Sudan accuses U.S. of pressing states to block entry of Bashir’s plane

June 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Monday accused the United States of pressing countries to deny the plane carrying President Omer Hassan al-Bashir entry into its airspace as he was on his way to China.

The accusation came as the Sudanese leader finally managed to make it to Beijing in the early morning hours of Tuesday although a day later than scheduled forcing a cancellation of a meeting between Bashir and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.

A drama unfolded on Monday morning as the plane carrying Bashir failed to show up at Beijing airport where Chinese and Sudanese officials including the ambassador were waiting to greet the visiting head of state at the beginning of his four-day visit.

But as time passed it was clear to officials waiting at the tarmac that Bashir’s plane has been delayed for reasons that were unknown to Sudanese and Chinese officials alike.

Chinese foreign ministry official Guan Enxia afterwards went to tell reporters gathered at the airport that Bashir’s scheduled events for Monday had been delayed but offered no explanation.

She instructed reporters to leave the airport and said they would be alerted ahead of time “if or when” Bashir arrives.

Chang Junling, a media official at the Sudanese Embassy in Beijing, said they did not know the reason for the delay or have any other information.

As news spread in Khartoum of Bashir’s no-show, speculations grew over the possibility that his plane was intercepted in mid air in compliance with an outstanding arrest warrant against him for war crimes and genocide he allegedly committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

Adding more mystery into this was Iranian presidential officials telling Reuters that Bashir and his entourage have already left Tehran on their way to Beijing. This conflicted with sources in Khartoum telling Sudan Tribune that Bashir’s plane has returned to Iran after takeoff for unknown reasons.

The Sudanese foreign ministry later issued a statement confirming that Bashir circled back to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan.

“The plane of Field Marshal Omer al-Bashir President of the Republic to the Chinese capital Beijing, which had been scheduled for yesterday evening was delayed because of an amendment that took place on the route of the presidential plane over the territory of Turkmenistan at a time that it was no longer possible to pass through the new path forcing the pilot to return to Iran after flying over the territory of Turkmenistan at 9:30 yesterday evening Iran local time” said the statement.

The statement did not elaborate on why the route had to be changed.

But senior diplomatic sources explained to Sudan Tribune that authorities in Turkmenistan revoked its permission to Bashir’s plane and instead suggested another route. The reason for the action on the part of Turkmen authorities was not known.

Turkmenistan has not signed up for the Rome Statute which is the founding text of the ICC and therefore has no legal obligation to arrest Bashir.

According to the diplomats, Sudanese director of intelligence Mohamed Atta and foreign minister Ali Karti accompanying Bashir rejected the proposed route and voiced suspicion that it was a plot to apprehend their boss.

Following advice from Bashir’s aides the plane returned to Iran which received him again with full military honors. The Sudanese embassies in Tehran and Beijing then started working together on a new route that would alleviate any risks.

The sources said they received permission to fly over Pakistan en route to China adding that they believe that Turkmenistan came under pressure from the West to block Bashir’s plane.

Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted head of the political bureau at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Qutbi al-Mahdi as suggesting that the United States pressed the states in which Bashir’s plane was supposed to pass through its airspace.

Al-Mahdi noted that U.S. wanted China to disinvite Bashir and therefore said he expects that they exerted same pressure on the countries in Bashir’s route. He did not name these states but said that there are some that gave no weight to what the U.S. wanted and as such Bashir was able to travel to China again.

The NCP official acknowledged that there are always dangers surrounding Bashir’s travels abroad saying that this is normal for figures who stand in front of colonial powers. He assured that all safety precautions are put in place during these trips.

It is now expected that the Sudanese leader would extend his visit in China as a result of the one day-delay.

This is Bashir’s last visit to China as the head of a united Sudan. Next month South Sudan officially becomes a new state.

China is a major buyer of Sudanese crude oil, and will be keen to ensure the partition of Sudan into two states, Bashir’s north and a more oil-abundant south, will not descend into fighting that could disrupt supplies and damage Beijing’s stake on both sides of the new border.

Trade between China and Sudan grew to $8.6 billion in 2010, a rise of 35.1 percent on 2009 figures, powered by the rising value of Chinese imports of oil, according to Chinese customs statistics.

Sudan was China’s sixth biggest source of imported crude oil last year, when it supplied 12.6 million tonnes, compared with 44.6 million tonnes from the top supplier, Saudi Arabia.

“During President Bashir’s visit to China, both sides will discuss how to consolidate the traditional friendship between their two countries under new circumstances,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted as saying by a news report by Xinhua news agency confirming Bashir’s arrival.

Lei added that the two sides would also discuss Sudan’s “north-south peace process and the Darfur issue”.

The Chinese government have brushed aside criticism by human right groups on hosting the Sudanese leader who is wanted by the ICC saying that it is “quite reasonable” for Beijing to invite him.

On Monday, the US State department spokeswoman said that Washington is opposed to Bashir’s China visit.

“We continue to oppose invitations, facilitation, support for travel by ICC indictees,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

“We have a longstanding policy of strongly urging other nations to do the same,” she said.

“We have urged China to join the international community in its call for Sudan to cooperate fully with the ICC,” in line with UN Security Council resolution 1593, Nuland said.

This is in contrast to her statements last week in which she said that this is a “national decision” by China.

Bashir has been forced to cancel appearances at many regional and international events as a result of pressure by rights groups since the warrant was issued. This month he shunned attendance at a conference in Malaysia despite confirming attendance earlier after controversy started brewing over his invitation.

The eight-year conflict in Darfur between rebels and Sudan’s army has led to the deaths of as many as 300,000 people, mainly due to illness and starvation, and forced about 2.7 million to flee their homes, according to UN estimates. The Sudanese government has put the death toll at about 10,000.

The insurgents took up arms in 2003, accusing the government of neglecting the region.

(ST)