The Uganda Vs Bashir Circus.

Ab-Titchaz said:

Wakuu,

hii najua ni kwa sababu ya support of the Ugandan regime towards the
folks in southern Sudan.At the same time we are still wondering what
killed Col. Garang?

Uganda may act on Bashir ICC warrant

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al- Bashir. Uganda says it will consider arresting him if he attends an international conference at the end of the month.

KAMPALA, Monday (Reuters)

Uganda said on Monday it would consider acting on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir if he comes to Kampala for an international conference at the end of the month.

But Bashir -- whom the ICC has indicted over crimes in Sudan's western Darfur region -- is not a "chicken-thief" to be pursued unceremoniously, added Okello Oryem, a junior foreign minister responsible for international relations.

"So until Bashir is here, I cannot tell you if or not he will be arrested," he said at a news conference together with ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

Media in the region say Bashir has been considering attending a global affairs meeting, called Smart Partnership Dialogue, along with other heads of state, at the end of July.


Uganda is a signatory to the ICC, so a visit by the Sudanese leader would force Kampala to decide if it implements or ignores the arrest warrant, which has stirred controversy across Africa.

Moreno-Ocampo said Uganda would be obliged to arrest the Sudanese president, and cited the case of South Africa where he said the possibility of detention stopped him attending President Jacob Zuma's inauguration in May.

"LEGAL OBLIGATION"

"South Africa informed Bashir that he could be invited to President Zuma's inauguration, but if he is there he could be arrested," the ICC prosecutor said.

"It's a legal obligation not a political decision, it's a court decision and Uganda, South Africa and the 30 African (member) state parties have this legal obligation, it's clear."

The Ugandan official, Oryem, said Kampala had an "unwavering" commitment to the ICC statute.

DAILY NATION- Uganda to mull arrest if Sudan's Bashir comes​

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Ab-Titchaz said:

But Bashir -- whom the ICC has indicted over crimes in Sudan's western Darfur region -- is not a "chicken-thief" to be pursued unceremoniously, added Okello Oryem, a junior foreign minister responsible for international relations.

"So until Bashir is here, I cannot tell you if or not he will be arrested," he said at a news conference together with ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.​

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A senior cabinet minister yesterday said Sudan President Omar El Bashir faces arrest if he visits Uganda – only days after the government invited the leader to attend a top-level summit.


The government's U-turn on Gen. Bashir, whose arrest is being sought by the International Criminal Court over charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur region in his country, came during a visit to Kampala by the ICC chief prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno Ocampo.
Addressing a joint press conference in Kampala yesterday with Mr Ocampo, International Relations Minister Henry Okello Oryem acknowledged that the government has received a warrant of arrest for Gen. Bashir, who is the first sitting president to be indicted by the court.
"An arrest warrant for Bashir has been deposited at the office of the Solicitor General," Mr Oryem said. "It's up to [Inspector General of Police] Gen. Kale Kayihura to arrest him.



"It's a legal obligation for Uganda to arrest Bashir were he to come to Uganda. Bashir should know this before he comes," he said, adding that the arrest will "eventually" happen.


Uganda was the first country to refer a matter to the ICC when it successfully procured indictments for LRA rebel leader Joseph Kony and his top lieutenants.
The government has, however, blown hot and cold on the matter, invoking the LRA indictments to force the rebels to the unsuccessful peace talks in Juba last year, while supporting a decision by the African Union (AU) not to respect the warrants against Gen. Bashir.


The government has a leg on either side of the fence; it says it remains committed to the ICC and plans to strengthen it – but also claims to share the AU's views.
Mr Ocampo said yesterday that the AU was not a party to the Rome Statute and that Uganda, which is, is not bound by the "political" discussions meant to shield Bashir from trial in The Hague.


Mr Ocampo said Uganda would be obliged to arrest the Sudanese president, and cited the case of South Africa where he said the possibility of detention stopped him (Bashir) attending President Jacob Zuma's inauguration in May.



"South Africa informed Bashir that he could be invited to President Zuma's inauguration, but if he is there he could be arrested," the ICC prosecutor said.



"It's a legal obligation not a political decision, it's a court decision and Uganda, South Africa and the 30 African (member) state parties have this legal obligation, it's clear," he said.


Last Friday, after this newspaper broke the story of Bashir's intended visit, the Foreign Affairs ministry maintained that the Sudanese leader was welcome.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa said: "The AU is not working outside the Rome Statute. For durable peace [other] remedies need to be exhausted first. These are just accusations [against Bashir] even the prosecutor has to prove them."



The government now finds itself between an ocean of responsibility and a serpent of political pragmatism. The government has accused Gen. Bashir of supporting the LRA rebels – in retaliation for Kampala's support for the Sudanese People's Liberation Army – but is keen not to reignite the regional tensions by arresting or humiliating the Sudanese leader.


Solicitor General Billy Kainamura confirmed yesterday that he had Bashir's arrest warrant but Police boss Kayihura could not be reached for comment. Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba declined to comment on the matter.

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Byasel said:

Angelo Izama & Emmanuel Gyezaho
Kampala


However, Regional Cooperation Minister Isaac Musumba yesterday presented to Parliament a statement explaining the government’s official position over the controversy that has surrounded the invitation extended to Gen. Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for his role in the Dafur crisis.

While Gen. Bashir is yet to confirm his attendance for the July 26-28 meeting, debate has raged over whether Uganda should effect a warrant of arrest for the first sitting head of state to be indicted by The Hague-based court in the event he makes the international trip to Kampala.

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