Henry Mukasa
13 July 2009
Kampala — UGANDA has an obligation to arrest Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir when, or if, he comes later this month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said.
"Uganda has a legal obligation to arrest President Bashir when he comes to Uganda," ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said while addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala yesterday.
He was flanked by the state minister for international relations, Henry Okello Oryem. Uganda has invited Bashir to attend the SMART partnership business conference in Munyonyo at the end of this month.
"President Bashir can be here but he should know the obligation of Uganda is to arrest him. He should know that before he comes," Ocampo emphasised.
The ICC accuses Bashir of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
So far Bashir has been visiting countries which are not members of the ICC, which are, therefore, not obliged to arrest him.
Meeting in Libya last week, the African Union agreed that African countries, which are members of the ICC, should not to cooperate in the arrest of Bashir.
IRIN
Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir
Uganda says it supported the resolution to allow the AU to independently investigate the charges against Bashir.
"It is a legal obligation not a political issue," Ocampo said in a reaction to the AU resolution.
The decision, Ocampo added, did not excuse Uganda from its legal obligations under the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
Arresting Bashir, Ocampo insisted, was the responsibility of ICC member states should Bashir visit them.
Ocampo said when Bashir wanted to attend the swearing-in of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, which is a member of the ICC, the host country asked him to send someone else otherwise he would be arrested on arrival. "It's a legal obligation to South Africa and similar to Uganda," Ocampo said.
Reacting to Ocampo's remarks, Oryem said Uganda was committed to its obligations under the Rome Statute. He said the warrant of arrest for Bashir was already with the office of the Solicitor General.
"If and when Bashir arrives in Uganda, it is up to (the Inspector General of Police, (General Kale) Kayihura, to take action," Oryem said.
He, however, added that until Bashir arrived, he could not tell whether he would be arrested or not.
He explained that Bashir was not a chicken thief you arrest in an un-ceremonial manner.
"Let's wait for Bashir to arrive here and we see which action will be taken against him by the government of Uganda," he added.
Commenting on the arrest warrant of Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA rebels, Ocampo said efforts to this end had intensified.
He said he had asked MONUC, the UN peace-keepers in the DR Congo, to help arrest Kony. He said another reason for his visit to Uganda was to find out what else the ICC could do to speed up Kony's arrest. "If you arrest Kony, the group (LRA) will collapse," Ocampo remarked.
He said the rebels had taken advantage of the peace talks to "regain strength" but it was now possible to arrest Kony since all actors in the region had promised cooperation.
"It's important to put him on trial for the crimes he committed in northern Uganda for 22 years. It's time to stop him," Ocampo said.
"These massive atrocities are not about the local people, it is about humanity," Ocampo observed.
He commended the collaboration between Uganda and Congo in hunting down Kony who is also accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Oryem said when Kony is arrested, he will be handed over to the ICC and not tried in Uganda. "Mat-oput (traditional justice) doesn't apply," Oryem said.
"There's an on-going operation to arrest Kony. Those actions continue and we are determined however long it takes."
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It will remain one of the most degrading things to the continent if President Bashir is trapped in Uganda by the same people who attended AU summit in Libya as opposed to AU resolutions in libya. what is the guiding spirit of the shameless and capitalist led ICC that has never turned in any prsesident outside our continent? Sierra Leone Charles Taylor's life has been on ICC's balance for years now. And the same oppressors continue to dangle murder tools over his head! I can only believe in ICC if it can expand its operative apparatus beyond African continent. I do not think that Ocampo is a suitable candidate to deliver lectures to us on issues that are political and some that are legal. This is because we know that human right issues which were violated in Iraq,Iran and those standards which were not met in Guantanamo are legal issue with merit, but never received any attention because violators are not from the continent of Africa. Why is it necessary for Oryem to mention that Uganda is committed to a statute that was drafted inside a room which its corridor Uganda was seated? But the AU libya summit in which Uganda was in the deliberation chamber was doomed to be of no effect? i do not think that President el Bashir is the best thing for Sudan but i know that ICC is not any solution to the Sudanese problems. So Oryem keep to the terms with AU and see your obligation towards AU resolution and not the so called Rome Statute that you were no where involved in its birth.
Let Uganda arrest this terror of our times! Bashir is a terrorist and he has even surpassed Hitler in his actions! The genocide in darfur must stop and this can only happen if Africa goes ahead in accord with the ICC and bring this monster to justice. chinedu, i see that you are ill-informed on international affairs and you shouldnt expose your ignorance in public! I am not surprised that you are one of those group of criminals in the nigerian government who fatten themselves from the coffers of the state, while thousands of children die each day from malaria which can be cured with just $1!
You are correct. Bashir should be arrested. He has allowed the murder, rape, maming, hunger to thrive in Sudan. He should be held accountable for these crimes. Africa
hi Rockyblack74, i agree with you that offenders will be brought to book and that leaders be held accountable especially in Africa. However, it must not be in any colonial arrangements! it is my considered view that you make efforts to support your arguments with reasons, atlest to lend some credence to your claims. And for your own honour, do not present yourself as one who is suffering with the disease of emotional imaturity. thank you for a balanced view you have on International Relations.
Bashir, Taylor, Kony are all criminals and what are africans doing to stop this madness? Nothing but stating what the west has done. Stop worring about the west and take care of these murdering dogs! They are a waste of humanity. Why are you protecting these animals with this talk. You have not said that they need to be dealt with unless you are of the same mindset as these madmen. My GOD save Africa from stupidity! Stop the blame game, it's really old.
The Gate Keeper
Uganda is finally waking up to doing what is right by taking a position it should have been taking a long time ago.
Even Mbeki, unburden by the duties of the presidency has, with his group, switched positions from pleading for Bashir no being arrested to now supporting his arrest by ICC.
Since AU is now under the control of the Libyas dictator Kaddafis, independent Africans and African governments ought to be free to stake their own position free of the expected stance Kaddafi and the AU are making. ICC is an independent entity. And since this is a purely criminal matter their is no need to allow politics to save murderer. He murdered Africans how can Africans again turned around and say it is an embarrassment to Africa if the one who committed the crime of killing Africans is charged with the crime of murder ? Even if the killer is an African what difference does it make ? True justice is blind.
The racist Mamdanis of this world can theorise and politicise and justfy genocide all they want, the truth is El Bashir has commited and still is committing genocide against Africans in Darfur.
* 16 European Nations . Met And Plotted On How They Would Rob Africa Of Its Riches.
* They met during two(2) Periods of time in two(2) places
* The General Act Of Berlin Conference (Nov, 1884 to February, 1885)
* Brussels Belgium to finalize SECRET agreements ( Nov, 1889 to July 1890)
* The Book “King Leopold’s Ghost (1998) by Adam Hochschild documents some of This information.
The following Nations (Households) - Planned how they would divide among themselves our AFRICAN Riches.
1) Austria-Hungary - Francis Joseph I Charles - August 18, 1830 -
2) Belgium - King Leopold II – April 9, 1835
3) Denmark - Frederik VIII -June 3, 1843
4) France - Marie François Sadi Carnot – August 11, 1837 -
5) Germany - Wilhelm II -– January 27, 1859
6) Great Britain - Queen Victoria (Hanover) – May 24, 1819 – British Ruler – 2nd
7) Holland –William III – February 19, 1817
8) Italy - Umberto I - March 14, 1844 -
9) Norway - Oscar II [Oscar Frederik] – January 21, 1829 (Also Sweden)
10) Portugal - Carlos I – September 28, 1863
11) Russia - Alexander III Alexandrovich – March 10, 1845
12) Spain - Alfonso XIII – May 17, 1886
13) Sweden - Oscar II – January 21, 1829 (Also Norway)
14) Turkey - Abdülhamid II, - September 2 or September 22 - 1842 -
15) United States - Benjamin Harrison – August 20, 1833 -
16) Persia (Iran) - Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar – July 16, 1831 –
For centuries Black Africans have been exploited and exploited in the name of Islam. Then with the coming of the Portueses (so-called Christians) to Ghana around the 1440s , the so-called Christians started their exploitation.
FRITZ SPRINGMEIER A Bold Christian Truthseeker The Top 13 Illuminati Bloodlines [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73Q2_f4vKU ]
We Black Africans are puzzling. We have a bounty of riches around us, yet we persist in allowing outsiders to steal them; while we fight each other over trivial matters.
Just in case you're wondering, here's some Black Africans who have done wondrous things to change the way we live in the world.
For example : Garrett-Augustus Morgan invented the Traffic Signal to CURB (no pun intended) TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS !!!
* Buridge & Marshman - TYPEWRITER
* George Carruthers - X-RAY MACHINE
* George Washington Carver - PEANUT BUTTER - PAINTS – PAINT STAINS – ETC
* W.A. Dietz - SHOE
* Charles R. Drew - BLOOD PLASMA STORAGE SYSTEM
* Michael Harney - LANTERN
* Augustus Jackson - ICE CREAM
* H.A. Jackson - KITCHEN TABLE
* Isaac R. Johnson - BICYCLE FRAME
* John A. Johnson - WRENCH
* Frederick M. Jones - DEFROSTER - REFRIGERATION CONTROLS – AIR CONDITIONER
* Jones & Long - BOTTLE CAPS
* Lewis Latimer & Nichols - ELECTIC LAMP
* John L. Love - PENCIL SHARPENER
* Tony J. Marshall - FIRE EXTINGUISHER
* Alexander Miles - ELEVATOR
* W.A. Martin - LOCK
* Garrett A. Morgan - GAS MASK - Traffic Signal
* Lydia Newman - HAIR BRUSH - Nov 15, 1898
* W.B. Purvis - FOUNTAIN PEN
* L.P. Ray - DUST PAN
* W.H. Richardson - BABY BUGGY
* G.T. Sampson - CLOTHES DRYER
* .W. Smith - LAWN SPRINKLER
* J. Standard - REFRIGERATOR
* T.W. Stewart - MOP
* Maxine Snowden - RAIN HAT - 1983
* Paul E. Williams - HELICOPTER
* Granville T. Woods - Roller Coaster
* Granville T. Woods - Telegraph Transmission Devices - Dec 2, 1884 Patents # - 308, 816 (7)
Thanks to The Black Inventors Museum P.O. Box 76128 Los Angeles , Calif. (90076) Phone (310) 859-4602)
Director : Ghanaian Mr. Hamza Salifa
Contributor of Information : SEESTAH Imahkus Nzinga Okofo
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate,
Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure.
It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP !!! STAY UP !!!
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/] Life Is A Game. Have Fun . Luke 18:17 - Isaiah 11:6
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