Southern African Litigation Centre

promoting human rights and the rule of law in southern africa

Newsroom

Zambia: Al-Bashir will not be arrested – government spokesperson
11th December 2010

By The Lusaka Times

Al-Bashir with Rupiah Banda

Chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has confirmed that the Zambian government will not execute an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against indicted Sudan President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha told Hot Fm news in Lusaka today that the Sudan leader was free to attend the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Lusaka next week without fear of being handed over to ICC.

Zambia is a member of the African Union and the AU says he has not been found guilty on those crimes so he will not be arrested

He said Zambia would abide by the Africa Union (AU) decision not to pursue Al-Bashir because he had not been found guilty of any criminal charges.

“There is no question of whether Mr. Al-Bashir will be arrested or not, Zambia is a member of the African Union and the AU says he has not been found guilty on those crimes so he will not be arrested,” said Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

He said government was not aware of any criminal charges leveled against Al-Bashir and therefore urged all organisations and media institutions that still wanted to make further inquiries on the matter to write to State House.

Omer Hassan Al-Bashir

President Rupiah Banda last week sent his Labour deputy minister Simon Kachimba to extend an invitation to Al-Bashire seeking his attendance at the ICGLR which is slated for December 15 in Lusaka to which he responded positively.

The invite however sparked criticism on President Banda with numerous calls from International Human Rights Watch groups, local Civil Society organisations and opposition political parties urging him to disinvite Al-Bashir in order to protect the country’s standing with the International Community.

Al-Bashir is hounded by two warrants issued for his arrest by the ICC against the background of the seven-year conflict in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

The ICC charges Al-Bashir with masterminding war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide allegedly committed in Darfur.

Zambia, which became a full member of the ICC in 2002, is legally obligated to execute the arrest warrant against Al-Bashir once he sets foot on the country’s territory.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor of the ICC Luis Moreno-Ocampo officially notified the Pre-Trial Chamber of Al-Bashir imminent trip to Lusaka and another state which are signatories to the treaty that founded the tribunal.

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo (AP)

“Public statements and publications have suggested that Omar Al-Bashir intends to visit the Republic of Senegal in the period between 10 – 31 December 2010 and the Republic of Zambia on 15 December 2010” Ocampo said in his ICC notice file dated December 8, 2010.

“The Prosecution believes, in line with earlier submissions to the Chamber that this information (of Al-Bashir’s travel schedules) may be of interest to the Chamber. The Prosecution will submit any additional confirmation it receives of Omar Al Bashir’s planned visits to the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Zambia,” he added.

According to the Sudan Tribune, Senegal, another ICC member, invited Al-Bashir for the 3rd festival of Negro Arts that will take place in Dakar starting this Friday. Sudan has said at the time it will participate but did not specify at what level.

http://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/12/11/albashir-arrested-government/

Print Send to a friend