Archbishop Desmond Tutu Calls for Justice in Sudan ICC Case
by paco on 03 Mar 2009 | Comments
It is very encouraging to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu in today’s New York Times denounce the argument by many African leaders that the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases are unfairly targeting Africans. Archbishop Tutu’s call for justice for the victims is forceful and morally unassailable - as he says: “Are [African leaders] on the side of the victim or the oppressor? The choice is clear but the answer so far from many African leaders has been shameful.” and also “Justice is in the interest of victims, and the victims of these crimes are African. To imply that the prosecution is a plot by the West is demeaning to Africans and understates the commitment to justice we have seen across the continent.”
It’s refreshing to hear this unambiguous call for justice as we await tomorrow’s decision by the ICC judges on the issuance of an arrest warrant for the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, very likely charging him with crimes against humanity and war crimes. Even if he doesn’t get charged with genocide, the other two charges are more than enough.
Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu (photo: Google Images)