Sudan Pres. Omar al-Bashir's indictment on charges of genocide for the mass killings of his own citizens in Darfur is being watched closely by international leaders, and, of course, resisted by al-Bashir himself.
While the indictment by the International Court in the Hague prosecutor certainly brings into focus the crimes against civilians in Darfur, there are some potential negative consequences. Including increased resistance to outside intervention.
There have also been allegations leveled at the International Court that it is racist, only targeting African regimes. Of course, those who are being victimized are African, so it's difficult to follow this line of reasoning.
Of course, in order to bring al-Bashir to justice he must first be in custody. So the indictment is a very small first step in the process.
Prosecutors have had decidedly mixed results in the International Court attempting to prosecute genocide in the past. Hopefully they will be more successful this time.
1 comment:
We can't be sticking our head in the sand over atrocities committed around the world.
This is exactly the reason the United Nations was established. To say "never again" following the Holocaust.
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