Surrender to ICC, Migiro tells Bashir

[BAK]

2009-03-13 08:20:00

Surrender to ICC, Migiro tells Bashir

UN deputy Secretary General Dr Asha - Rose Migiro addresses the media in Dar es Salaam yesterday
By Levina Kato ​

Top United Nations official Asha-Rose Migiro yesterday called on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for him.

In remarks, in which she broke ranks with the official position of her home country, Tanzania, and many other African states, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General told journalists in Dar es Salaam that Mr Al-Bashir had no option but to co-operate with the court.

She added: "The ICC is not a part of the United Nations Secretariat, but the UN recognises and respects its decisions as a legally instituted authority. Therefore, President Al-Bashir must cooperate with the court."

Speaking at the ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs' Conference Hall, Dr Migiro said the position of the UN was that Mr Al-Bashir was bound by a resolution of the Security Council to comply with the ICC requirement.

Restating a position taken by her boss, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on the issue, Dr Migiro said the Sudanese Government and other countries must respect the ICC?s decision.

She was confident that Mr Al-Bashir would cooperate with the ICC without adversely affecting the ongoing peace process and the humanitarian relief effort in Darfur.

The UN's position also echoes call by a top Sudanese opposition leader, Dr Hassan al-Turabi, who was detained after calling on Mr Al-Bashir to surrender to the ICC. He was released last week after two months in detention.

Speaking after his release, Dr al-Turabi, 76, said he had not changed his view that the President should give himself up to the international court.

"Of course, no doubt about it,? Dr Turabi said at his home, where scores of well-wishers had gathered, adding: ?The more justice we have...the more we improve our international relations."

The ICC issued the arrest warrant for President Al-Bashir on March 4, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

But Khartoum immediately dismissed the move, as thousands of Sudanese poured into the streets in protest. And Mr Al-Bashir's allies, including the African Union and Russia, said the move could further undermine the peace efforts.

Announcing the decision, ICC spokeswoman Laurence Blairon told a press conference: "He (Bashir) is suspected of being criminally responsible for intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur."

The African Union, Tanzania, other African nations, and the Arab League have opposed the bid to arrest Mr Al-Bashir, warning that it would jeopardise the peace process in the troubled Darfur region in southern Sudan.

Tanzania has reiterated its opposition to having the Sudanese President indicted over alleged genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

Last month, Deputy Foreign minister Seif Ali Iddi told reporters that Tanzania would not support the ICC move.

"There are very many problems in Darfur, which the international community ought to immediately address instead of concentrating on plans to arrest the Sudanese leader," he said, adding: "As this will not solve the problem."

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has accused the Sudanese leader of being the mastermind of the violent campaign in Darfur that has claimed 350,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people.

But Mr Al-Bashir dismisses the allegations, defiantly declaring that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Sudan.

Last October, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr Bernard Membe, told ambassadors and high commissioners in Dar es Salaam that the Tanzanian Government was opposed to the plan to arrest the Sudanese leader.

He said the bid to indict Mr Al-Bashir when the UN was just about to deploy the remaining 17,000 UNAMID forces in Darfur, was ill advised.

For UNAMID to succeed, he added, the full co-operation of the Sudanese leader would be needed.

Since arrest warrant was issued, Mr Al-Bashir has expelled a number of humanitarian aid organisations from Sudan and vowed to throw out more.

Yesterday, Dr Migiro said: "It's disappointing that the Sudanese Government has barred these organisations at a time when the humanitarian effort poses a significant challenge to the country and Darfur region, in particular."

She added: "We hope the Sudanese leader will reconsider his position on peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in his country."

While the African Union and Arab League tried to shield Mr Al-Bashir, Dr Migiro stressed that the UN was for the upholding of peace and justice.

ICC Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo first sought a warrant to arrest Mr Al-Bashir on July 14.

This followed an investigation into the violence in Darfur, which he launched on June 1, 2005.

More than 300,000 people have been killed, thousands raped, and millions displaced since the armed conflict broke out in Darfur in 2003.

The decision to arrest Mr Al-Bashir was reached by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC last month.

Sudanese Cabinet minister Ahmad Harun and Janjawid militia leader Ali Kushayb also face similar charges.

But the issuing of the arrest warrant against Mr Al-Bashir has triggered diplomatic tension, with African countries and Arab League rallying behind him.

States not affiliated to the ICC have also questioned its authority and jurisdiction.

Yesterday, Dr Migiro clarified that all UN member states were bound to implement Resolution No. 1593 (2005).

The resolution, which was adopted by 11 members of the Security Council against four abstentions (Algeria, Brazil, China, and the United States), referred the Darfur conflict to the ICC prosecutor.

The council ruled that Sudanese Government and the other parties to the conflict must cooperate fully with the ICC prosecutor.

Under the same arrangement, the AU is bound to facilitate the court's work, including the possibility of conducting proceedings in the region.

The resolution stresses the need for international cooperation with domestic efforts to promote the rule of law, protect human rights and combat impunity in Darfur.

Dr Turabi, President Bashir's close political and religious ally until a split in 1999-2000, had suggested that President submit to the ICC to save Sudan from sanctions and the political turmoil he feared would follow if he resisted.

 

[Junius]

we bibi ww, kwa nini hayo usiyasemee huko huko NY,kuna CNN,ABC,CBN n.k unakuja kusemea huku Bongo yanatuhusu nn, huku tuna mijizi tele na mijambaz ya hela zetu,tulitegemea utamshawishi bos wako wa zamani aharakishe kumpeleka keko, jamaa yule aliyewaibia wabongo mgodi wao!

 

[mwakatojofu]

junius,
mwache aseme. safi sana mama. tunataka janjaweed itokomee. na bashir ana mkono wake katka matukio yanayoendelea kusin mwa sudan. tunataka afrika yote kusiwepo na matukio ya mapigano/mauaji.
hivi unaweza kulala usingizi mzuri wakat jirani yako anawindwa auawe na mkewe na mwanae wanabakwa ili eti waogope na wakimbie? ndivyo waafrika tulivyo?

kweli, bosi wake wa zaman afanye himahima. kauli yake ikisikika kuhusu umuhimu wa kuwashughulikia kikamilifu wahalifu wakubwa wa tz, naamin itafanyiwa kaz

lakin huenda hatokaa aseme. kwani hilo sio ajenda ya muhimu kwa washington

 

[Jasusi]

I applaud her for saying this on Bongo soil. Msimamo wetu kiserikali ndio uliopotoka.
Kamwe tusiwakumbatie wanaoendesha genocide.

 

[Mpita Njia]

I applaud her for saying this on Bongo soil. Msimamo wetu kiserikali ndio uliopotoka.
Kamwe tusiwakumbatie wanaoendesha genocide.

Na kwa viongozi wetu uwakumbatia wanaoendekeza genocide, inaonyesha sura yao

 

[Yona F. Maro]

the Sudanese killings is such an embarrassment to every descent African. It's as if "Africans" are sub-human, cannibals! Its seems Africans have an unparalleled capacity for blood-letting and not just mere blood-letting but one that is "discharged" in a cruel and inhuman manner.
We still remember the Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil war and the catch phrase, "Short-Sleeve" or "Long-Sleeve", that went with it (it simply means giving the victims "a choice" as to where they prefer their own arms to be severed-off by the bandits! What a choice).
In Sudan, people, including the elderly, children and babies were murdered, amputated, burned, raped and mindlessly tortured, all in the name of "power-struggle". Where should we as "humans" draw the line in how we treat fellow humans, our own citizens for that matter?
For a recap of the "Darfur genocide", we should not forget that Sudan is populated mainly by the "ruling northerners" of "Arab-stock" and the "opposition Rebels" of native-African stock, in the south.
The ‘rebels' complain of abuse and ethnic cleansing, by the Arab government and its northerners collaborators. The "Rebel Africans" in the south want "self rule" and when this was not forthcoming, took the unconstitutional way out by trying to secede.
The "Janjaweed" are really are sore point. It is criminality of the highest order, for a government, installed to enforce law, to be the one encouraging such lawlessness, just because it serves its sinister purpose.
The ruling Arab, central government not only unleashed its military might on the rebels, bombing them from the air, but also sent-in marauding Arabic nomads called "Janjaweed", to finish what they could not be seen as doing – crimes against humanity, the rape, the burning, the ethnic cleansing, e.t.c.
But certain questions arise from all these.
"Breakaways" and self determination, have always happened, the old USSR broke-up and spurned the Ukraine, Georgia and all the "something-tans" and "something-zans" littering the Eastern bloc. Though there were conflicts, but the wars were fought with some decency and not the level of barbarisms exhibited in Liberia, Rwanda, Sudan, Ethiopia Sierra-Leone, e.t.c .
The question is are we so blood-thirsty or how come we forget that these people we fight against are actually our "brothers and sisters"?
Another question is whether it is alright for "colonial masters" to continue to interfere in internal African "issues" when African countries don't interfere in what happens in other places they are involved in ? Are western countries who stood-by while these atrocities were being committed, morally justified to come and "pronounce judgment" when they could have assisted to prevent the genocide, using their military superiority, in the first place?
What about African leaders?, what message does this send to them? Does it say "Hey, the larger world will hold you accountable for the rape and victimization you visit on your people and you can't just continue to hide under the guise of "national sovereignty" to commit crimes against the very people you swore to serve".
On the other hand, does this "arrest warrant" tell we Africans that we have lost our pride and we are in for another round slavery, a second colonialism, since no one has tried to "issue arrest warrants" for western troops, be it NATO or American troops for the "crime against humanity" they committed in Abu Graib prison, in Iraq, in Vietnam, in South Africa! …or is it a case of one law for the "third world" and another law for the super powers and their lackeys? Why has Israeli leaders not been "warranted and arrested" for all their crimes on the Palestinian people? Why Sudan? Why Africans?
Does this arrest warrant not indict the "African Union" currently chaired by Maumar Kadafi, as a toothless association of sit-tight murderers who pat each other on the back and compete for an award of who could best decimate and impoverish his people? What has the A.U. done to ensure that Africa is rid of despots and leaders that want to rule for life? The likes of our own Abacha, the Mugabes, the Obasanjos, the Raila Odingas, the IBB's and even Kadafi himself? What makes "political office" so lucrative and tempting, that even in the face of imminent death, African leaders would rather die in office? Is it not corruption and the feeling that "you can get away with it"? Why do we always look up to the west, to solve our problems for us and expect that they would not treat us like a "colonized continent"?
If African countries can not conduct credible elections that reflect the express wish of the electorate but would rather rig and snatch ballot boxes, the ensuing upheaval creates ripples, imbalances and uncertainties for the rest of the world, the international organizations like U.N, World Court, W.F.P., to deal with. We then, give them no choice than to intervene and poke nose into our internal political affairs.
Of course, we must not overlook the contributions of countries like China, countries that would ‘dine with the devil' as long as it allows them to dip their spoon into the pot of stew! As far as China is concerned, so long as the Sudanese oil is flowing, so long as its government is giving out juicy contracts to Chinese companies, so long as it could get a piece of the action in failed and inferior structural constructions, the whole of Darfur may just disappear or go up in flames, she doesn't care.
Why would President Bashir and his likes take a hard look at what they do to their citizens, if they continue to get support from such countries that turn a blind eye to a government whose bandits murder Peace keepers?
What would President Bashir do next? Intensify his war of genocide on the southern Rebels and hopes he exterminates the "black infidels" sooner than he could be arrested? Drive out all the international organizations, stay holed-up inside Sudan and turn his country into a pariah state? Allow self governance for the black African southern rebels? Surrender and get a fair trial? I don't think so, very un-African!
Whether President Bashir can be arrested, like Slobodan Milosevic and tried, only time will tell but for now, let the ethnic cleansing and rape continue!!

 

[Netanyahu]

2009-03-13 08:20:00

Surrender to ICC, Migiro tells Bashir

UN deputy Secretary General Dr Asha - Rose Migiro addresses the media in Dar es Salaam yesterday
By Levina Kato ​

Top United Nations official Asha-Rose Migiro yesterday called on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for him.

In remarks, in which she broke ranks with the official position of her home country, Tanzania, and many other African states, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General told journalists in Dar es Salaam that Mr Al-Bashir had no option but to co-operate with the court.

Saafi mama Migiro ukiendelea na misimamo hivyo tutaomba Usimame kama mgombea wa ukatibu mkuu wa UN kipindi kijacho.

Huyu Raisi wa sudan anaogopa nini kwenda kwenye hiyo mahakama kama siyo mhalifu? Mahakamani kama huna hatia huwezi ogopa.

Akijifanya mjuaji yatamkuta ya NORIEGA.Makomandoo watambeba mzobe mzobe ikulu ya kartoum na kumpeleka the hague mshenzi mkubwa.Asikilize ushauri wa Migiro ajipeleke mwenyewe kabla hajajambishwa cheche na waliochoka uharamia wake wa waafrika ngozi nyeusi wa Darfur na sudan kusini.

Kikikwete naye aache blabla amtake Swahiba wake Bashir waliye naye kwenye Muslim presidents fellowship aende akajisalimishe upesi.Na amwambie mwenyekiti wake wa Muslim presidents fellowship of Africa Gaddafi amuhimize aende na amwambie kuwa asipoenda watamkamata kwenye kikao kijacho cha wakuu wa African Union wampeleke the Hague kwa nguvu.Labda kuanzia sasa aanze kujifungia vyooni kama raisi wa korea kaskazini asionekane popote kwenye public.Shenzi type.

Niko tayari kutoa zawadi ya shilingi Elfu moja ya Tanzania sawa na dola moja ya marekani kwa mtu yeyote atakayemkamata Raisi wa sudan na kufanikisha kumfikisha kwenye hiyo mahakama ya kimataifa kama hatajisalimisha mwenyewe.

 

[Ubungoubungo]

janjaweed na albashir lazima waende kiti cha hukumu. hawa ndio magaidi wa africa. we don't need this kind of people. hukumu icc lazima. kama hawajatenda makosa kwanini wanaogopa kuface the court? kama ni innocent si wangeenda kupambana kule ili wajitetee na haki ingefuata mkondo?

kuua wakristo wa kusini ambao ni wengi, na wabantu wa kusini ambao ni wengi(pamoja na kwamba kuna waislam wachache kusini), kwasababu tu ni wakristo au wapinzani, ni kitu kibaya hatukitaki hapa africa. kuisilimisha sudan iwe ya kiislam wakati kuna wakristo wengi tu kusini, kupendelea kaskazini ambako kuna waislam na waarabu wengi kwasababu kusini kuna makafiri, ni ugaidi mkubwa sana. watu wote wale darfu wasingekufa, wala wasingehama. wamekufa kwasababu ya udini na ugaidi wa huyu jamaa na wenzake. na waislam wote wanamtetea kwasababu lao moja, kuwafyeka wakristo makafiri. kuna mwislam humu anayefagilia kukamatwa kwa albashir? wachache, wengi ni kupinga kwasababu ni mwislam na alikuwa anafanya kitu cha kiislam. sasa hivyo sio vizuri. tunatakiwa tuishi kwa kuvumiliana, sio kulazimishana dini. hii dunia ya yetu sote, sio ya waislam tu.

 

[Ngekewa]

Sawa mama tumekusikia kuwa unapingana na bosi wako aliposema kuwa hili si muda muafaka pengine Obama atakusikia na next time promotion.