UNITED NATIONS: The International Criminal Court prosecutor told the UN yesterday to be prepared to arrest Sudan’s president on genocide charges and to guard against any cover-up.
ICC judges in the The Hague are considering a request by the prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Campo, for a warrant against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on the charges for crimes in the war-torn Darfur region. A decision is expected next month.
Moreno-Ocampo told the 15-nation UN Security Council it “must be prepared. If the judges decide to issue an arrest warrant against President al-Bashir, there will be a need for united and consistent action to ensure its execution.”
Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir of promising ceasefires then ordering bombing raids in Darfur, of denying that mass rapes were taking place and of promising justice while torturing witnesses.
“Genocide continues. Rapes in and around the (refugee) camps continue. Humanitarian assistance is still hindered. More than 5,000 displaced persons die each month,” he said.
Bashir’s “criminal actions should not be ignored,” the prosecutor said. “The international community cannot be part of any cover-up of genocide or crimes against humanity.”
African and Arab states have criticised Moreno-Ocampo’s attempt to bring Bashir before the ICC and suggested the Security Council should delay any proceedings.
In a separate, written report to the council, Moreno-Ocampo called on UN member states to back up any arrest warrants by severing non-essential contact with indictees and imposing travel bans and asset freezes on them.
The prosecutor has also requested warrants against three Darfur rebel commanders whose names have not been made public.
Sudan’s UN ambassador, Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem, accused Moreno-Ocampo of “political blackmail.”
“He’s increasingly transforming the ICC into a tool that has nothing to do with justice,” Abdalhaleem said. - Reuters |
