CAIRO, Egypt, July 19, 2008
Arab League Slams Sudan Genocide Charges
22-Nation Group Backs Sudan President; Says Genocide Charges Unacceptable
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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir gestures to pro-government demonstrators gathered outside a cabinet meeting, where they were protesting against the possibility that he could be indicted for crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court, in Khartoum, Sudan, July 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
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The 22-nation group also said after a one-day emergency council meeting on Saturday that only Sudanese courts have jurisdiction on such matters. The meeting focused on the charges brought against President Omar al-Bashir. The court is expected to decide within three months on whether to issue arrest warrants for any of the charges.
"The council decides solidarity with the Republic of Sudan in confronting schemes that undermine its sovereignty, unity and stability and their non-acceptance of the unbalanced, not objective position of the prosecutor general of the Internal Criminal Court," the body said in a joint resolution.
It added that any charges or legal issues related to Darfur should be dealt with domestically and stressed "the competence of the Sudanese judiciary and it's independence and its jurisdiction in achieving justice."
The Arab League, however, did not name the charges against al-Bashir in the resolution, but instead warned about the possible ramifications they may have on the peace process in Darfur.
"The council warns against the dangerous ramifications on the current peace process in Sudan by the request made by the prosecutor general," it said.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges of genocide and crimes against humanity against al-Bashir related to a campaign of extermination the U.N. says has claimed 300,000 lives and driven 2.5 million people from their homes.
The resolution, hammered out after a four-hour meeting, instead focused more on the political consequences of the charges and their consequences for the stability of Sudan and Darfur.
Although it openly sided with Sudan, the group tried to avoid publicly condemning the international court - either in the joint resolution or in the news conference that followed.
"There is no use for shouting or sloganeering. we have to deal with this in a legal and political framework," Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, an Egyptian, said at a news conference.
Moussa planned to travel to Sudan on Sunday with what he describes as a plan to resolve the crisis in Sudan, but did not provide any details.
Sudan's state minister for foreign affairs, Al Sammani Al Wasila, told The Associated Press after the meeting that "we reject all the charges old and new."
But he added that "the position expressed by our brothers is fair and balanced."
During meetings with al-Bashir, Moussa is expected to bring up the possibility that Sudan turn over two officials indicted last year by the court, Arab diplomats said.
In return the U.N. Security Council, which asked the court to investigate the Darfur conflict, will be asked to defer prosecution of al-Bashir for at least year, the Arab diplomats who attended the meeting said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The charges against al-Bashir came a year after the court indicted Sudan's humanitarian affairs minister, Ahmed Harun, who was formerly in charge of security in Darfur, and suspected militia leader Ali Kushayb on crimes against humanity.
The statutes signed in Rome that set up the court in 2002 state that an acting head of state or government is not exempt for criminal responsibility and that any official immunities do not bar the court from exercising its jurisdiction over such a person.
Only three Arab league states recognize the court - Jordan, Djibouti and Comoros.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Next, the collection of Arab Muslim tin-horn military dictators and self-designated "royalty" issued a statement condemning the state of Israel.
"Israel should learn to model itself on Sudan, a true Muslim state" one "king" commented.
"Only under Islam can a nation be just--because we say so".
Kindly do not slander hippies in this manner.
Hippies do not kill women and children for sport.
I fully support the charges of genocide in Sudan, and would also call for similar charges to be made against the Bush administration, if we are to be at all fair and balanced about the recognition if this crime against humanity.
The tendencies illustrated in Golding''s book are not unique to Arabs, indeed the book itself dealt with degeneration of a group of English children. The lack of accountability and responsibility will turn most humans into uncivilized beings, our own administrations, in the face of a lack of accountability, has equaled any nation''s history of inhumanity, in fact ranks near the top.
Posted by tootall10142
Pot and kettle children, pot and kettle.
And how is the neocon doctrine of "spreading democracy" (as long as our puppets are elected) any different?
Posted by brianbwb at 10:51 AM : Jul 20, 2008
Explain the "genocide" that America has caused.
Posted by tcandrews62
Well, you could start with the "Native Americans", (and count each different "tribe" as an act of genocide) continue through to the Vietnamese, and go on to the Iraqis, between just those three examples I could make a very strong case.
There is no way I can disagree with you on that one, but my position is we need to clean our own yard before we complain about the neighbors.
I believe that if America lived up to the promise for its'' own citizens as enshrined in the constitution, held to the rule of law, and treated our poorest with some sense of humanity, we wouldn''t have to force "democracy" on anyone, they would happily emulate us.
Posted by brianbwb at 11:13 AM : Jul 20, 2008
I agree with the native Americans. They were singled out as a people for elimination. However, I disagree with the vietnamese and iraqi''s. In a genocide, a group is deliberately targeted for elimination. Such as that with the native Americans, the jew''s, and the people of Darfur. Each were targeted for who they were. It didn''t matter whether they were a combatant soldier or a child. They were targeted because of their religious identity or ethnicity.
This is not the case in iraq. Those who carry weapons are targeted. The iraqi people whether sunni or shia are not targeted as a group for elimination by the US troops. Only those who are attacking the troops. This has been the case all along.
In vietnam, same thing.
I am trying to find a way to have our kids perform in the US, after the Olympics.
Any help vis a vis contacts is appreciated
Posted by tcandrews62
So your position is that the Iraqis, as the Vietnamese, had no right to defend themselves from a hostile invading military force that invaded on the basis of lies (in both cases)?
While I would like to read tcandrews62''s answer, I have to go. Last train in Singapore.
See you all tomorrow.
Since most of the arab countries are let by a bunch of murderous thugs, its undestandable that they would not want the world getting into another Arab countries affairs and setting a precedence. The world SHOULD just leave them alone. Let them kill eachother. The fewer of them around, the better off the rest of the world will be.
What a warped sense of values!
Merriam-Webster
"irregardless" is not a word.
Posted by kemetorigin at 12:54 PM : Jul 20, 2008
irregardless
Main Entry: ir7re7gard7less
Pronunciation: %u02CCir-i-%u02C8gdrd-l%u0259s
Function: adverb
Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless
Date: circa 1912
nonstandard : regardless
usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that %u201Cthere is no such word.%u201D There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.
Isn''t Google wonderful :)
soon enough they would be condeming liberals and thier lifestyles (which i am sure they are already) and would want you heads on a stick..
What a warped sense of values!
Posted by roadracer9x
Great point. Remember, some of the most brutal and corrupt leaders can be found in the Middle East and Africa. Of course they cringe at the prospect of being held accountable by international courts. Being held accountable is not in their interests. Perhaps, this is an example of honor among theives.
The Saudi''s have invested heavily in Sudan. The people of Darfur will never see any benefit from their countries wealth. US strategy is to let them all die for Big Oil & Saudi investors.
Sudan is one of seven countries on the administrations HIT LIST........
Amy Goodman''s interview with General Wesley Clark. Clark stated he viewed a defense department memo that described how the U.S. was going to take out seven countries in five years....
"starting with Iraq,then Syria and Lebanon, then Libya,then Somalia and Sudan, and back to Iran."
And the extermination continues............
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Posted by samsel3 at 07:47 AM : Jul 22, 2008
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are you not a big oil customer??.....
gotta keep you well stocked and happy..
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by libsluv2spit
July 22, 2008 7:22 PM PDT
- And the extermination continues............
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Posted by samsel3 at 07:47 AM : Jul 22, 2008
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funny while i was riding my bike home i was almost hit by a 9 mile per gallon range rover with a "not in my watch..save durfur'' bumper sticker..
you and bono should start a live9 concert to save them..lots of singing..lots of poliical rantings..lots of cars driven..lots of lost meanings..LOTS OF MONEY TO BE MADE from the blood of these people..
SPARE ME!