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UNITED NATIONS – Sudan's refusal to arrest President Omar al-Bashir and threeothers accused of war crimes in Darfur is "a direct challenge" tothe U.N. Security Council, and it should now consider asking allcountries and regional organizations to carry out the arrests, theInternational Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said Tuesday. Luis Moreno-Ocampo conceded that council discussions of otherpossibilities to arrest the four Sudanese, including seeking helpfrom member states and regional bodies, "will be problematic." "But the victims will receive a clear message: They are notignored," he said. "And the perpetrators will receive a clearmessage: There will be no impunity." The court, set up in 2002 to prosecute the most senior perpetratorsof genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes from nationsthat cannot or will not put them on trial, has no police force ofits own to arrest suspects. More than 100 countries that areparties to the Rome statute are required to arrest those sought bythe tribunal — but al-Bashir has traveled to friendly nationswithout being detained. Darfur was plunged into turmoil in 2003, when ethnic African rebelstook up arms against the Arab-dominated Sudanese government, whomthey accused of discrimination. The Khartoum government is accusedof retaliating by unleashing Arab militias on civilians — acharge the government denies. The U.N. estimates 300,000 peoplehave died and 2.7 million have been displaced in the conflict. The Security Council authorized the court to investigate atrocitiesin Darfur in 2005, and it has issued an arrest warrant for theSudanese president for allegedly orchestrating genocide, crimesagainst humanity and war crimes in Darfur. South Kordofan Gov.Ahmed Harun, militia leader Ali Kushayb and Defense MinisterAbdelrahim Mohamed Hussein are accused of war crimes and crimesagainst humanity. Sudan's U.N. Ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman condemned anddenounced "in the strongest terms" Moreno-Ocampo's call for theSecurity Council to consider other proposals to carry out thearrests. He accused the prosecutor of trying to incite the councilagainst Sudan when it is trying to restore peace to Darfur, and heargued that the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction inthe vast western region. While Sudan is not a party to the Rome statute that established thetribunal, Moreno-Ocampo has jurisdiction in Darfur because theSecurity Council asked him to investigate atrocities there. In his briefing to the council, Moreno-Ocampo noted that at aprevious briefing Sudan challenged the evidence against theaccused. He said his office is prepared to discuss the evidence "inthe courtroom before the judges.". We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Damper Shock Absorber , China Accessory Belt Tensioner for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Stabilizer Link Bar.
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