S. Sudan MP says Botswana too ‘European’ to reject ICC charges
May 12, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — A South Sudanese legislator visiting Botswana said that the country’s support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) was due to never having experienced ethnic and civil violence.
President Ian Khama of Botswana openly endorses the criminal charges against the Sudanese president.
As reported by the independent Mmegi newspaper, Khama in April pointed to President Al-Bashir as one of the African leaders who “continually show a disregard for human rights and the rule of law.”
He went further that “we should also have the courage to render such leaders to international justice including the International Criminal Court so that they can answer to the charges against them.”
The Botswana parliament’s Public Accounts Committee was hosting a delegation from the South Sudan Legislative Assembly last week when a member of the delegation, Hon. Richard Mulla, offered his explanation for President Khama’s support to the ICC.
In an interview with the independent newspaper Mmegi on Thursday he said the “situation [in Botswana] looks ideal for someone to say al-Bashir should go and face the ICC. It’s much more like someone in a European environment, where there are no ethnic conflicts.”
Al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC for seven charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Mulla told the newspaper that his party is concerned about the effect of the
arrest warrant on the 2005 peace agreement.
“In a way, we are guided by our own interests in protecting the agreement. We would like to see our agreement carried out in letter and spirit in the six years interim period, hence we are very cautious over the al-Bashir and ICC issue,” he explained.
However, other members of Mulla’s party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, including Secretary-General Pa’gan Amum, have urged the ruling National Congress Party to cooperate with the ICC.
(ST)