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Kenyan Lawmaker to Demand Answers about Sudan Leaderâs Visit

   Peter Clottey 30 August 2010
   Kenyan  President  Mwai  Kibaki,  centre,  prepares  to  sign  the new
   constitution into law, 27 Aug 2010.

Photo: AP

   Kenyan  President  Mwai  Kibaki,  centre,  prepares  to  sign  the new
   constitution into law, 27 Aug 2010.

   A  Kenyan  lawmaker  told  VOA he will demand answers from the foreign
   minister  in  parliament Tuesday about the controversial invitation of
   Sudanâs  embattled  President  Hassan Omar Al-Bashir to participate in
   the promulgation of Kenyaâs constitution.

   Musa  Sirlma,  who is also the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee
   for  Global  Action,  an  international  group  that supports the Rome
   Statute,  said  Kenya  abdicated  its  responsibility of enforcing the
   International  Criminal  Court  issued  arrest  warrants  against  the
   indicted Sudanese leader.

   âI   am  particularly  not  happy  in  that  Kenya  has  ratified  the
   International  Crime  Act,  or  we  have in fact domesticated (it). In
   2008,  we  deposited our instrument and we believe that the leadership
   in  this  country  would have seen it wise that they go by the rule of
   law.  I will be seeking from the minister to tell us why he saw it fit
   to invite His Excellency Al-Bashir to Kenya,â he said.

   U.S.  President  Barack Obama joined former U.N Secretary General Kofi
   Annan  in  expressing  shock  and  disappointment  over  Mr.  Bashirâs
   invitation and participation during the promulgation Friday of Kenyaâs
   constitution.

   In  a  statement,  Mr.  Obama  said  Kenyaâs government âhas committed
   itself  to full cooperation with the ICC, and we consider it important
   that  Kenya  honor  its  commitments  to  the ICC and to international
   justice,  along with all nations that share those responsibilities. In
   Kenya,  and  beyond,  justice  is  a  critical  ingredient for lasting
   peace.â

   Some  officials  in  Kenyaâs  coalition  government also condemned the
   Sudanese  leaderâs participation after accusing some within the Kenyan
   administration  of  keeping  his  visit  under tight wraps. A group of
   Kenyans also demonstrated demanding Mr. Bashirâs arrest.

   Sirlma  said  the  foreign minister will have to explain the rationale
   behind the Sudanese leaderâs invitation in defiance of The Hague based
   court and the international community.

   âIf  we keep these people who believe in war, war crimes and genocide,
   then  how  are  we  going  to  be setting (an) example and becoming an
   island of peace, which we have been in East Africa?â he asked.

   He also said that Kenya should be âteachingâ the Sudanese leader about
   the need to respect and practice democracy and the rule of law instead
   of inviting him to âmar Kenyaâs day in the sun.â

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