Harun testifies against JEM leaders

01/11/2011 22:06

JEM questions the validity of the South Kordofan governor’s testimony who is wanted by the ICCAhmed Harun, the governor of South Kordofan, testified against leaders of the Darfuri opposition group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in a Khartoum court on Tuesday.Among the JEM leaders facing trial are Tom Hamid Tutu, Abraham Almaz – both of whom were captured in West Darfur last year. They are both accused of waging war against the nation and if convicted will face either life imprisonment or a death sentence.Ahmed Harun himself has an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court in The Hague on charges of war crimes in Darfur.Jibril Adam Bilal, spokesperson of the JEM, questioned the vailidity of Harun’s testimony: “ He is himself wanted for war crimes. How can he testify against someone else? The testimony doesn’t stand any grounds.”Jibril told Radio Dabanga, “Harun is wanted for carrying out crimes against the people of Darfur and Nuba mountains. If his testimony is accepted by the court, then it means that there is no justice in Sudan.”Jibril condemned the repeated attempts made by the government to prosecute prisoners of war. “This breaches the customs and international charters regarding the rights of prisoners,” he said.

JEM questions the validity of the South Kordofan governor’s testimony who is wanted by the ICC

Ahmed Harun, the governor of South Kordofan, testified against leaders of the Darfuri opposition group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in a Khartoum court on Tuesday.

Among the JEM leaders facing trial are Tom Hamid Tutu, Abraham Almaz – both of whom were captured in West Darfur last year. They are both accused of waging war against the nation and if convicted will face either life imprisonment or a death sentence.

Ahmed Harun himself has an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court in The Hague on charges of war crimes in Darfur.

Jibril Adam Bilal, spokesperson of the JEM, questioned the vailidity of Harun’s testimony: “ He is himself wanted for war crimes. How can he testify against someone else? The testimony doesn’t stand any grounds.”

Jibril told Radio Dabanga, “Harun is wanted for carrying out crimes against the people of Darfur and Nuba mountains. If his testimony is accepted by the court, then it means that there is no justice in Sudan.”

Jibril condemned the repeated attempts made by the government to prosecute prisoners of war. “This breaches the customs and international charters regarding the rights of prisoners,” he said.