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We don`t recognize ICC, says Sudan
2008-07-21 09:12:35
By Adam Ihucha, Arusha
Sudan has said the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over the situation in Darfur or any part of Sudan.
Recently, the ICC prosecutor demanded the issuing of an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign of killings, rape and deportations in Darfur.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC Prosecutor, produced evidence to show that the Sudanese President was guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, a special advisor to the Sudanese President, Bona Malwal said: ``We don`t accept the ICC`s jurisdiction, even if we do, we will never give in``.
He said Sudan’s position was based on international legality and basic binding principles of international law, including those stipulated in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
``Sudan is not part of Rome Statute. The court has no jurisdiction over the situation in Darfur or any part of the Sudan for that matter,`` Malwal said.
He said the move to arrest President al-Bashir not only shed doubts on the legality and integrity of the ICC, but it also transformed the court into a political arena.
``The ongoing relentless efforts by the Khartoum government and international community like African Union, European Union and the United Nations to achieve lasting peace in Darfur and the entire Sudan will suffer dearly should the ICC issue the said warrant,`` he said.
Malwal appealed to the international community to assume responsibility and see to it that no power vacuum was created, the government of national unity was not weakened nor the sovereignty and stability of Sudan and the entire region were not tempered with.
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