ICC judges inform two Darfur rebel figures of charges against them
June 17, 2010 (WASHINGTON) — The two Darfur rebel figures who were summoned by the International Criminal Court (ICC) appeared before the judges in the Hague and were formally informed of charges against them.
Banda and Jerbo sat expressionless as the charge sheet was read to them in court.
The men were accused of commanding a 1,000-strong rebel force in the assault Sept. 29, 2007, on an African Union base in the troubled region of western Sudan. The attackers looted the camp of 17 vehicles, refrigerators, computers, mobile phones, ammunition and money.
The assault which took place in Haskanita, in northern Darfur took toll on soldiers from Nigeria, Senegal, Mali and Botswana. It was the deadliest single attack on the peacekeepers since they began their mission in late 2004
“I came here voluntarily in response to the summons of the ICC and I call upon everyone who has been summoned by this court to come here to exonerate themselves,” Banda, born in 1963, told a panel of three judges as he made his first appearance before them in a grey, short-sleeved suit.
“We are here to achieve justice and I call on everyone who is wanted for justice to appear before this court,” said his co-accused Jerbo, 33, dressed in a dark suit and tie.
Last year, Bahar Idriss Abu Garda who headed the URF appeared voluntarily before the ICC to answer charges relating to the same attack but the court declined to pursue those charges in February citing insufficient evidence to prove his criminal responsibility.
Presiding judge Sylvia Steiner from Brazil set November 22 as the date for a hearing to confirm the charges against the two men — a requirement before the case can go to trial.
They were free to leave the Netherlands after Thursday’s hearing, and were not obliged to be present for the next one
The two rebel figures were originally scheduled to surrender to the ICC last February but their appearance was cancelled for unknown reasons.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC in 2005 authorizing investigations into crimes committed there despite the fact that Sudan is not a signatory to the Rome Statute. Sudan cooperated with the office of the ICC prosecutor between the years 2005-2007 until the judges issued arrest warrants for then state minister for humanitarian affairs Ahmed Haroun and militia leader Ali Kushayb.
The Sudanese government refused to surrender Haroun and Kushayb and while the UNSC resolution mandates compliance with court decisions from all parties to the Darfur conflict no action was taken.
The Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir, who was reelected last April, is also wanted by the court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. He rejected the charges saying it is a Western plot to overthrow him.
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Paul Lokuji Micah daudi
ICC judges inform two Darfur rebel figures of charges against them
Great men,Jamus and Nourain,
Its the best you have done,always justice is for all the accused and the accusers. There for you are accused and you should show the court that you are innocent and to do so is to face the rule of law not to get trapped inside the country like coward Beshir whose life is just closed to the fence of Sudan,that’s the way the real justice fighting people should behave if some people claim to accuse them .
Justice is for all no one is above the rule of the book.
Keep up great guys god is with you and all the false accusations will turn to dust.
Akuma
ICC judges inform two Darfur rebel figures of charges against them
No one above the law, What the two suspects leaders done to surrender themselves to International Criminal Court show that they respect rules and regulation of ICC. But after several months, they hide themselves in shelters of Durfarians whom they killed.
They have a chance to denied all the accuses even though Prosecution is waiting for them. If all these leaders survived prosecution then there is no need for trial and justice.
Dr. Akuma,
USA