he described as a similar situation within southern Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the ICC issue.
The SPLM chairman Salva Kiir who is also the First Vice President has recently shifted tones speaking about the dangers posed by Bashir’s indictment to the stability of the country.
The SPLM official position has been to call on the NCP to deal with the ICC legally and exercising self restraint to avoid confrontation with the international community.
“The atrocities in which hundreds are killed and millions are forced to flee to IDP and Refugee camps, and thousands strayed to nowhere, is a responsibility of the government, who dismantled the National Judiciary, impeded justice and provided impunity for perpetrators” the SLM statement said.
“This tragedy awakened the conscience of the International Community, who then unmasked the government and forced it to hold the responsibility” Minnawi’s faction said.
In the past Minnawi has expressed support to the ICC investigations in Darfur putting him at odd with the National Congress Party (NCP).
Last December the senior presidential assistant said that “Sudan as member of the UN should respect the ICC and defend its case at the ICC” in an interview with independent Darfur Radio Dabanga.
“The law is above everyone. Anyone not respecting the law has to be punished” he added.
Sudan refuses to recognize the court saying it did not ratify its founding treaty and vowed not to hand over any of citizens to be tried at The Hague based court.
(ST)