Sudan downplays ICC chief Africa tour & UNSC report
June 2, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government downplayed a tour by the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Africa describing it as a “desperate” attempt to rally its government against Khartoum.
The Korean ICC chief Sang-Hyun Song is traveling to Tanzania, Lesotho and Botswana this week to discuss cooperation as well legal issues relating to the implementation of the Rome Statute into the domestic legislation of these countries.
The Rome Statute is the founding text of the ICC ratified by 108 countries that are members of the court.
The visit comes as the African ICC members are scheduled to meet next week to discuss withdrawing from the court as a form of protest to the arrest warrant issued against Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
The African Union (AU) criticized the warrant saying it jeopardizes peace efforts and suggested that the court is unfairly targeting Africans.
The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq said that the ICC president’s tour comes as African countries support of his country became clear and accused him of trying to split the continent’s solidarity.
It is not clear if African nations will actually agree to withdraw from the court. Some treaties between these countries and the European Union (EU) stipulates being members of the ICC to receive financial aid.
Al-Sadiq also said that his government has coordinated with China and Russia to circumvent the semi-annual report by the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to the UN Security Council (UNSC) next Friday.
The UNSC referred the Darfur situation to the ICC in March 2005 under a Chapter VII resolution.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Bashir and two other Sudanese officials but Khartoum refused to extradite them.
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Manyok Manyuon
Sudan downplays ICC chief Africa tour & UNSC report
wash out African union you are the cause of the war in Africa simple beause AU failed to mantianed peace in the continent of Africa.Besir has been found guilt of the war crime,why do you decided to withdraw from ICC? that mean you have also committed the crime like Besir.He must go to Hague to face Justice.
three quator of the sudanese Marginalised communities are very happy for the indictment of their criminal who has kill millions of people through war crime and Humanity,therefore, who are you to depend him if the citizens are sending him to ICC.he has to go.
paul baak anyaar
Sudan downplays ICC chief Africa tour & UNSC report
There you are! The government of Khartoum or categorically Bashir sounds more guilty than ever. I am not a judge and I am not going to give a verdict against anybody. Bashir should not have opposed the Africa visit by the ICC president if he knew that his hands are clean.
Markoni
Sudan downplays ICC chief Africa tour & UNSC report
What withdrawal!what has been said by ICC have to be implemented.
TIM TOSH
Sudan downplays ICC chief Africa tour & UNSC report
Intrnational Criminal Court is the court whereby the world agree to be established to maintain the human governance and to keep the human right not to be violated. Every human being has right to live and enjoy the right to live.As the supporters of the ICC we therefore ask why do you waste your strength travelling to the countries to beg for release of he criminal.He sould be drag to the court to testify and to be brought into justice,they should intimated the world court.