Save Darfur: Al-Bashir Genocide, War Crimes Charges Underscore Need for Security Council Action

Fowler: ‘The world at-large, primarily the Security Council, has allowed al-Bashir to continue his reign of destruction, recalcitrance and violence with utter impunity. Moreno-Ocampo has acted. Now the Security Council must as well.'

WASHINGTON - Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, responded to criminal charges against Sudan president Omar al-Bashir introduced today by International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. Al-Bashir has been charged with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for overseeing the Darfur genocide which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives through violence, disease and malnutrition.

"Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo's charges against al-Bashir underscore the need for the U.N. Security Council to finally act decisively with a comprehensive strategy for Sudan. The world at-large, primarily the Security Council, has allowed al-Bashir to continue his reign of destruction, recalcitrance and violence with utter impunity. These charges must now sober al-Bashir's international apologists who continue to shield and protect the Khartoum regime from meaningful measures with meaningful consequences.

"For those concerned about how the pursuit of justice impacts the pursuit of other critical efforts in Darfur and Sudan - we point to the critical passage in Moreno-Ocampo's report last month to the Security Council wherein he urged the world body to adopt a ‘comprehensive strategy' in addressing Darfur. That is key. The pursuit of justice has indeed taken a significant step forward. It is now time for the pursuits of peace and protection to advance commensurately.

"The focus now shifts not to the ICC tribunal judges, but to the U.N. Security Council which has refused to act on standing ICC arrest warrants, failed to provide the necessary equipment, and has allowed the Sudanese to both obstruct peacekeeper deployment and continue to use violence and destruction against its own population. Moreno-Ocampo has acted. Now the Security Council must as well."