Radio Dabanga (Hilversum)

EmailPrint Share

Sudan: ICC Judges Call On USA to Arrest Sudan's Al Bashir

18 September 2013


Photo: AlJazeera

Sudanese president Omar al Bashir arrives in the southern capital of Juba.

The Hague — The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has called on US authorities to arrest Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir if he travels to the USA. In a statement on Wednesday, the ICC says that "the Pre-Trial Chamber II, informed by the Office of the Prosecutor of Omar Al Bashir's potential travel to the USA, invited the competent US authorities to arrest Omar Al Bashir and surrender him to the Court, in the event he enters their territory".
The Chamber also reminded the US of the two outstanding warrants of arrest issued on 4 March 2009 and 12 July 2010 against Omar Al Bashir for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"Subsequently, on 6 March 2009 and 21 July 2010, the ICC Registry transmitted requests for the suspect's arrest and surrender to all United Nations Security Council members that are not States Parties to the Rome Statue, including the United States."
The Chamber recalled that non-States Parties may decide to cooperate with the Court on an ad hoc basis. "The USA, as a non-State Party to the Statute, has no obligations vis-à-vis the Court arising from the Statute."
The Chamber noted, however, that the situation in Darfur was referred to the Court by the UNSC and that UNSC Resolution 1593 (2005), while recognising that States not party to the Rome Statute have no obligation under the Statute, "urge all States and concerned regional and other international organizations to cooperate fully" with the Court.





------------------------------------------------------------

Sudan: Wanted for War Crimes, Sudan's President Threatens UN Appearance

By Thalif Deen, 18 September 2013



United Nations — Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, accused of war crimes and genocide in the politically-troubled Darfur region, is apparently planning to visit New York and address the U.N. General Assembly next week.
The proposed visit has triggered outrage among human rights groups and has been rebuffed by the United States.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague "invited the competent U.S. authorities to arrest Omar al-Bashir and surrender him to the Court, in the event he enters their territory."
The ICC reminded the United States of the two outstanding arrest warrants issued on Mar. 4, 2009 and July 12, 2010 against al-Bashir for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
On Mar. 6, 2009 and Jul. 21, 2010, the ICC Registry transmitted requests for al-Bashir's arrest and surrender to all U.N. Security Council members that are not states parties to the Rome Statue, including the United States.
The Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), a global network of civilsociety organisations working to strengthen international cooperation with the ICC, said it is "seriously concerned" by reports that al-Bashir has applied for a visa to attend the 68th session of the General Assembly which begins next Tuesday.
The speakers on opening day include U.S. President Barack Obama.
Al-Bashir is not on the official list released by the United Nations, which is expected to update it to reflect changes, if any.
A Third World diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told IPS that to the best of his knowledge, the United States cannot refuse a visa to a visiting head of government or a visiting delegation because the U.S.-U.N. headquarters agreement calls for the facilitation of delegates participating in U.N. meetings in New York.
William Pace, convenor of the CICC, said while the 1947 U.N. Headquarters Agreement requires the U.S. government to cooperate in the attendance of representatives of governments, the U.S. government did assist in the transfer of fugitive Bosco Ntaganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the ICC in The Hague earlier this year.
Asked for a clarification, U.N. Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq told IPS, "The question of whether the United States is to grant President al-Bashir a visa to allow him to attend the General Debate [of the General Assembly] is, first and foremost, a matter for the United States to determine, consistent with the applicable rules of international law."
He acknowledged that al-Bashir is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. "The secretary-general would therefore urge him to cooperate fully with the ICC, consistent with Security Council resolution 1593 (2005), by surrendering himself to the ICC," Haq said.



Pace said, "If al-Bashir comes to the U.N., the Coalition will monitor very closely that U.N. officials and governments respect the principles of 'non-essential contact' with persons subject to international arrest warrants for the worst crimes against humanity."
Asked about the proposed visit, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Powers told reporters she had seen published reports that al-Bashir intends to travel to New York.
"President al-Bashir, as you know, stands accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity by the ICC," she said. Such a trip "would be deplorable, cynical and hugely inappropriate".
"We would suggest that given that he is under those charges, and that the ICC has indicted him, again, on genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity charges, that it would be more appropriate for him to present himself to the ICC and travel to The Hague."
Jose Luis Diaz, head of the U.N. office of Amnesty International, told IPS, "We're looking at the different legal issues involved, which are seemingly complex."
Still, he said, "it would be outrageous for al-Bashir to come to the U.N. to thumb his nose at the international community and essentially mock the victims of the crimes committed in Darfur."
He said there are two ICC arrest warrants outstanding. And as the president of the Assembly of ICC States Parties said, should al-Bashir transit through a state party on his way to New York, that country has the obligation to arrest and surrender him to the ICC.
"What's more, Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005) urges all states and concerned regional and other international organisations to cooperate fully with the court, including in sending suspects to The Hague," said Diaz.
Elise Keppler, associate director of the International Justice Programme at Human Rights Watch, told IPS, "This is an unprecedented situation that raises a range of legal issues. If al-Bashir turns up at the U.N. General Assembly, it will be a brazen challenge to Security Council efforts to promote justice for crimes in Darfur. The last thing the U.N. needs is a visit by an ICC fugitive."
Notably, a number of states have avoided possible visits by al-Bashir to their countries by encouraging him to send other Sudanese officials and making clear he is not welcome, and also sometimes rescheduling, cancelling or relocating meetings, said Keppler.
Pace said members of the Coalition are exploring all legal measures that could be taken by the U.N., the ICC states parties and the U.S. government to secure the arrest and transfer of President al-Bashir to the ICC.
The Coalition will also assist in organising political protests if al-Bashir attends the U.N. General Assembly, he added.