Omar al-Bashir remains a fugitive from justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2011

CONTACT:
Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193



On Second Anniversary Of International Criminal Court Indictment Of Sudan’s Al-Bashir, GI-NET/SDC Calls For More Robust Pursuit Of Justice



President Omar al-Bashir


(Washington, DC) – Two years ago today, the International Criminal Court issued charges against Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to his actions in Darfur. In July 2010, the court added charges of genocide against Bashir. On this anniversary, Mark Hanis, President of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition, issued the following statement:

“Omar al-Bashir remains a fugitive from justice, not only defying the ICC arrest warrant but still perpetrating attacks against innocent civilians in Darfur. The many victims of Bashir’s heinous crimes deserve to see him held accountable and brought to justice.

“By allowing Bashir to go unpunished, the world is sending a message to other would-be perpetrators that crimes against humanity can be committed with impunity. We urge the United States as part of the UN Security Council which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC, and all world leaders to provide necessary support to the ICC to fulfill its responsibility to hold Bashir and other perpetrators responsible for their actions.”

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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged on November 1, 2010 to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors with over $700 billion in assets under management.