AU chief challenges ICC to arrest Sudanese president
July 23, 2010 (WASHINGTON) — The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping launched an unprecedented attack on the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) saying he is insensitive to the impact of his case against the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir on the peace process.
“This is what we are doing but [Luis Moreno] Ocampo doesn’t care. He just wants to catch Bashir. Let him go and catch him” he added.
Bashir was indicted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur last year. This month the court added genocide to the charges, accusing him of presiding over rape, torture and murder in the remote west of Sudan.
Ping has been one of the fiercest critics of the Hague Tribunal accusing it of targeting African nations only in his investigations.
The ICC is currently handling 5 cases consisting of Uganda, Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) , Darfur and Kenya.
With the exception of Darfur all other cases have been referred voluntarily by their respective governments to the ICC for investigation. The Kenyan case was initiated by the ICC prosecutor after the government there gave the ICC a green light to do so yet declining to refer it for political reasons.
The UNSC issued resolution 1593 under chapter VII in March 2005 referring the situation in Darfur to the ICC. At the time Tanzania and Benin voted in support of the resolution while Algeria abstained.
The African continent makes up the majority of the ICC members with 30 countries ratifying the Rome Statute.
“We are not against the ICC. There are 30 African countries who are part of the ICC… But we need to examine their manner of operating. There are double standards,” he added.
“There seems to be some bullying against Africa” the AU official said.
Ping also responded to allegations that the Pan-African body is condoning impunity.
“Now why do you not applaud us when we are trying to work with [former South African president Thabo] Mbeki in Sudan?” Ping asked. “Is it because people in South Africa were coming from Europe?”
The AU established a panel headed by former south African president Thabo Mbeki to look at justice mechanisms in response to the initiation of judicial proceedings against Bashir which started in July 2008.
The commission called for a hybrid court with participation of foreign judges to try war crimes suspects and changes to Sudanese laws. It took no position on the ICC warrant except to say that the Hague-based tribunal cannot try all the suspects, effectively supporting its work.
However, since the endorsement of Mbeki’s findings by the AU, no progress has been made on the justice track and it is not clear when implementing the hybrid court proposal would commence. Khartoum gave a cool reception to the proposed court with some officials suggesting it is an infringement on the country’s sovereignty.
The former Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher who was one of the panel members said in an interview last year that the goal of the commission was to find a way out for the Sudanese president from the ICC charges. There was no official reaction from Mbeki though he has reportedly sent a strong worded letter to the Egyptian foreign ministry objecting to the statements made by Maher.
Ping also seemed to mock Ocampo for complications at the ICC’s first ever trial, which is in hand.
“The ICC has just said President Bashir committed genocide in Darfur. On which basis, I don’t know. I simply want to tell you that while the ICC was accusing President Bashir of genocide, they were [being told] to release Thomas Lubanga,” Ping said.
The pre-Trial chamber has ordered the release of Congolese militia chief Thomas Lubanga after the suspension of his trial after Ocampo refused to disclose the identity of an individual who played a crucial role in the investigation.
This is the second time Lubanga has been ordered to be released during the course of the trial. Today the Appeals chamber suspended his release while the prosecutors present their appeal.
(ST)
Aarai Baka
AU chief challenges ICC to arrest Sudanese president
To Jean Ping
put Humanity first than the money that had been given to u by Khartuom.
Dinka Boy
AU chief challenges ICC to arrest Sudanese president
Dear Southerners,
Let not worry about criminal Bashier for his ICC hunting him. The court already fail to catch himand hang him for his deed,so led stop talking about ICC and focus on our referendum next year.
Now, what will the court do while Bashier step his feet to Chad? Just talking! talking! and talking but no solution.Better stop!
Thanks
DASODIKO
AU chief challenges ICC to arrest Sudanese president
As your late Omer Bongo Bangonized Gabon, we will nevr allow your criminal Omer Bashir to Nigerize Sudan. Who ever support criminal to commit his crimes, he is part of that crime; I bet the Chinese Peng Wing will be sued by people of Darfur on charges of instigating the criminal to kill them. I am wondering why African Union is bringing Foreigners like this Chinese guy to run such big organization are all Pan Africanist dead? The line this Chinese follows is the same line that Arab guy Salim Ahmed Sakim was following in Darfur until he killed moree 100,000 people, and at last bought a big house in London. Where is he peace? Ping is also playing the same game to buy house in Paris. I hope today not tommorrow that blood money stumple on your head, Amen.
telfajbago
AU chief challenges ICC to arrest Sudanese president
To: Jean Ping
I was wondering How much you have being given by these Khartoum’s Islamists to defend Al-Bashir so viciously to the extend that you are locking horns with the Chief Prosecutor Ocampo who is merely doing his job to render genocide victims peace through accountability and justice .Judging from the Stands of the top AU officials one can find himself face to face with the fact that, to day’s problem within the AU is that most if not all of the AU Leaders are being bought or eyeing Arabs money when it comes to making fateful decisions which affect their fellow Africans and I believe, that is why the western world take lightly,respect or consider most of the AU bribed- decisions. Judging Jean Ping from his non-recognition of the UN Commission of Inquiry findings established by the UNSC to investigate the crimes committed in Darfur, one can say that, Al-Bashir had pumped a lot of money to pay the consciences of these cash- starving African leaders of the AU. That is why Ping from the outset went his own way to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate crimes in Darfur, besides the ratified UNSC Commission of inquiry, in order to complicate matters but in vain. Jean also tried hardly to portray the ICC as a court merely targeting Africans. Jean Ping and his kinds need to tough that, accountability is not a luxury in resolving conflicts. It serves multiple purposes, it acts as a deterrent from committing further crimes and it assures the victims that the pain inflicted on them will not go unpunished boosting their outlook to the future. Yes, because the AU today is totally at the mercy of Arabs and it’s ignoble leaders and also because of the corrupt way some individuals make it to the top positions within the AU ( navigating easily their ways throw bribes and kickbacks and through Arabs influence within the AU ) Jean Ping can Condon the attacks of Khartoum’s regime on the forces of UNAMID which are the reason for his earning Arabs cash and bribes and also eating Genocide -money and go unpunished or even tonque-lashed ; but Jean should know that he has no right at all to speak on behalf of Darfurian or how they want justice to be implemented. And whether Jean like it or not Al-Bashir will soon be caught like a rat just the way his fellow dictator Saddam Hussein was caught, therefore Jean should prepare himself from today to defend his master Al-Bashir in the ICC and stop crying to the media in order to please his masters and thus legalize his bribes because the issue is legal one that has nothing to do with politics.
Darfur Daily News
AU chief challenges ICC to arrest Sudanese president
“Now why do you not applaud us when we are trying to work with [former South African president Thabo] Mbeki in Sudan?” Ping asked. “Is it because people in South Africa were coming from Europe?”
“The ICC has just said President Bashir committed genocide in Darfur. On which basis, I don’t know. I simply want to tell you that while the ICC was accusing President Bashir of genocide, they were [being told] to release Thomas Lubanga,” Ping said.
Ping is dom and stupid. It is him who does not care about the people of Darfur. He want the criminal al-Bashir continues killing the people of Darfur. What a shame.