12 January
[Edited text of a report by Reuters]
The prominent Islamist opposition leader and former godfather of the current regime, Hassan Al-Turabi, has called on President Al-Bashir to hand himself over to the International Criminal Court, saying he should take responsibility for war crimes in Darfur.
According to Reuters, Al-Turabi told reporters Al-Bashir should surrender himself to save Sudan from sanctions and political turmoil that would follow if he defied the court and carried on ruling as a wanted man.
"There is no judicial justice in this country, As far as we are concerned there is no access to justice except through the international court," al-Turabi said in the Khartoum headquarters of his opposition Popular Congress Party. "It is up to the government to hand him over or for him personally to go for the sake of his country, to protect his country against any further sanctions against the government," he added.
Turabi also said that Al-Bashir should take personal responsibility for atrocities and war crimes carried out in almost six years of fighting in Sudan's west. "Politically we think he is culpable. He is responsible for all the crimes. In politics, whatever happens below a minister, for example, he will have to resign for it and assume responsibility” he said and went on "And he should assume responsibility for whatever is happening in Darfur -- displacement, the burning of all the villages, systematic rapes."
Turabi said he could not comment on whether Bashir had personally orchestrated war crimes in Darfur -- just that the president should take political responsibility for atrocities carried out under his leadership. The controversial opposition leader added he did not expect Bashir to take his advice. "Probably the government will not hand him over ... He will not surrender himself to save his country or to go and prove he is not guilty."
SOR notes it is not the first time Al-Turabi had hinted on his support for the ICC’s proposed indictment against Al-Bashir; however; he never expressed it so bluntly.
As foreseen, Al-Turabi was taken into custody by the security authorities few days ago. security sources leaked information that he might stand trial!
All Rights Reserved – The Sudanese Online Reporter - 2009
Posts
