NPWJ and NRPTT urge India to stand up for justice and not grant impunity to President al-Bashir

 
President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan is reportedly due to travel today to India to attend the India-Africa Forum Summit which will be held in New Delhi from 26 to 29 October 2015, following an official invitation received from the Indian Government.
President al-Bashir is the subject of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against the civilian population in Darfur. Although India is not a State Party to the Rome Statute of the ICC,  the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1593 of 2005, which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC, “urges all States and concerned regional and other international organizations to cooperate fully” in the ICC’s investigation. 
 
Statement by Alison Smith, Legal Counsel of No Peace Without Justice:
 
“No Peace Without Justice and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) are extremely disappointed by the decision of the Government of India to host Sudanese President Al-Bashir. This move blatantly contradicts the values and principles on which this nation is grounded and is an affront to the victims of the crimes for which he allegedly bears the greatest responsibility.
 
“Instead of granting impunity to a head of State who is on the run from international arrest warrants for grave human rights violations, India should demonstrate its commitment to justice, the rule of law and the promotion and protection of human rights. This can be done by cooperating with the ICC and assisting in the arrest of President al-Bashir while he remains on India’s territory. It is really in India’s interests to do so: being considered a safe haven for war criminals can only tarnish the global leadership position to which it aspires.
 
“Twelve years after the start of the conflict in Darfur, widespread and systematic violations of international human rights and humanitarian law continue unabated. Darfur's civilian population continues to be targeted by government forces, with the ongoing widespread occurrence of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against human rights defenders, civil society members and community leaders to name but a few crimes. We urge India to stand up for the rights of the people of Sudan and Darfur to reparations and the establishment of truth and justice for what has happened to them.”
 
 
For further information, contact Alison Smith on asmith@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3912 or Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32-2-548-3915.