SUDAN/FILE: Sudanese trade unions launch media blitz against possible arrest of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir by ICC

Record ID: 346156

  • Title: SUDAN/FILE: Sudanese trade unions launch media blitz against possible arrest of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir by ICC
  • Date: 23rd February 2009
  • Summary: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (FILE - JULY 14, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) ICC PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO ENTERING NEWS BRIEFING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO-OCAMPO SAYING: "I just submitted an application requesting today to chamber number three to issue an arrest warrant against Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes." OCAMPO AT PODIUM AT NEWS CONFERENCE EL-FASHER, DARFUR, SUDAN (JULY 23, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VEHICLE CARRYING SUDANESE PRESIDENT OMAR-AL-BASHIR DRIVING ALONG ROAD SURROUNDED BY GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS AND CROWD SHOUTING
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1B9YFHO8FOI6P2SHCBI50AHFG
  • Story Text: Sudanese trade unions have begun a public relations blitz against the International Criminal Court which is considering issuing an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir over alleged war crimes in Darfur.
    Sudanese trade unions have set up billboards in the capital Khartoum, to garner public support against the potential indictment of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
    The ruling is expected in early March.
    Last year, chief ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo asked the court's judges to indict Bashir for orchestrating what he described as a campaign of genocide in Sudan's western Darfur region. Ocampo said 35,000 people were killed outright and at least 100,000 more through starvation and disease.
    "As Sudanese citizens, we will reject the decision of Ocampo and we will not give up the president. Ocampo will have to take all of Sudan as well. It's better for him (Ocampo) to take all of Sudan's people wherever he wants, but we will not give up a single person to him, not even a single hair or toe," said Faisal Mohamed Ahmed, who lives in capital.
    Bashir is the most senior figure pursued by the court since it was set up in 2002. If the warrant is issued as expected, he will be the first acting head of state indicted - an event that many Sudanese have sworn they will not let happen.
    "We reject Ocampo's call for our president, the president of Sudan, and as Sudanese citizens we declare that we are willing to sacrifice our souls and our blood for the redemption of Sudan," said Amir Ali Noor, also speaking in Khartoum.
    "We will not hand over president to anyone, even at the point of death. We will not hand over our president to Ocampo, or anyone else, even to America. We will stand as one," added Ahmed Musa Ahmed, another Khartoum resident.
    Sudan has ruled out handing over Bashir or two other Sudanese citizens previously indicted by the court for suspected war crimes in Darfur. But Bashir's ability to travel outside Sudan will likely become difficult once an international arrest warrant is issued.
    Khartoum rejects the term genocide and says only 10,000 people died in the conflict.
    Sudan also wants the moves to indict al-Bashir postponed for a year to give the government time to negotiate peace in Darfur.
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