Sudan lawyers call on ICC to arrest general for ‘crimes against humanity’

11/10/2013 17:04

The Broad National Front is calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and arrest General el Sir Bashir Hussein for “crimes against humanity”, following a speech calling for the shooting of demonstrators in South Darfur. During a celebration rally of the Popular Police Forces in Nyala this week, Gen. Hussein openly directed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the police to open fire on demonstrating citizens. “Demonstrators should not be met with whips, but with live ammunition. And if they are rebels they should not go to trial, and their human rights should not be recognised. Rather, they should be shot in their heads,” the general reportedly said. The head of the Broad National Front, senior lawyer Ali Mahmud Hassanein, requested in a statement that the prosecutor of the ICC “investigates and issues an arrest warrant” against the general. He disclosed that the voice of the general was recorded during the speech and it can be now found on YouTube (see link below). Hassanein affirmed that Hussein’s statements amount to a crime against humanity, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1593. “This refers to crimes committed in Darfur, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC, whose prosecutor has to investigate, act upon, and issue an arrest warrant against the accused,” he said. The spokesman of the SAF, Colonel Al Sawarmi Khalid Saad, is accusing “media entities” of incorrectly handling the statement of the General by suggesting he threatened demonstrators.”This completely contradicts what he was aiming at. The armed forces must perform their duty as soon as the lives of citizens are at risk. This happened after security authorities in Nyala realised that there were some rebel movements taking advantage of the tensions in the city. This was a clear threat to citizens,” he said.Speech by General el Sir Bashir Hussein (YouTube)File photo: Ali Mahmud Hassanein (Broad National Front website)Related: National Consensus Forces, Sudan Revolutionary Front comment on Nyala speech (9 October 2013)

The Broad National Front is calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and arrest General el Sir Bashir Hussein for “crimes against humanity”, following a speech calling for the shooting of demonstrators in South Darfur.

During a celebration rally of the Popular Police Forces in Nyala this week, Gen. Hussein openly directed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the police to open fire on demonstrating citizens.

“Demonstrators should not be met with whips, but with live ammunition. And if they are rebels they should not go to trial, and their human rights should not be recognised. Rather, they should be shot in their heads,” the general reportedly said.

The head of the Broad National Front, senior lawyer Ali Mahmud Hassanein, requested in a statement that the prosecutor of the ICC “investigates and issues an arrest warrant” against the general. He disclosed that the voice of the general was recorded during the speech and it can be now found on YouTube (see link below).

Hassanein affirmed that Hussein’s statements amount to a crime against humanity, in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1593.

“This refers to crimes committed in Darfur, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC, whose prosecutor has to investigate, act upon, and issue an arrest warrant against the accused,” he said.

The spokesman of the SAF, Colonel Al Sawarmi Khalid Saad, is accusing “media entities” of incorrectly handling the statement of the General by suggesting he threatened demonstrators.

“This completely contradicts what he was aiming at. The armed forces must perform their duty as soon as the lives of citizens are at risk. This happened after security authorities in Nyala realised that there were some rebel movements taking advantage of the tensions in the city. This was a clear threat to citizens,” he said.

Speech by General el Sir Bashir Hussein (YouTube)

File photo: Ali Mahmud Hassanein (Broad National Front website)

Related: National Consensus Forces, Sudan Revolutionary Front comment on Nyala speech (9 October 2013)