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China avoids condemnation of ICC’s fresh move against Bashir

July 14, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Chinese government today appeared to move to a more neutral position regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang (Xinhua)
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang (Xinhua)
On Monday, the Hague Tribunal added genocide charges to the counts against Bashir which already included war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in orchestrating the conflict in Sudan’s western region of Darfur where hundreds of thousands are believed to be killed and millions displaced.

The judges said there is reasonable evidence to believe that Bashir implemented a plan to exterminate the African tribes of Fur, Zaghawa and Masaalit.

When the warrant was originally issued last year China was among the leading countries to criticize it saying it will complicate peace efforts in a nation which has suffered from chronic instability. It has also sought to convince western members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to adopt a resolution to freeze the indictment under Article 16 of the ICC statute.

This time, China’s tone was much more reserved, and did not directly address the issuing of the warrant.

“We hope relevant sides will listen to the African Union, the League of Arab States and countries concerned, and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in Sudan and the region,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang in reaction to the genocide charges.

China hopes the court “takes the overall situation into account and plays a constructive role in effecting long-term peace and stability in Sudan and the region”, Qin added.

He added that positive progress had been made in the implementation of a peace agreement, and the overall situation regarding the Darfur issue was improving, which was welcomed by the international community and African countries.

China abstained from voting on resolution 1593 referring crimes in Darfur to the world court in March 2005 angering Sudanese officials who wanted the permanent UNSC member to veto it. The growing world power is the top destination for Sudanese oil exports and the largest arm exporter to the East African nation.

In a related development the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping said the genocide charges will not solve Darfur’s problems.

“Nothing has changed. This charge does not solve the problem in Darfur. In fact it is the contrary,” Ping told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“We have no problem with the ICC and we are against impunity. But the way prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is rendering justice is the issue,” he added.

The AU has been persistent demanding the UN Security Council to put a hold on the warrant but was met with opposition particularly from Western veto-wielding nations. This has prompted the pan-African body last year to issue a resolution saying none of its members is to cooperate in apprehending the Sudanese president.

Similarly the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdurrahman Al-Attiyah today questioned the timing of the ICC decision.

Al-Attiyah said this might increase tension in Sudan, particularly since the decision contradicts Arab League and African Union reports on the issue of genocide in Darfur.

The GCC chief renewed the Gulf states stance, including peace efforts and developments in of all Sudan.

(ST)

12 Comments

  • Aduol Liet
    Aduol Liet

    China avoids condemnation of ICC’s fresh move against Bashir
    China you might be a shame.

    Anyone country or individual appearing and supporting this indictment Omar al Bashir that person or Country has disobeying the rule of the ICC Judges and the ICC Judges also should add those Countries who have been supporting Omar al Bashir since from the beginning. The Chinese people maybe they don’t know the majority people in Sudan want to see Omar al Bashir facing Judges and if China did not change their minds the way behave of supplying weapons to Country that has a problems with his own people then, many Countries in Africa will probably cut the relationship with China, because this is one Continent and China government must back a way from Omar al Bashir.

    Reply
  • Peter Nhiany
    Peter Nhiany

    China avoids condemnation of ICC’s fresh move against Bashir
    “China avoided comment about ICC charges against Bashir.” Who thinks China would say anything negative against Khartoum, and they are great ally of Khartoum government.

    Weapons suppler, and oil marketing. China would not attempt to hurt Bashir’s feeling or they else they will be kick out of Sudan from drilling Bashir’s oil.

    I think it is a better idea for China to remain silent, and the world will know they are supporting the ICC. Being silent mean you understand, and agree with the decision made. There is nothing will reverse Bashir’s war crime, and crime against charges.

    The only possible way is to turn himself to the ICC to answer and defend those charges leveled against him. If he can answer them, no one will set him free. The international community will continue to pursue him until justice is served.

    The suffering of the Darfurians, and other exterminated Sudanese must be compensated, that has to be done through justice at the court of law.

    I pray that justice prevail, and that Bashir doesn’t get away with criminal act charges. Sudanese must cooperates with the ICC, and hand Bashir over to the ICC to get over with it. Better earlier the better.

    Peter Nhiany.

    Reply
  • DASODIKO
    DASODIKO

    China avoids condemnation of ICC’s fresh move against Bashir
    Haa, Haaa, the Jallbas are not able to know that Chinese have no religion, but their only proverb that says: No ears, No eyes and No mouth! This mean for your interests you should mufunction all these senses. China is fatest grwoing nation not because they have realtions with Sudan but with the entire world; so how can you expect them to stand against their personal interests by trying to humper ICC warrant of arrest against the the Sudanese criminals. Holland only where ICC is based, the Chinese bussiness there is triple times than the one they get in Sudan. Haaaaaaaaaaaa, Nafie travlled three times to China in a week times to work out the warrant of arrest.

    Reply
  • Ayom
    Ayom

    China avoids condemnation of ICC’s fresh move against Bashir
    Chinese government are alway at the winning side. Now they have learnt that Sudan is going to splits into severals like Southern, western, Eastern and Norhtern part meanwhile the ICC is advancing everyday against their counterpart President Bashir, chine confuse what to do next?

    Ayom Ayom

    Reply
  • Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
    Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy

    China avoids condemnation of ICC’s fresh move against Bashir
    To hell with these mongrel chinese, I don’t ever think my home country would be having a tiny creature of chinese. How crazy they have been licking crminal bashir while African where losing lives. I understand that Obama indication is the cause of chinese to act so, otherwise we would be suffering like birds affected by flue. You have been equiping Bashir to kill the African people and now you talk crap about justics. I praise Iddi Amin for kicking Asian off his country because you are number one idiots. Your not different to Arabs who uses Africans as cannon fodder.

    Reply
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