International Community Considering the Suspension of Al Bashir's Arrest Warrant

September 18, 2008

     Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is extremely concerned that powerful countries such as France and Britain are possibly considering supporting the suspension of the arrest of President Al Bashir. He was charged by the the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo in July 2008 on the counts of breaking the humanitarian laws and committing genocide against the people of Darfur.  After the death of almost 450,000 and displacement of 2.5 million civilians, Al Bashir and his government still continue to commit war crimes in the Darfur region.  After the ICC pressed charges against Al Bashir, not only did he not stop the attacks but they actually worsened.  Government troops along with Janjaweed militia have increased their attacks on Darfur.  It is Al Bashir's way of threatening the ICC and showing them that if they pursue the arrest, then Darfur's suffering will increase and it will not help the peace process.  Damanga believes that the ICC and the International community need to stand strong and not falter at his threats.  Damanga believes that the worst decision would be not to arrest Al Bashir for all the crimes he has committed because he deserves to be punished.  On Wednesday, September 18, 2008 the United Nations' former human rights chief Louise Arbour stated that, "To put ICC proceedings on hold in Darfur would send a dangerous signal to would-be war criminals that justice is negotiable and the Security Council can be held hostage to their threats," and Damanga certainly agrees.  As Bashir is not concerned with bringing peace into Darfur and the International community backing down will only delay it longer.  They need to act against Al Bashir now and put him where he belongs, which is in jail.