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The Hague, Euro Club have Colonial attitude

DUBAI - The International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague is primarily a 'European Club with a colonial attitude,' and its prosecutors seeking the arrest of Sudan President Omar Al Beshir for war crimes in Darfur, are

This was stated here on Thursday by Beshir's political adviser, Dr Ghazi Salah Al Din, while briefing journalists at the Dubai Press Club. He added, 'The charges and allegations against Beshir have already been too politicised by the ICC — whose jurisdiction is not recognised by my country.'

Speaking briefly to Khaleej Times before the Press conference, Dr Ghazi cautioned, 'if the ICC continues with this 'discriminatory' approach towards Africa in general and Sudan in particular, its repercussions will soon be felt well beyond our continent.'

He also accused a section of the media of tending to 'overlook facts — such as the baseless charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Beshir — because the media is more interested in sensationalising a story.'

There can be little doubt, he told the Khaleej Times, that the ICC is 'not impartial and that single factor alone has major implications, both political and legal.'

Asked whether the Sudan Government would be willing to put to trial those guilty of war crimes or crimes against humanity in Darfur, he said, 'Of course, we have our own judicial process to deal with such a situation. Barely a few weeks ago, we have appointed special prosecutors and there are special courts dealing with such crimes.'

However, he emphasised, 'We are dealing with very complex politico-legal issues. But the Sudanese Government is not averse to any internal mechanism which can help resolve such issues.'

At one level, he said, 'Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa and the Arab world and its rich deposits of natural resources is a major factor behind the 'power conflict' being witnessed in Sudan.'

Also, Dr. Ghazi pointed out, a key fact is that Sudan has been able to (with China's help) break the tight 'circle of control' of precious natural resources like oil, 'and that is what has threatened and angered the superpowers and imperialists the most.'

Africa may have become a 'soft target' for neo-colonialists, but added Dr Ghazi, the superpowers and their intentions and motivations have all been well exposed. The ICC is just one case in point in this context, he said.

The ICC's Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, it may be recalled has accused the Sudanese president of genocide that has killed 35,000 people outright, another 100,000 through 'slow death' and displaced almost 2.5 million people in the wake of the Darfur conflict that began in 2003.

Asked whether the South African model of instituting a special commission for truth and reconciliation might be a viable alternative to counter ICC's action, he told the Khaleej Times, 'We have our own judicial system and despite the fact that we are dealing with a very complex situation, we will find our own solutions. Solutions that will be acceptable to our own people.'

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