International Criminal Court
Kenya must deny entry or arrest Sudanese President al-Bashir
Commenting on reports, that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will travel to Kenya today, Heidi Hautala, President of the Sub-Committee for Human Rights of the European Parliament, said:
"According to information I have received, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will be travelling to Kenya today. I call on the Kenyan authorities to either bar Mr al-Bashir from entering the country or to arrest him upon entering Kenyan territory. I have understood that Mr al-Bashir intends to travel to Kenya today to take part in the celebration of the new constitution of Kenya.
"Mr al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes committed in Darfur, Sudan. The first warrant of arrest was issued in March 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity and the second in July 2010 for genocide.
"Kenyais a party to the ICC and has committed itself to fully cooperate with the court. This includes an obligation to execute arrest warrants issued by the Court. Kenya is under investigation by the Court concerning crime and violence that took place after the 2007 general elections. Receiving Mr al-Bashir would not only cast severe doubts over the Kenyan commitment to uphold and respect the Rome Statute but also over the cooperation with the ICC over their own investigation."
"By cooperating with the ICC and welcoming a new constitution, Kenya shows the great headway it has made towards making universal human rights effective. However, by welcoming this fugitive from justice Kenya would fail all of these achievements."
