Chapaev
25th July 2008, 21:21
Xinhua
2008-07-15 04:08:02
Various Arab organizations and Sudan have criticized the call of an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur, while Arab foreign ministers are seeking to coordinate stance in this regard.
On Monday, the Interim Arab Parliament (IAP) criticized the ICC move to issue an arrest warrant against al-Bashir, saying it is a shame to see the ICC trying to prosecute a leader of an Arab country.
The IAP is "amazed and dismayed" by reports of the ICC move, which is stirring Arab nations' concern, head of the parliament Mohamed Jassem al-Saqr said in a statement.
The ICC move raises the fear that the international court could become a tool of major world powers to intimidate smaller countries, al-Saqr was quoted by the Egyptian MENA news agency as saying.
Earlier on Sunday, the Arab Lawyers Union strongly slammed the ICC for its expected move to issue the arrest warrant against al-Bashir.
The ICC decision to charge al-Bashir with war crimes in Darfur is "a flagrant violation of international law, norms and human rights," the Arab Lawyers Union said in a statement.
The union also criticized the United States for its alleged role behind the ICC move, saying it's a U.S. decision to punish al-Bashir for "his firm stand in defence of Sudan's just causes."
The United States is in an attempt to drag the ICC into a fight against al-Bashir, which contradicts the aim of the international court, said the statement.
The ICC move also stirred widespread concerns and condemns in Sudan. The Sudanese government has reiterated that it does not recognize the ICC and would refuse any decision or memorandum delivered by the court.
Sudan is not a party to the Rome Treaty establishing the ICC, the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal to try persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
But the UN Security Council decided in March 2005 to refer the Darfur situation to the ICC, a decision opposed by Sudan, which insisted on its own prosecution.
Sudan's Cabinet reiterated on Sunday that it does not recognize the ICC and will refuse any decision or memorandum delivered by the court.
According to Sudanese official news agency SUNA, Sudanese Council of the States on Monday strongly denounced at an extraordinary meeting of Committee of the Council's Affairs the ICC move to indict Sudan's senior officials.
In the same day, Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Mohammed Taha told a press conference that the ICC move is a politically-motivated one against Sudan instead of a legal one.
This is an example of neocolonial aggression in the affairs of developing countries by the western imperialists through their proxies. In pursuit of Sudan's vast natural resources, the western imperialists will not cease with their aggression against that country though their hirelings such as John Garang. At the same time, there is silence on the Ethiopian genocide against the Somalian people in Ogaden and Somalia.
It's fitting that this kangaroo court disseminates negative propaganda against Sudan while remaining silent on the far worse situation in Iraq. Those guilty for this irresponsible abuse of power should themselves be prosecuted and executed for this conspiracy to start an imperialist war in Sudan.
Concerning the charges against the President of Sudan, they are baseless. The Sudanese Government in Khartoum does not bear responsibility for the lawlessness in the Darfur region where private armed forces are engaged in an armed conflict. Khartoum has sincerely worked to alleviate the situation and restore peace in the region. And why doesn't the western media ever report the atrocities committed by the rebel groups fighting the Janjaweed? Allegations that a genocide has been committed in Sudan and that the situation there constitutes a threat to peace are without foundation.
2008-07-15 04:08:02
Various Arab organizations and Sudan have criticized the call of an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur, while Arab foreign ministers are seeking to coordinate stance in this regard.
On Monday, the Interim Arab Parliament (IAP) criticized the ICC move to issue an arrest warrant against al-Bashir, saying it is a shame to see the ICC trying to prosecute a leader of an Arab country.
The IAP is "amazed and dismayed" by reports of the ICC move, which is stirring Arab nations' concern, head of the parliament Mohamed Jassem al-Saqr said in a statement.
The ICC move raises the fear that the international court could become a tool of major world powers to intimidate smaller countries, al-Saqr was quoted by the Egyptian MENA news agency as saying.
Earlier on Sunday, the Arab Lawyers Union strongly slammed the ICC for its expected move to issue the arrest warrant against al-Bashir.
The ICC decision to charge al-Bashir with war crimes in Darfur is "a flagrant violation of international law, norms and human rights," the Arab Lawyers Union said in a statement.
The union also criticized the United States for its alleged role behind the ICC move, saying it's a U.S. decision to punish al-Bashir for "his firm stand in defence of Sudan's just causes."
The United States is in an attempt to drag the ICC into a fight against al-Bashir, which contradicts the aim of the international court, said the statement.
The ICC move also stirred widespread concerns and condemns in Sudan. The Sudanese government has reiterated that it does not recognize the ICC and would refuse any decision or memorandum delivered by the court.
Sudan is not a party to the Rome Treaty establishing the ICC, the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal to try persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
But the UN Security Council decided in March 2005 to refer the Darfur situation to the ICC, a decision opposed by Sudan, which insisted on its own prosecution.
Sudan's Cabinet reiterated on Sunday that it does not recognize the ICC and will refuse any decision or memorandum delivered by the court.
According to Sudanese official news agency SUNA, Sudanese Council of the States on Monday strongly denounced at an extraordinary meeting of Committee of the Council's Affairs the ICC move to indict Sudan's senior officials.
In the same day, Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Mohammed Taha told a press conference that the ICC move is a politically-motivated one against Sudan instead of a legal one.
This is an example of neocolonial aggression in the affairs of developing countries by the western imperialists through their proxies. In pursuit of Sudan's vast natural resources, the western imperialists will not cease with their aggression against that country though their hirelings such as John Garang. At the same time, there is silence on the Ethiopian genocide against the Somalian people in Ogaden and Somalia.
It's fitting that this kangaroo court disseminates negative propaganda against Sudan while remaining silent on the far worse situation in Iraq. Those guilty for this irresponsible abuse of power should themselves be prosecuted and executed for this conspiracy to start an imperialist war in Sudan.
Concerning the charges against the President of Sudan, they are baseless. The Sudanese Government in Khartoum does not bear responsibility for the lawlessness in the Darfur region where private armed forces are engaged in an armed conflict. Khartoum has sincerely worked to alleviate the situation and restore peace in the region. And why doesn't the western media ever report the atrocities committed by the rebel groups fighting the Janjaweed? Allegations that a genocide has been committed in Sudan and that the situation there constitutes a threat to peace are without foundation.