ANC on Bashir: 'ICC is no longer useful'

Sunday 14 June 2015 - 4:58pm
File: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is wanted for war crimes.

File: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is wanted for war crimes.

AFP

PRETORIA - The ANC has urged government to challenge the order to have Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrested in South Africa for alleged war crimes.

"The National Executive Committee holds a view that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is no longer useful for the purposes for which it was intended - being a court of last resort for the prosecution of crimes against humanity. The fact that compliance with the prescripts of the ICC is voluntary and countries can choose whether to be a signatory or not means that gross human violations committed by non-signatory countries go unpunished," the party said in a statement.

The ruling party called for a review of the statutes of the ICC to compel all member states of the United Nations to be signatories to the Rome Statute, which was adopted on July 1 2002. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters appear to agree with the ANC, with party leader Julius Malema questioning the fairness of the ICC.

Speaking at an event at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop) on Sunday, Malema said the party doesn't support Bashir's actions, but questioned the ICC's motives. 

In contrast, the Democratic Alliance (DA) called for Bashir's immediate arrest.

The party said it would write to police commissioner, Riah Phiyega "

to urge her to display the political will to uphold the law, both domestic and international, and send a message that South Africa takes allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes very seriously."

On Sunday, The North Gauteng High Court extended an order prohibiting al-Bashir from leaving South Africa.

The hearing was postponed to Monday at 11:30am on Monday.

Source
eNCA

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