ACIJLP condemns the decree of the Sudanese government to expel 13 international organizations for humanitarian relief and aids from Darfur being a new war crime committed by the Sudanese President. ACIJLP calls upon the ICC Prosecutor to enlist this crime in the accusation list against the Sudanese President.
ACIJLP expresses its deep concern regarding the deteriorating human conditions in Darfur in the wake of expelling the international aid agencies which provide a lifeline to 4.7 million people in Darfur alone. UN spokeswoman said “With the loss of these NGOs, 1.1 million people will be without food aid, 1.1 million will be without health care and over 1 million will be without potable water,”
The expulsion decree was taken by the Sudanese government in March 5th, 2009 in a retaliatory reaction to the ICC’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Bashir for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
ACIJLP sees this action on the part of the Sudanese government as – in addition to being a violation to the provisions of Geneva Convention (1949) on the protection of civilians during armed conflicts ratified by Sudan in September 23rd, 1957 – a war crime in accordance with the provisions of Article (8) Paragraph (25) of Rome Statute which created the ICC “Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions”. The said paragraph considers these acts as a war crime.
ACIJLP indicates that Although Sudan has not ratified the Rome Statute, UN Security Council Resolution 1593 requires Sudan to cooperate fully with the Court and provide any necessary assistance to it and its Prosecutor based on the fact that Darfur crisis was referred to the court by virtue of Security Council adopted Resolution 1593 in March 31st, 2005.
Sudan
Darfur : Human Catastrophe Confiscates Civic Activity in Sudan
The conflict in Darfur still begets ongoing crimes and violations against human rights as the impacts of this catastrophe extended to include – in addition to the expulsion of the international aid agencies – security tightening and closure of civil society institutions in Sudan. Khartoum Center for Human Rights & Environmental Development is considered a vivid example for such measures as its bank account has been frozen by the Government of Sudan, through the “Humanitarian Aid Commission – Khartoum State” in the wake of almost daily arrests. Late in November 2008, the Sudanese Authorities arrested three human rights activists including Amir Sulieman (Head of Khartoum Center for Human Rights & Environmental Development) for several days during which they have been tortured and investigated on their relation to the ICC. More activists were summoned and some of them were threatened under mere suspicions of the providing information t the ICC regarding violations of human rights in Darfur. Moreover, several human rights organizations in Sudan suffer slander in the mass media of being traitors and agents to foreign powers and were held responsible for the accusations passed by the ICC against El Bashir.
In the wake of the arrest warrant of the ICC against El Bashir, the Sudanese authorities closed three human rights organizations, namely:
- Khartoum Center for Human Rights & Environmental Development
- Sudan Organization of Social Development
- Amal center for the treatment and rehabilitation of victims of torture .
