The ICC issued a warrant for this a while ago, but this Wednesday officially ordered the arrest of Sudan president Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and for the large part he played in the rape, torture and murder of those in Darfur, according to the New York Times.
Sudanese officials were outraged at the news and demanded that western countries who provide aid to those in Sudan leave immediately. Yea, that’s the way to convince us everything is OK. Tell the countries helping your people at no expense to you, to leave.
British charity Oxfam had its operating license revoked by the government (they help nearly 600,000 people in need). Doctors Without Borders was ordered to leave the country. The International Rescue Committee, which helps more than 1.75 million, was ordered to shut down operations, according to the New York Times.
The arrest warrant is expected to cause a breakdown in peace talks in Sudan. That’s serious bad news for the people in danger, but it’s good news if it leads to the arrest of al-Bashir, which it probably won’t anytime in the near future since the ICC has no police force.
The arrest warrant is the first the ICC has issued for a sitting head of state. It was appealed that he charged with genocide, but that was denied by the ICC.
Hopefully he’s‚ arrested‚ soon, but really, I’m not too optimistic. Like I said before, countries need to have some sort of physical or monetary interest in another country before they go in to protect its people. No one has that with Sudan.
I think the fears of most people are in the wrong place. Instead of worrying about what will happen to Darfuris now that the warrant has been issued we should really focus on what atrocities may continue if Bashir is not arrested.
http://www.ricoexplainsitall.com/politcs-economy/2009/3/6/bashir-responds-to-icc-arrest-warrant.html