logo

By:  Jwothab Wanh Othow  Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir

  July 16, 2008- In public international law, a crime against humanity is an act of persecution of any large scale atrocities against a body of people and is the highest level of criminal offense. The National Islamic Front (NIF) or National Congress Party (NCP) committed the most horrifying and inescapable crimes against Africans indigenous people in Sudan.

  On June 30, 1989 when President Bashir took power, he stated, "We have come to carry out a tremendous resolution for the sake of change after decades of suffering." The Rome Statute Explanatory memorandum stated, "Crimes against humanity are a particular odious offence which constitutes a serious attack on human dignity, and grave humiliation or a degradation of one or more human beings."

 In 2003, the world was shocked when the Sudan Dictator, Omar al- Bashir launched attack against Darfur rebel groups and made Darfur a killing field to wipe out the black African indigenous populations. It was the most horrific crimes that took place in both South Sudan and Darfur. These were crimes committed against innocent people. It reminded me of the horrific atrocities done by the National Islamic Front. This regime has now become a National Congress Party NCP committed these atrocities against the people of South Sudan which resulted in the brutal death of 2.5 million people.  It is important that the Sudan People Liberation Movement, SPLM take pre-caution because this regime is an evil regime and they could make a secret deal with the North Sudan opposition to carry out military coups. The NCP may try to hand   the power over to them and they might not implement the Comprehensive peace agreement (CPA).  Also, there is a possibility that war could intensify in Darfur because this regime does not care and it is possible that they can do anything to get rid of the CPA.  The NCP can inflict more pain and suffering among the people because most of the high ranking officials, who are within this organization will be indictment for the crimes against humanity. It is possible that Bashir's government could call for a jihad to carry out an attack against the humanitarian aid workers and against UN forces in Darfur. They might also open their doors to invite terrorists to come into Sudan and carry out an Iraqi style of insurgency attack.

The ongoing human suffering in Darfur and south Sudan has been initiated by President Omar al- Bashir's regime. This regime has carries out mass murders, systematic, and violations of international human rights that constituted crimes against humanity.  The Sudanese Government and its Arab ethnic militia, the Janjaweed have committed serious crimes against humanity. In September of 2003, President al- Bashir stated, "I gave the army a free hand to move out in all directions and to use all of its weapons against the rebel with no restraints, and no restrictions whatsoever." These crimes have violently driven more than two million black African indigenous people from their homes.  More than three thousands have died as a result of massacres, rapes, starvation, and disease.  President al-Bashir's regime is responsible for mass murder, extermination, torture, rape, racial discrimination killing, religious persecution and inhumane acts against black African indigenous people in South Sudan and Darfur. Bashir's regime has committed the most horrifying crimes against humanity for 19 years.

 These are   deliberately crimes against humanity and intentional killing to eliminate African indigenous people in Sudan. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) filed genocide charges on Monday against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir; it accused him of masterminding attempts to wipe out black Africans in Sudan with a campaign of murder, rape and deportation. Mr. Ocampo said, "Genocide is a crime of intention and we don't need to wait until these 2.5 million die." 

Darfur was well-populated by communities of Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit. These communities are now emptied of their inhabitants, most of whom have been forced into camps and settlements where the Janjaweed continue to attack, rape, and steal from them. The magnitude of crimes committed by the Bashir's regime is the worst crimes against humanity and should never happen again. I believe the long cries of Sudanese people have been heard. The Sudanese people have been suffering for 19 years in the hands of this fascist regime. We should congratulate Mr. Luis Moreno Ocampo for a job well done and for bringing President Bashir to justice. The question is what will happen to Comprehensive Peace Agreement CPA if military coup takes place in the future in Sudan?  There are many possibilities that could happen in Sudan. Some north oppositions could take this opportunity to carry out the military coup and they might not implement the Comperhensve Peace Agreement CPA. The international Criminal police organization (Interpol) can arrest President al- Bashir at any time. The Sudanese people realize that the due process of International criminal court is a slow process, but it is effective.

 This is a great victory for justice and above all, this is an extraordinary achievement for justice for the Sudanese people who suffered in the hands of Bashir's regime. In a statement released on July 14, 2008, Mr. Moreno Ocampo said, "There were reasonable grounds to believe that Omar Hassn Ahamed al- Bashir bears criminal responsibility in relations to ten counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes". There are sequential proof that has been collected shows that the entire state apparatus has been utilized to commit and cover up massive crimes committed against the African indigenous people in South Sudan and Darfur. President Bashir continuous to claims that, "God directed him to seize  the power , from the civilian elected government nineteen years ago, which was in 1989  because the civilian elected  government was going to hand over the South  Sudan to the infidel".  On Sunday, July 13, 2008, there were massive rallies in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum to show their support for Mr. Bashir, who is waiting for indictment for crimes against humanity.

 UN secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-mon said, "Nobody can evade justice". John O'Shea, director of Irish Aid Agency said, "The Sudanese government and its supporters should not seek revenge against international aid agencies and peacekeepers for the ICC's actions. Should the Sudanese government take that type of action, they are indirectly shooting themselves in the foot." Bahir's supporters should know that the world and global politics are changing.  The African leaders should know the fact that they cannot get way with the horrific crimes they committed against humanity. Michael Schaf, a law professor at the University of Cleveland, Ohio said, "An indictment of President al- Bashir will make it clear that those responsible for crime against humanity in Darfur include the highest government authorities, and not just a few rogue officials and militia in leaders will be prosecuted for the crimes against humanity." It has become a nightmare for the National Islamic Front (NIF); this is an inescapable crime against humanity. The NIF regime committed these crimes against black Africans and they must face justice. The African leaders should know that no one is above the law and they can no longer hided behind the atrocities and crimes they have committed against their own people.

The author is a Sudanese living in the United States; he can be reached atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.