The real culprits are the Chinese, there for the Darfur oil, and in the process providing Sudan with arms sales and protection in the Security Council. But of coarse, the Times is also a big China fan...
The reason most civilised groups (like the Arab league) are against the ICC ruling is NOT because it isn't true, but because they are pragmatists who see the indictment as a blocker to actually sorting out the on-going killing and chaos. They find the ruling 'unhelpful' because it will strengthen Al Bashir's continuing resistance to international forces that, funnily enough, want to try stop the mass murder of thousands of innocent africans.
This guy does Oman no good whatsoever. He parrots whatever he thinks will make him look good with anyone with power. And thus comes out supporting someone who most civilised countries agree is a total monster. It has nothing whatsoever to do with American/Zionist conspiracies. There isn't even that much oil.
What's next Times of Oman?? - an article in support of Robert Mugabe? I prefer to look at what someone like Amnesty International says about the ICC ruling.
PRESS RELEASE
July, 14 2008
Sudan-International Criminal Court: An important step
Amnesty International said that today’s announcement by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is an important step towards ensuring accountability for human rights violations in Sudan. The organization was talking in reaction to the announcement by the ICC Prosecutor to seek an arrest warrant against Sudanese President al Bashir.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called for accountability for crimes under international law committed by parties to the conflict in Darfur.
The organization called on the Government of Sudan to ensure that its reaction does not have an adverse effect on the deployment of the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The government must guarantee that the civilian population in Darfur continues to receive protection from UNAMID and emergency humanitarian assistance.
ENDS
Here's the latest Al Zedjali opinion piece in full. My cat has more insight.
Sudan in clutches of international conspiracies
By Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali
Sunday, July 20, 2008 1:07:25 AM Oman Time
The invisible hands have come back once again to hatch international conspiracies against Sudan after a relative calm in Darfur crisis, which involved serious external interventions in a bid to secure both the American and Israeli interests in the region, which is rich with natural resources.
Israel has been trying for too long to separate the Darfur region from the rest of Sudan with complete support from the United States, but its efforts have failed to bear fruit. It has also failed to get its hands on Sudan’s natural resources, which are God’s gift to the country.
Now Israel and the US have both turned to a new trick leading to the condemnation of Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Beshir by the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), which, ever since its inception, seems to have decided to become an instrument to secure political goals and interests of the superpower. This travesty of justice is taking place despite the fact that the ICC’s sole purpose was to review and judge on the international cases of crimes presented to it on fair grounds with no political interests and to work within absolute legal framework and environment in the light of the international law and principles and not in the interest of some specific countries.
The arrest warrant for the Sudanese president, issued last week by Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor of the ICC, is like pouring oil on fire and worsening the Darfur crisis, as stated by a senior adviser to the Sudanese president who remarked: “The warrant is designed to create hatred and enmity among the tribal groups in Darfur.”
This latest move by the International Criminal Court was condemned by both the Gulf and the Arab countries. The decision was also criticised by the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council through a statement by Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, its secretary-general, as well as by Amr Moosa, secretary-general of the Arab League. The Arab League has responded to Sudan’s call for holding an emergency meeting for the Arab foreign ministers. The Peace and Security Council of the African Union has also warned the ICC about such moves endangering peace and security in the African continent.
The Arab foreign ministers in their meeting held yesterday in Cairo stressed that the ICC action against Sudan and its leader reflects the double standard of the international community in dealing with issues of human rights especially in the light of massacres on the Palestinian lands. This approach is very dangerous and if the ICC agrees with the decision of its prosecutor general, its consequences will affect all regions rather than bring stability to Sudan.
The Arab ministers may now discuss the possibility of asking the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution asking for the ICC to suspend its procedures for 12 months.
The ICC, as claimed by Sudan’s envoy to the UN, has no jurisdiction over Sudan and hence has no right to practise any authority over Khartoum unless requested by the Sudanese national courts as per the convention of the International Criminal Court. Ironically, the ICC has not only contradicted its own convention but also those of other bodies of the UN, which have sent an international mission to inspect and probe the actual conditions in Sudan, particularly in Darfur, and which have found no trace of a genocide in Darfur. l One finds it quite strange that the ICC is trying to exert pressure on the Sudanese government against the charges of genocide in Darfur while at the same time it continues to turn a blind eye to all the massacres committed by the US and Israel against the Arab and other nations, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.
What is happening with Sudan and its president is a type of clear political blackmailing. Ironically, the US claims not to be involved in the issue and remains a silent observer of events. At the same time Israel too is maintaining a mysterious silence, which shows that the issue reeks of a conspiracy designed to implicate Sudan in an international controversy in order to badly affect its political stability and security. - emzedjali@timesofoman.com
Indeed: LMAOFOGL
In Oman, or in Middle East, newspapers are mere tools advertisements/PR. If you are looking to read news and make sense out of it, then there is no bigger fool than you!
ReplyDeleteIn Oman, or in Middle East, newspapers are mere tools for advertisements/PR. If you are looking to read news and make sense out of it, then there is no bigger fool than you!
ReplyDeleteVery correct analysis, TOO writes what it presumes will please those in power. Official government view on the subject may be totally different.
ReplyDeleteThe articles are actually written by some poorly paid expats who are always scared of upsetting any body in power. Even the Editor may not have ready the article fully, because they have lot of other business interests.
It’s interesting that the previous writer assumes that the article is actually written by an expatriate member of the Times of Oman’s staff.
ReplyDeleteThe Zidjali man always purports to be a great supporter of Omanisation – BUT look at his newspaper staff; where are the Omanis? Look at his sons Blue City / NPS Publicity office – where are the Omanis?
Talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk.
Speaking of which – look at the other big hypocrite – Al Khonji in the Chamber of Commerce – Talks the Talk but in his well-established company – where are the Omanis? He doesn’t walk the Omanisation walk.
Like all established businesses they are using their entrenched staff to give superior trading advantage against and in competition towards new companies who through lack of Vitamin W are forced to employ and train Omanis – while the well established companies rely on expatriates, cheaper and no training = unfair business practice.
Talk is cheap and of course it curries favour with the powers that be
The Al Khonji's and the Al Zadjali's (and some others) can't trust themselves let alone other Omani. We should make examples of everyone of them and not blame the Indians.
ReplyDeleteAhmed
Back to the issue, I've always had this thought, and I don't give a damn about how valid it is. If Albasheer -A man of no talent in leadership I'd say- is guilty to the extent that he's really involved he should be sentenced to death or for life prison and honoured with the title 'war criminal'. No matter what, killing people is killing and it's a crime, makes no difference. But the credibility of the ICC is really under scrutiny here, hell with Albasheer, but how about the bloody bastard Sharon of Zionistan and Bush, killer of Iraqis and Afghanis with 'intelligent bombs' and liberation flowers? for sanity sake, aren't those of equal shit? dam it how arrogance make some people deny truths. Once, they had Sharon's case raised in one of the European high courts by some Arab lawyers, but was refused as Sharon at that time was a PM, so is Albasheer now a president of a country, isn't he? or Oil is the main factor? and as always the US would use one of the UN entities to bug countries of fools and poors and squander UN credibility till one day history repeats itself
ReplyDeletePresident Omar Hassan El Beshir of Sudan visited Oman briefly in February 2004 and was received by HM Sultan Qaboos at Hisn Al Shomoukh (wilayat of Manah). "They reviewed the sound bilateral relations and ways of boosting them, as well as the latest developments in the Arab and international arenas." In contrast with the Sudanese president's named four advisors, including the minister of state for irrigation and water resources, His Majesty was accompanied by all the senior members of the cabinet, perhaps unsurprising if they were already on the road. Not only was President Bashir treated to lunch, he was actually seen off at the airport by His Majesty himself. I always wondered about this visit. Darfur was very much in the news at the time. I guess that Oman may be/may have been investing in aspects of Sudan's infrastructure and Bashir wanted reassurance of support.
ReplyDeleteSince then, there has been hardly any public indication of formal contact other than a diplomatic message sent to His Majesty by the Sudanese president in September 2006. HM Sultan Qaboos did not attend the Arab League summit in Khartoum in March 2006, called ostensibly to discuss aid for Hamas following the party's success in the Palestinian elections.
As recently as last week, the Arab League has been defending President Bashir against charges of genocide http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/19/world/main4275553.shtml
It is quite likely that there are ambivalent views within the Omani establishment towards the conduct of another 'brotherly Islamic nation.' Bear in mind that Oman's policy is usually one of non-interference.