Statement of the Chairman of SPLM Chapter Washington DC on the ICC Crisis

March 16, 2009 — Mr. Deng Deng Nhial Chairman of the SPLM Chapter Washington Metropolitan Area thanked His Excellency Sudan Ambassador to the United States Dr. Akec for inviting Sudanese to his residence on March 8th 2009 to dialogue and offer suggestions to the future of Sudan in the context of the ICC decision on President Bashir. He introduced Members of the SPLM Chapter Executive Committee. Mr. Deng Deng Nhial gave a brief history of the two Civil Wars in Sudan where more than three million Southern Sudanese lost their lives. He articulated the position of SPLM that ICC is like a freight train travelling at one hundred and twenty miles per hour with the conductor operating it from a computer, it is dark and people are trying to stop this train in the dark, that ICC is a purely legal matter, that cooperation with the International Community and ICC is paramount in this current ICC crisis. He said” Why cooperation is important because Late Dr. John Garang de Mabior Leader of SPLM/ offered to the NCP a proposition to utilize ten thousand SPLA Soldiers and SAF to resolve the issue of Darfur.

Late Dr. John Garang de Mabior’s offer was rejected but had it been accepted, first US Economic Sanctions on Sudan would not have been imposed, second we would not be sitting here today talking about indictment. Sustainable peace in Sudan is critical; therefore, resolution of Darfur conflict must be solved, full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as a mechanism for Peace in Sudan to resolve all conflicts, confrontational strategy with the International Community and ICC must be avoided at all cost to avoid pressure from the international community because Sudan must be a part of community of nations.

The issue of Darfur must be confronted in all honesty. Address the issue of marginalization, wealth sharing, power sharing and decision making and there would be no conflict in Darfur. There is war in Darfur because of fundamental issue of marginalization just like what happened in Southern Sudan. Challenges are looming in Sudan the results of the Census, Elections in 2009 and Referendum in 2011. Sustainable peace in Sudan is needed because the image of Sudan has been tarnished. Mr. Deng Deng Nhial also quoted His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit First Vice President of Republic of Sudan, Chairman of SPLM and Commander in Chief of the SPLA in his Los Angeles Times interview March 4th 2009.