Watchdog welcomes ICC move

2008-11-20 22:28

Khartoum - A top rights watchdog on Thursday welcomed a request from the International Criminal Court prosecutor for arrest warrants against Darfur rebel commanders over an attack on African peacekeepers.

Nevertheless the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) drew a sharp distinction between attacks on peacekeepers, which although "serious crimes" were not on the same scale as "atrocities" committed as part of the government's campaign.

"Civilians rely on peacekeepers for protection and any hope for restoring security for civilians in Darfur depends on peacekeepers being able to do their job," said Richard Dicker, head of HRW's International Justice Programme.

"These warrant requests send a strong message that such crimes will not be tolerated," he added in a statement.

On Thursday, the ICC chief prosecutor submitted evidence against three rebel commanders and asked judges to issue warrants for their arrest, but unlike previous accusations against Sudanese government officials they were not named.

HRW said the request was "an important step toward protecting those who protect civilians" and that "repeated attacks on international peacekeepers have severely compromised the effectiveness" of peacekeeping in Darfur.

The UN-led mission that took over from the African Union peacekeepers last year has also come under frequent attack.

"Although the attacks on peacekeepers in Darfur have not been on the same scale as the atrocities committed as part of the Sudanese government's counter insurgency campaign, they are still serious crimes that interfere with any efforts to protect civilians in Darfur," Dicker said.

"If the warrants are issued, all parties to the conflict should assist in the apprehension of the suspects," he added.

Twelve African Union peacekeepers were killed and eight wounded in attack, blamed on rebel groups, in Haskanita, southern Darfur, on September 29 2007.

- AFP