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The
Hague, 22 September 2008
ICC-OTP-20080922-PR356 ENG
On 22 to 26 September ICC
Prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, will be in New York to meet
senior international actors and discuss how to further the
protection of civilians in Darfur, stop the crimes, and ensure
the execution of the Court’s judicial mandate and decisions.
In July 2008, following a
second investigation into crimes over the last five years in
Darfur, the Office of the Prosecutor requested the issuance of
an arrest warrant against President Al-Bashir for allegedly
committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in
Darfur. “We received a judicial mandate and we fulfilled it.
We presented a solid case. The evidence show that crimes against
Darfurians continued today. Al -Bashir has complete control of
his forces, and they are raping women today, they are promoting
conditions in the camps to destroy entire communities and they
are still bombing schools. The Judges will decide. It is an
immense challenge for the political leaders of the world. They
have to protect the victims and ensure respect for the Court
decisions. Those sought by the Court have to face justice.
Between criminals and 2.5 millions victims, they should make the
right decision” the Prosecutor said.
Pre-Trial Chamber I is
reviewing evidence submitted by the Office of the Prosecutor and
will determine if there are reasonable grounds to believe that
the named individual committed the alleged crimes. The
Prosecution has requested an arrest warrant.
Recently, the Office
requested information from the Sudanese government about the
Kalma Camp attack committed on 25 August where Sudanese forces
allegedly killed at least 31 civilians. The Prosecution is also
in the process of completing its third investigation, which is
focused on rebel crimes, in particular those most responsible
for the attack against African Union Peacekeepers in Haskanita
in September 2007.
The International Criminal
Court is an independent, permanent court that investigates and
prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of
international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity
and war crimes if national authorities with jurisdiction are
unwilling or unable to do so genuinely. The Office of the
Prosecutor is currently investigating in four situations: The
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Northern Uganda, the Darfur
Region of Sudan, and the Central African Republic, all still
engulfed in various degrees of conflict with victims in urgent
need of protection. |
