HAROUN SPEAKS OUT ON THE ICC AND DARFUR

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001453 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREC KPKO AU PHUM UN SU SUBJECT: HAROUN SPEAKS OUT ON THE ICC AND DARFUR ¶1. (SBU) In a interview which appeared in the September 15 edition of independent Sudanese daily Al-Rai Al-Aam's special political supplement, war crimes suspect and State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmad Haroun lashed out at the International Criminal Court, calling his indictment a cynical and politically-motivated attempt to target the Sudanese government. ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo acted on the orders of Britain, the US and France, he claimed. ¶2. (SBU) Saying that he was "free to travel," Haroun downplayed the effects of the ICC arrest warrant. Moreno-Ocampo was not prosecutor general for the entire world, he said, and the legitimacy of the ICC itself was suspect. If asked to travel in his ministerial capacity, Haroun said he would take into consideration the nature of the travel and whether it would benefit Sudan. ¶3. (SBU) While admitting that there was a "problem" in Darfur, Haroun told Al-Rai Al-Aam that the time was not right to address the issue. As in the south, there should first be a cessation of hostilities, discussion of security arrangements and then movement towards a political process which would also address issues of accountability. Exactly the opposite was taking place in Darfur, with indictments and sanctions taking precedence over political negotiations. ¶4. (SBU) Haroun also told the newspaper that the Sudanese government rejected any dealings with the ICC. He had no special immunities because he was a minister, he asserted. Fellow indictee and alleged janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb had no ministerial protections, but would not be extradited either. Ending his interview on a somewhat gleeful note, Haroun said that while UNSCR 1706 was tantamount to establishing an occupation force in Darfur, UNSCR 1769 represented a victory for the Sudanese government. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: In a rather ironic turn of events, the Sudanese government announced last week the creation of national committee to investigate human rights complaints -co-chaired by Ahmad Haroun. According to Anne Itto, the SPLM co-chair and senior party member, the role was approved by both the NCP and the SPLM. Sudanese human rights activists have denounced his appointment, accusing the government of blatantly thumbing its nose at the ICC. Whether this represents an act of defiance, a grievous lapse of judgment or part of the usual internal struggle for power, it certainly does not bode well for the government's nascent efforts to confront human rights abuses in the country. End comment. FERNANDEZ