EU criticizes Bashir’s visit to Chad despite ICC warrant
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August 8, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The European Union (EU) on Monday
expressed concern over a visit by Sudanese president Omer Hassan
al-Bashir to Chad for the swearing-in ceremony of Chadian leader
Idriss Deby to a new five-year term.
JPEG - 36.9 kb
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir (C) waves with Chad’s President
Idriss Deby (L) as he arrives to attend Deby’s inauguration ceremony
in N’Djamena August 8, 2011 (Reuters)
Chad, a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), decided not
to execute the arrest warrant issued against Bashir in 2009 and 2010
on ten counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide he
allegedly masterminded in Darfur.
This is Bashir’s second visit to his western neighbor since the
warrant was issued. Deby has initially vowed to enforce the arrest
warrant and rejected African Union (AU) resolutions instructing its
members not to apprehend Bashir.
However as thorny relations between the two countries dramatically
improved, Deby allowed Bashir to visit in July of last year. The
Chadian government then referred to the AU decision to justify
receiving the Sudanese president despite the warrant and dismissed
criticism by rights groups.
The EU spokesperson of High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said in a statement today
that it is important for all Member States of the United Nations
abiding by and implementing the resolutions adopted by the Security
Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, in this case, UNSCR 1593
(2005).
Ashton urged Chad to respect its obligations under international law
to arrest and surrender those indicted by the ICC.
"The European Union is a staunch supporter of the ICC and the fight
against impunity. The Court is a valuable instrument of the
international community to ensure that there is no impunity for the
most serious crimes of international concern; genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes must not go unpunished and their prosecution
must be ensured by measures at both domestic and international level".
ICC judges had reported the non-compliance of three member countries
to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the ICC assembly of
state parties but no action was taken.
But the AU summit held in June cleared Chad, Djibouti and Kenya from
any wrongdoing in receiving Bashir saying they were conforming to the
Pan-African body’s resolution in this regard.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also chided Chad over its decision to receive
Bashir again.
“A return visit by al-Bashir would make a mockery of Chad’s
commitments to the International Criminal Court, and would be an
insult to victims of atrocities in Darfur and globally,” said Balkees
Jarrah, international justice counsel with Human Rights Watch.
“Al-Bashir is a fugitive from justice for heinous crimes in Darfur. As
a state party to the ICC, Chad is obligated to arrest al-Bashir, who
is wanted on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against
humanity."
(ST)
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