The International Criminal Court orders the arrest of Bashir
March 4, 2009, 11:05 am
Posted by Matthew Boudway
The New York Times reports this morning:
PARIS — Judges at the International Criminal Court ordered the arrest Wednesday of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, charging him with war crimes and crimes against humanity for a concerted government campaign against civilians.
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The judges charged Mr. Bashir with five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape. The two counts of war crimes were for attacks against a civilian population and for pillaging.
In their statement, they said the court did not recognize immunity for a head of state and called on all countries, including those who were members of the court and of the United Nations, to cooperate with the court.
This was an important decision. Educational in that many pleaded against the move saying it would bring more hardship which it is doing. The Sudan government has ordered the withdrawal or curtailment of many relief agencies. The question is what is the short term long term. How does this relate to Defenders of Pius XII who insist that he was reticent because he did not want to cause more damage.
I say it is a good move and more international pressure has to come on such leaders. The US has to be more active. Certainly to help there would have been a better move than to invade Iraq. Where are the Catholic theocons on this one?
This is where I’d like to see some U.S. military muscle.