Sudan’s Bashir sought guarantees for his safety before China visit: report
June 22, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir got guarantees that he will not be arrested during his stay in China, a U.S. newspaper reported today.
This would be the first visit by the Sudanese leader to China since an arrest warrant was issued for him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges that he masterminded war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.
Even though China is a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which referred the Darfur case to the ICC it is not signatory to the Rome Statute and is therefore under no legal obligation to apprehend him.
But that did not prevent the Sudanese leader from seeking assurances that he won’t be arrested on his arrival.
The Washington Post newspaper revealed that Bashir sorted that out two months ago when he sent a trusted aide to Beijing for a meeting with Zhou Yongkang, the Chinese Politburo member responsible for law and order — and the former head of the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), an enormous state oil company with billions of dollars invested in Sudan.
The report did not name the aide but last April Bashir’s adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail was in Beijing and held talks with Yongkang.
Chinese companies are major investors in Sudan’s oil, and China is Khartoum’s top arms supplier, something long criticised by human rights activists and Western governments, especially because of the conflict in the Darfur region.
The U.S. government on Tuesday suggested that it is opposed to Bashir’s visit.
“We urge China to join the international community in its call for Sudan to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court, as required by UN Security Council resolution 1593. United States policy is to oppose invitations, facilitation or support for travel by ICC indictees. We have a longstanding policy of strongly urging other nations to do the same” said a state department official who spoke to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity.
But the Chinese government brushed aside the criticism saying that it is “quite reasonable” to invite Bashir.
Right groups chided China for hosting Bashir.
“Beijing will signal its total disregard for victims of heinous crimes in Darfur if it welcomes al-Bashir,” said Richard Dicker, international justice director at Human Rights Watch.
“Al-Bashir’s flouting of international arrest warrants should be cause for condemnation, not for an invitation. Beijing should instead be using its influence to press for justice in Darfur”.
(ST)
Nhomlawda
Sudan’s Bashir sought guarantees for his safety before China visit: report
President Al Bashir
Why do you commit atrocities if you fear justice like this? Shame on you notorious murder!
You must be brought to justice for your senseless killings of innocent people of Sudan since 1989.
You and your Islamic fundamentalists and terrorists have no place in Sudan; better you go to The Hague before Sudanese catch up with you and administer their bush justice.
Sam.Eto
Sudan’s Bashir sought guarantees for his safety before China visit: report
What a ridiculous article by ST and NYT. Bashir does not need assurances from china about being arrest and sent to the ICC. To even suggest Sudan has to beg or get guarantees is a joke. It was made clear by the Chinese they do not recognize to the ICC and unlike back stabbing, hypocritical Americans (Who officially do not recognize the ICC) made it clear when the arrest warrant was issued it would not back it. They also made it clear in their last statement. If the NYT and ST paid any attention to North Sudanese diplomacy – they would know that most of our ministers travel all over the world regularly and especially to friends. Do you want to count how many Sudanese officials made trips to China this year. How would the NYT know what these meetings are about – I’m sure neither the Chinese or the Sudanese would let them know !! So STOP YOUR ASSUMPTIONS AND STORY TELLING and act like true journalist and ‘respectable’ News Outlets.
Bush
Sudan’s Bashir sought guarantees for his safety before China visit: report
His plane must be hijacked if it crosses over Israeli air space.
Christians United for Israel
Covert
Sudan’s Bashir sought guarantees for his safety before China visit: report
Bashir must be feeling very awful about himself when the whole country is breaking away in pieces in his control, and at the same time needed for war crime by the ICC.
It will be very hard to believe how well he sleeps every night.
Paul Ongee
Sudan’s Bashir sought guarantees for his safety before China visit: report
Is it true that Bashir’s plane gonna get intercepted on his way to China? No, please, let him go and come back for the last time. Bashir still has a choice to make either to go to The Hague or heaven at his disposal.
Paul Ongee
Khartoum Watch