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Sudanese Vice President Urges U.N. to Reject Arrest Warrants

   But  Sudanese-born  Omer  Ismail  of  the Enough Project says the U.N.
   should not fall for what he calls Khartoum's blackmail

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 28 September 2010

   Sudanese  Vice  President  Ali  Osman  Taha  has  called on the United
   Nations  to  reject  the  International  Criminal  Court  (ICC) arrest
   warrant against President Omar al-Bashir for allegedly masterminding a
   campaign of genocide in Sudanâs Darfur region.

   Sudan Vice President Taha (left)

   Addressing  the  ongoing  General Assembly session in New York Monday,
   Mr.  Taha  said the involvement of the ICC is a threat to the peaceful
   settlement of the Darfur conflict.

   Sudanese-born  Omer  Ismail,  senior  policy  advisor  for  the Enough
   Project,  an  advocacy organization set up to highlight Darfur crisis,
   told  VOA  the  international  community  should  not fall for what he
   called Khartoumâs blackmail.

   âThe  indictment  by the International Criminal Court came as a result
   of  the  behavior  of the government of Sudan and its president, (Mr.)
   Bashir.  So,  heâs  coming  now  to  blackmail the world basically and
   saying  that  the  government  will  either  get their way in delaying
   justice.  Otherwise,  they are not going to invest a penny in Darfur,â
   he said.

   Ismail  dismissed  Tahaâs claims that the involvement of the ICC would
   threaten the peaceful settlement of the Darfur conflict.

   He  said Khartoum has consistently reneged on every agreement to bring
   about a peaceful settlement of the Sudan crisis.

   âThere  is  no peaceful settlement to the conflict in Sudan. The world
   tried  and  they  signed  the  CPA  (Comprehensive Peace Agreement) to
   transform the country and everybody failed because this government was
   not  trying  to do the right thing by pursuing peace in Sudan,â Ismail
   said.

AFP Photo

   Sudan's Darfur refugees

   The Sudanese vice president also told the General Assembly Khartoum is
   ready to put almost $2 billion into Darfur as part of the governmentâs
   effort  to re-establish security, increase development and bring about
   reconciliation in the western region.

   Ismail  said  Taha made the announcement for political reason and with
   no intention to bring about reconciliation in Darfur.

   He said there can be no reconciliation without justice.

   âThere  are over half a million people killed and seven million people
   living  in  warehouses.  This  government  is doing this for political
   reasons.  It  has nothing to do with reconciliation. Over 20 years, if
   you  look at the track record of the government of Sudan, they reneged
   on  every  single  promise  theyâve  made so far. What should make the
   world to believe that they will honor what they say,â Ismail said.

   The  Sudanese  vice  president, in his speech to the General Assembly,
   expressed  hope  next referendum would be voluntary in accordance with
   the  wishes  of  the  people  of  South  Sudan,  and  without  outside
   interference.

   But,  Ismail  said  Khartoum will rig the referendum and start another
   war in the south because it is not interested in peace.

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