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Darfur (Part II): Media Coverage and Sudanese Reactions to Prosecutor

01 Mar 2007

Dear All,

Please find below a digest (Part II of 1 March 2007) of continued
media coverage on and reactions, particularly from Sudan, to the ICC
Prosecutor's request for summonses for Ahmad Muhammad Harun and Ali
Muhammad Ali Abdal-Rahman.

Please note that a video of the Prosecutor's press conference is now
available at http://www.icc-cpi.int/press/pressreleases/234.html.

A. SUDANESE REACTIONS WELCOMING ICC ANNOUNCEMENT: Al-Ayyam (a
Sudanese independent newspaper) reports:
(1) Several of Sudan's Darfur armed movements, including rebel
groups, have welcomed the ICC's announcement.
(2) The Ummah Party and the Darfur Lawyers Association have also
reacted positively to the news.

B. SUDANESE REJECTIONS OF ICC ALLEGATIONS AND JURISDICTION: Suna News
Agency reports:
(1) The Committee for Political Parties and Association has rejected
the ICC accusations and the Court's jurisdiction over Sudanese
citizens.
(2) The Sudanese Workers Trade Unions' Federation (SWTUF) has
declared its rejection to handing over of any Sudanese person to a
court outside Sudan, stressing its confidence in fairness and
competence of the Sudanese justice.
(3) The Arab Parliamentary Union has affirmed capability of the Sudan
judiciary to try any person accused of committing violations of
international humanitarian law.
(4) The Sudanese Bar Association has stressed that the ICC has no
jurisdiction over countries and bodies that did not ratify the
Court's Statute. The statement also referred to the United States.

C. HARUN REMARKS IN SUDANESE MEDIA INTERVIEWS: As reported yesterday,
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmad Harun defended
himself against the ICC allegations. These remarks emerged from
several interviews with Sudanese media, including Akhir Lahzah
(Sudanese Islamist opposition newspaper), Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite
TV, and Alray Alaam. Excerpts from these interviews are available
below.

D. REACTION BY UN MISSION IN SUDAN AND HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS:
Agence France Presse and Al-Ra'y al-Amm report that the UN mission in
Sudan has said it feared for the security of its staff after the ICC
announcement. "We issued yesterday an advisory to our staff" on the
potential security repercussions, acting mission chief Taye-Brook
Zerihoun told reporters. The Financial Times also reports on the
perceived possible impact on humanitarian aid workers.

E. OTHER INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS:
(1) United Kingdom International Development Secretary Hilary Benn
welcomed the ICC's announcement.
(2) Suna News Agency reports that several Egyptian jurists expressed
their rejection to the ICC allegations.

Please take note of the Coalition's policy on situations before the
ICC (below), which explicitly states that the CICC will NOT take a
position on potential or pending situations before the Court. The
Coalition, however, will continue to provide the most up-to-date
information about the ICC.

Warm Regards,
Esti Tambay
Information and Analysis Officer
Coalition for the International Criminal Court

****************************************************
A. SUDANESE REACTIONS WELCOMING ICC ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Al-Ayyam (Sudanese independent newspaper), "Sudan's Darfur armed
movements welcome international court's announcement," 28 February
2007

"Darfur armed movements including rebels and those who signed the
Abuja agreement have welcomed the announcement of the first case
[against those suspected of war crimes in Darfur] in The Hague in
which the minister Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb have been accused. The
Sudan Liberation Movement [SLM] faction led by [senior presidential
assistant] Mani Arkoi Minawi described the announcement as worthy of
a celebration.

The [rebel] SLM Unity faction, National Redemption Front, Justice and
Equality Movement and Greater SLM and the signatory to the Abuja
agreement the Free Will SLM welcomed the announcement and called for
the trial of those involved in what they called the genocide in
Darfur. "We commend the court's announcement that it has started
procedures," the official spokesman for the SLM Unity faction, Jar al
Nabi Abd-al-Karim, told Al-Ayyam.

Meanwhile, the Greater SLM called on the international community to
show responsibility towards the problem of Darfur and pressurise the
government into implementing international law and Security Council
resolution 1593 for the referral of those involved in crimes in
Darfur to the International Criminal Court [ICC].

-- The SLM faction led by Minawi announced it was happy with the
announcement as this was a step towards stopping the genocide and
ethnic cleansing the Khartoum regime continued to practice against
the people of Darfur. The faction's information advisor Al-Tayib
Khamis told Al-Ayyam, "the movement has continued urge the ICC to put
forward those who committed crimes in Darfur to Justice. What was
announced yesterday over TV channels is a celebration for the people
of Darfur who remain in camps. We were however, surprised by the
announcement of some names."

In this regard the official spokesman for the Free Will SLM, I'sah
Basi, said the government was responsible because it had delayed
putting those who committed crimes in Darfur forward to justice. "We
consider the announcement yesterday by the chief prosecutor of the
names of accused as a serious step in the direction of returning the
tragic situation in Darfur to normality. It will help reassure those
affected to return voluntarily to the villages they were forced to
leave," Basi told Al-Ayyam."

2. Al-Ayyam (Sudanese independent newspaper), "Sudan: Darfur lawyers
say ICC decision due to government's procrastination," 28 February
2007
(link not available)

"The Ummah Party has welcomed the announcement of the first case
[against alleged war criminals in] Darfur made by the chief
prosecutor in The Hague. The secretary general of the party Abd-al-
Nabi Ali Ahmad told Al-Jazirah satellite channel that the government
had failed to try those accused and that Sudanese laws were not
suited for these trials. Meanwhile the party's political bureau is
preparing to issue a statement today and other political parties
including the Communist party and the Democratic Unionist Parties are
also preparing to issue statements.

In this regard, the Darfur Lawyers Association said that after the
chief prosecutor announced the names of those accused in the first
case, the train had now left the station. Head of the association,
Muhammad Abdallah al-Dumah said "we have nothing to say after this,
it is too late." He stressed that the matter was now between the
government and the International Criminal Court. "There is no point
talking now, the train has left because of the government's
procrastination over putting an end to the grievances of the citizens
of Darfur." Al-Dumah blamed the minister of justice saying he had not
taken action at the right time despite the fact that comprehensive
recommendations made by the [Sudanese Darfur investigation] committee
led by judge Daf'allah Yusif had been with him for a long time."

****************************************************
B. SUDANESE REJECTIONS OF ICC ALLEGATIONS AND JURISDICTION

1. Suna News Agency, "Committee for Political Parties Rejects ICC
Accusations and Procedure against Sudanese Citizens," 28 February 2007
(link not available)

"The committee of political parties and associations has affirmed its
rejection to the accusations made by the prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudanese citizens,
describing this accusation as unsound and not complying with the
basic statute of the ICC and the procedure that are due to be
adopted in this regard. In a statement it issued Wednesday [28
February], the committee expressed its astonishment over the ICC
prosecutor's accusations against Sudanese citizens, a matter which
poses a violation of its sovereignty and the investigations in
issues relating to the power and jurisdiction of Sudan government.
The committee of the political parties and associations stressed that
the ICC should have verify Sudan's desire and consent over
continuity of the investigations in internal issues of the country.
The committee said that the ICC should have been aware of the
Sudanese legislations and laws which are applicable in this regard
and the state's seriousness to handle like such issues. The committee
also called for rejection to the accusations and procedure declared
by the ICC prosecutor against Sudanese citizens."

2. Suna News Agency, "SWTUF Declares its Rejection to Delivery of any
Sudanese for Trial Abroad," 28 February 2007
(link not available)

"Sudanese Workers Trade Unions' Federation (SWTUF), has declared its
rejection to handing over of any Sudanese person to a court outside
Sudan, stressing its confidence in fairness and competence of the
Sudanese justice. In a statement it issued Wednesday [28 February],
SWTUF pointed out that it is standing in support of realization of
justice through all the Sudanese justice organs, which are known for
their efficiency and fairness. SWTUF has regretted the recent
decision of the prosecutor of the Hague International Criminal Court
(ICC) on accusation of two Sudanese citizens through dependence on
false statements of witnesses whom the prosecutor did not mention, a
matter which proves that fabrication and pressures have been
practised on an international justice court that should have been
neutral and fair. SWTUF emphasized its support to the government
stance not to hand over any Sudanese for trial outside Sudan. The
federation called on the government to find a solution for Darfur
crisis and to impose punishment on any one who commits a crime
against the Sudanese people. SWTUF stressed that the accusations
declared by the ICC prosecutor came in framework of a plot which is
being woven by certain colonialist circles with the aim to impede the
peace efforts in Darfur. The federation called on the Sudanese people
to confront like such conspiracies which are targeting Sudan's
sovereignty."

3. Suna News Agency, "Arab Parliament affirms capability of Sudan
Judiciary of trying any person accused of committing violation
against international humanitarian law," 28 February
(link not available)

"Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir,
participating in the works of the 49th session of the Council of Arab
Parliamentary Union convening in Jordan, has expressed satisfaction
over the position of the union supporting Sudan following the
statement of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
(ICC). The Arab Parliament affirmed Sudan Judiciary's capability and
willingness for trying any person accused of committing any violation
to the International Humanitarian Law, pointing out that the ICC has
no jurisdiction in this regard.

In a statement it issued in Al- Aqaba, Jordan, the Arab Parliamentary
Union lauded steps taken by the government of Sudan for the solution
of the conflict in Darfur through signing of Darfur Peace Agreement
(DPA) and commencing its implementation, supporting stances of
Sudan's government, parliament and people rejecting transferring the
mission of the African Union (AU) troops to international forces. The
union urged AU, UN and the Arab League to work for persuading the non-
signatory factions, particularly the National Redemption Front, to
stop attacks against villages and violations of cease- fire and to
join DPA to guarantee safety of Sudan territories and welfare of its
people. The statement also called on the Arab states to extend aid
to the IDPs and refugees as well as creating the conducive conditions
for their voluntary return."

4. Suna News Agency, "Bar Association: ICC Have No Jurisdiction over
Countries," 28 February 2007
(link not available)

"The Sudanese Bar Association, has stressed that the International
Criminal Court (ICC) have no jurisdiction over countries and bodies
that did not ratify the court's agreement. In a statement it issued
Wednesday, the Bar Association stated that the jurisdiction extends
to include the member states according to the court's basic statute,
while the priority remains for the national criminal court, rather
than the International Criminal Court..

The Bar Association said that the tragedy reaches its peek when the
United States appears as the spearhead behind reference of the case
to the ICC Prosecutor in Hague and show itself now as the preacher
who urges Sudan to abide by the ICC Jurisdiction despite the fact
that it is not a member state in the court's agreement.

The Bar Association's statement said that President Bush has signed a
law that prohibits the American bodies and organs to cooperate with
the International Criminal Court, besides his endorsement to another
item that deprives the member state in the ICC from any American
military aid and, in the same time, gives the United States the right
to use military force to release any American national who is
arrested by the ICC."

****************************************************
C. HARUN REMARKS IN SUDANESE MEDIA INTERVIEWS

1. Akhir Lahzah (Sudanese Islamist opposition newspaper), Excerpt
from interview of Minister of state for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmad
Harun, "Sudanese minister named by ICC says prosecutor's
case "weak"," 28 February 2007
(link not available)

"Following directly the announcement by the chief prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court [ICC] in The Hague at the 'international
press conference', Akhir Lahzah hastily set off to the house of the
minister named by the prosecutor, Ahmad Muhammad Harun.

Q: Minister Ahmad Harun, when did you hear that you were one of those
wanted by The Hague court? Did you have prior information?

A: "I heard the news when I arrived from Jordan yesterday evening
around five pm [local time]."

Q. How were you informed? Was it an official body, your office in the
humanitarian affairs or the minister of justice who told you?

A. "I was in Khartoum airport when my office manager told me and when
I got home my colleague, the minister of justice, gave me the details
of what happened at the chief prosecutor's press conference."

Q. What is your response to the decision for you to appear in front
of the court?

A. "I am personally not concerned by the chief prosecutor's
procedures for a number of reasons. The allegations are related to my
public post as former minister at the ministry of interior therefore
the government is the one who should take the appropriate procedure
in this regard. Whatever the government decides I vow to personally
abide by it. Because of my background as a former judge, I feel that
in terms of procedures, there are no grounds for the ICC to intervene
for the simple reason that Sudan is not part of the court. Secondly,
the Sudanese judicial system is stable and I had the honour of
working for it for a considerable length of time. It is a system that
is competent and is known to achieve justice and therefore the ICC
work complements this national judiciary. Therefore, I see no pretext
for the ICC to intervene. That is on the procedural side."

"In terms of content I feel that the allegations are very weak. The
court listened to the same sides that caused the Darfur problem and
based its information on hearsay which is part of political cunning
and one of the faces of the war that is going on in Sudan today. I
was carrying out a duty and do not see any reason for these
procedures to be taken. From the point of view of the content it is
very weak and not worth the interest it has raised. The court's
former cases show it has a weak experience in achieving justice on
the international level. It is based on double standards that can not
be relied on to achieve justice."

Q. How would you describe the case?

A. "I feel it is insignificant and does not warrant much attention."

Q. Do you think the source of information was the armed forces,
internal sides or external sides?

A. "The armed movements of course. They have always demanded the
trial of government officials, as part of their tactics, and have
made baseless and illogical allegations. Who started the crisis in
Darfur? The armed movements of course, not the government."

Q. Before the announcement of the names Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb
there were reports of names of armed movement leaders?

A. "The international experience of dealing with the problem of
Darfur shows that when there is any progress in terms of negotiations
over a political agreement with the armed movements, an international
decision is taken. Now with the activity surrounding the Libyan -
Eritrean initiative, these decisions have been issued. Note that all
the previous decisions on Darfur were linked to progress in the
peaceful political process. The decision can therefore be put down to
general psychological war. I personally, and I believe the government
is of the view that this is some kind of psychological war."

Q. The chief prosecutor said Ahmad Harun oversaw the transfer of
weapons, was this one of your previous duties in the ministry of
interior?

A. Harun laughed and said "These are of course not the duties of a
minister." He pointed out that the international prosecutor could not
distinguish between the duties of a minister and those of a guard
guarding a weapons store. He said the prosecutor's experience in
these matters was superficial and his knowledge of Sudan was
shallow. "My brother, we are an orthodox state and they are a state
of institutions," he added.

Q. What if the government decides to hand you over?

A. "I think I have a case that I am capable of defending despite my
mistrust of the international justice system. However, the example
set by Sadam Husain [sic] is one that any person would wish to
emulate if they had an ounce of pride."

Q. Do you mean you are prepared to repeat the experience?

A. "I consider this a personal challenge and I am prepared for it
with my professional capability. Sadam Husayn my brothers, was braver
than his enemies when he was on his way to the gallows."

Q. Are you certain the government will not hand you over?

A. "I do not care to answer that question. Whatever the outcome of
this case I welcome all the options and I am prepared to face them."

Q. Have you been questioned by a national judicial committee?

A. "The president of the republic set up a fact finding committee on
the incidents in Darfur headed by Dafa'allah al-Haj Yusif and it
listened to all those concerned with the issue of Darfur. As part of
this Ahmad Harun and others were heard."

Q. Did the committee ask you about specific incidents?

A. "The committee asked me about a number of incidents which I gave
information about and what I saw."

Q. The minister of justice says that this was an internal
investigation and that it invalidates the international criminal
charges?

A. "Exactly, as a minister and because of my legal background I am
proud to give information at any time to any legal side that requests
my presence. This is very important for establishing the rule of law.
[Former president] FM Suwar al-Dahab once gave evidence at a special
court on the transportation of the Falasha and this was appreciated."

Q. Do you have anything to add regarding the issue?

A. "The whole case is aimed to maintain the pressure. This
psychological war will continue. It will not begin with Ahmad Harun
or end with him."

Q. What do you say to the chief prosecutor?

A. "It is regrettable that this prosecutor and after twenty month of
his appointment has failed to put forward a case that can stand up on
two legs [is sound]. The chief prosecutor has squandered the
international community's resources and has failed to put forward a
respectable case."

Q. Why has the list of 51 been scaled down to two?

A. "It is obviously part of the tactic the westerners have continued
to follow based on psychological war. However, the chief prosecutor
does not know the character of Sudanese people."

Q. There is talk on the street that the government has made a deal
over the list of 51 wanted people?
A. "That is utterly impossible. Thank you for this interview."

2. Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV, "Sudanese minister says
international court waging "psychological wars"," 28 February 2007
(link not available)

"Ahmad Muhammad Harun, Sudanese minister of state for human affairs,
whose name is at the top of the list of suspects announced by the
International Criminal Court [ICC], has said that he considers the
summon issued against him by the ICC as part of a series of
psychological wars waged against the Sudanese Government. Speaking
to Al-Jazeera Television, Harun wondered about the reason why this
issue was raised at the same time of reopening the file of
negotiations with the rebel movements in Darfur.

[Begin Harun recording] We do not look at this issue from a legal
perspective. Rather, it is part of a series of the ongoing
psychological war. How can we explain that taking this action against
the Sudanese Government, be it by the UN Security Council, the United
States, or through their mechanisms, coincides with moving forward on
the issue of political settlement and negotiations with the armed
groups? [end recording]"

3. Alray Alaam, (Sudan), Dyaa Aldeen Bilal, Aieman Adam, Miryam
Aibshier, (Unofficial Translation from Arabic by the CICC), "I will
continue to practice my normal life; Harun: What I did complies with
the law and the duty; The Minister of Justice: Kushieb is arrested
since last November," 28 February 2007
(link not available)

[Please note this is an unofficial translation provided by the CICC
Secretariat as a service to our members, and should not be used for
quoting in any official documents.]


"Harun has announced that he will respect any decision taken by the
government, while considering that the decision of the Lahai court
aimed to devastate the political and diplomatic efforts to end the
conflict in Darfur, where the minister of justice exonerated Harun
from the charges performed against him by Ocampo. The minister has
also revealed that Harun was interrogated in the past, however there
were no evidence against him. He has also mentioned that Kushieb, who
is arrested since last November, is suspected for violating the law
and he is included in the case that was issued by the ministry to the
judiciary, two days ago.

It was reported to Alraay Alaam, that there is a voice within the
Sudanese government that calls to confront the charges against Harun
and Koshieb within the legal paths before the ICC.

The movement for justice and equality welcomed the decision of the
prosecutor, and declared through its spokesman, Ahmad Husien Adam, to
Aljazeera that this is "a real victory for the people in Darfur and
the it constitutes a beginning toward achieving justice," and
that "the perpetrators must be punished to prevent the crimes from
happening again," mentioning that the crimes still committed.

Harun made a "hot criticism" against the ICC, and said that what is
going on is more doubled standards rather than making international
justice, and added that "who bear arms against Sudan is considered
revolutionary and he is provided with international protection,
however, those who confront them considered aggressors. On the other
hand, whoever bears arms against the United States in Afghanistan and
Somalia he will be confronted by ships." Harun has pointed out that
the main countries are trying to appoint themselves as an
international police, and said that the ICC has no jurisdiction
against him, and the Sudanese judiciary is able and professional
enough to try him, and has also mentioned that, whenever Ocampo will
be able to bring Bush and Sharon to the court, then we will re-
examine the case. Harun said that he does not know if this will limit
his travel and movement, but he will continue his work as regular,
without worries."

****************************************************
D. REACTION BY UN MISSION IN SUDAN AND HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS

1. Al-Ra'y al-Amm (Sudan), "UN Mission in Sudan on Staff Safety Fears
Over ICC Announcement," 1 March 2007
(link not available)

"The UN mission in Sudan has said it fears for the safety of its
staff following the announcement by the International Criminal Court
[ICC] of the names of two Sudanese officials suspected of committing
crimes in Darfur. The deputy UN special envoy to Sudan, Taye Brook
Zerihoun, said the mission had issued a warning yesterday to its
employees on possible reactions against the court's decision. The ICC
had announced the charges against the former state minister of
interior Ahmad Harun and Ali Kushayb. Zerihoun said the UN had not
yet determined its position towards Harun who is currently state
minister for humanitarian affairs."

2. Agence France Presse, "UN fears for Sudan staff after Darfur
accusations," 28 February 2007
http://www.sudan.net/news/posted/14198.html

"The UN mission in Sudan said on Wednesday it feared for the security
of its staff after the International Criminal Court accused two
Sudanese officials of war crimes in Darfur. "We issued yesterday an
advisory to our staff" on the potential security repercussions of the
ICC's Tuesday announcement, acting mission chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun
told reporters. "The ICC can be seen as part of the UN system and
there could be reactions." […] Zerihoun said the UN mission had not
yet formulated a definitive stance on the future of its working
relationship with Haroun, who is Sudan's current secretary of state
for humanitarian affairs. […]"

3. FT.com, Matthew Green, "Darfur aid workers fear war crimes
allegations," 28 February 2007
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a0522d56-c753-11db-8078-000b5df10621.html

"Aid workers fear war crimes accusations made by the International
Criminal Court against two Sudanese suspects could hamper their work
in Darfur and raise an added hurdle to a proposed deployment of
United Nations troops. Khartoum has a long history of retaliating
against international measures. These have often strengthened the
hand of hardliners in the regime. […]

Human rights activists were quick to welcome the charges as a small
but first step towards establishing justice for Darfur. But analysts
and relief workers believed the move could complicate efforts to
bring both Khartoum and the many rebel organisations in Darfur to the
negotiating table. Relief workers with non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) helping some of the 2m people displaced by the conflict are
also concerned that pro-government Janjaweed militia may target their
staff in protest at the ICC move. "There's a big fear that some of
the Janjaweed groups or perhaps people who have operated under him
[Kushayb] might take it out on NGOs and also the UN," said an aid
worker in Khartoum.

UN staff in the town of El-Fasher in Darfur said yesterday they were
on heightened alert in the wake of the ICC decision. Although the
United Nations and relief agencies are separate entities from the
ICC, aid workers fear the government may seek to punish them as
representatives of the wider international community.

Aid workers are also concerned that Mr Harun may use his position as
a senior humanitarian official to make the onerous task of obtaining
permission to work in Darfur even more difficult. Relief workers face
big problems gaining permission to reach war-affected populations.
The ICC's action raises questions over how UN humanitarian staff
should liaise with Mr Harun, now that he has been named as a war
crimes suspect. A UN spokeswoman in Khartoum said the world body was
taking legal advice on the matter. Mr Harun was previously minister
of state for the interior. […]

Some relief officials fear the ICC's decision may complicate UN
efforts to persuade Khartoum to accept proposals to deploy UN troops
to support an undermanned and ineffective African Union force in
Darfur."

****************************************************
E. OTHER INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS

1. Press Association (via The Guardian), "In Parliament Yesterday," 1
March 2007
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/commons/story/0,,2023989,00.html

"[…] International Development Secretary Hilary Benn welcomed the
International Criminal Court indictments for war crimes in Darfur. He
said the court's actions sent a message to war criminals the world
over and pledged to continue the Government's peacekeeping and
humanitarian aid efforts in Sudan. […]"

2. Suna News Agency, "Egyptian Jurists: Politicization and lack of
justice are clear in allegations of the International Criminal Court
(ICC) against Sudan," 1 March 2007
(link not available)

"Several Egyptian Jurists expressed their rejection to accusations of
the General Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC)
against Sudanese citizens concerning violations of human rights in
Darfur region. In an Interview with the Sudan News Agency (SUNA)
member of the Egyptian Advocates Union advocate Gamal Taj said that
politicization and lack of justice are clear in the Court's decision,
pointing out that the Egyptian Advocates Union would issue within the
few coming hours a statement in support of the Sudanese government as
related the issue.

The US and Western aggressive strategy that has been announced six
years ago targeting Sudan in general and Darfur in particularly after
Iraq for the huge natural resources which the region is enjoying ,Taj
said, indicating the double standards policy of the West when
comparing what is going in Darfur with that taking place in Palestine
and Iraq. The Darfur case in only a part of a plan targeting the
strategic depth of Egypt and also targeting dividing the Arab area to
weak states which could not defend themselves, the Egyptian advocate
explained, adding that United Nations and all affiliated
organizations are under the domination of American, European and
Zionist powers. He accused the ICC of implementing a conspiracy
against Sudan, challenging it to adopt a similar step against Israel
which strike citizens in Lebanon with banned weapons.

Member of the political bureau of Al-Nassiry Party Ahmed Abdul -
Hafeez described decision of the ICC as coming in the context of
pressures against Sudan to accept deployment of international forces
in Darfur to divide Sudan into small states, critising absence of
official Arab stance in support of Sudan.. He calls for a firm
popular Arab support to the stance of the Sudanese government."

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CICC'S POLICY ON THE REFERRAL AND PROSECUTION OF SITUATIONS BEFORE THE
ICC:

The Coalition for the ICC is not an organ of the Court. The CICC is
an independent NGO movement dedicated to the establishment of the
International Criminal Court as a fair, effective, and independent
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organizations in the course of their efforts.

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2500 CM The Hague
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