Bashir travels to Indonesia for regional conference despite ICC warrant
April 19, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir will fly to Indonesia on Monday to participate in the Asia-Africa summit.
The visit marks Bashir’s first to Asia since 2011 when he visited China in a dramatic trip that saw his plane blocked from airspace of two countries prompting him to return and adjust flight routes to avoid risk of arrest.
Bashir’s trips are generally carefully planned in light of being wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The Sudanese leader cancelled a planned appearance in the South-east Asian nation of Malaysia in 2011 after controversy erupted there over his possible attendance.
A Malaysian official at the time said that if Bashir decided to fulfil the invitation it can be an “embarrassment” to Malaysia.
The Sudanese foreign ministry described the planned trip as “ordinary” without any potential risk after receiving an official invitation of his Indonesian counterpart.
Bashir is accompanied by the minister of presidency Salah Wansi, foreign minister Ali Karti and other officials.
Elise Keppler, an associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that “Bashir belongs in one place only – The Hague – to face charges of heinous crimes committed in Darfur”.
“He should be arrested not welcomed by Indonesia,” Keppler said.
Indonesia is not an ICC member and is therefore not obliged to hand over al-Bashir to the court.
Bashir refuses to recognise the international tribunal, and considers it “a colonial tool directed against his country and Africa”.
Several countries in the past have asked Bashir to stay away, including Uganda, Central African Republic, Zambia, South Africa and Malawi, in light of western pressure and domestic legal obligations.
In July 2013, Bashir hastily left the Nigerian capital Abuja, less than 24 hours after arrival to participate in a regional summit after activists filed a lawsuit to compel the government to arrest him.
The United States has refused in September 2013 to grant Bashir a visa to participate in the meetings of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York City.
(ST)