Sudanese rebel leader voluntarily appears before ICC

The Hague - A Sudanese militia leader is set to appear before the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges today after voluntarily turning himself in to the world body. Bahar Idriss Abu Garda is set to appear at 3 pm (1300 GMT) in the court in the Hague on charges relating to an attack against the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in 2007 that left 12 people dead. His arrival in The Hague follows a closed hearing earlier in May during which the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber said there were reasonable grounds to believe he was guilty of murder and intentionally directing attacks against personnel, material and property of the AMIS peacekeeping mission and pillaging. Abu Garda, a member of the Sudanese Zaghawa tribe, was the first of four Sudanese citizens charged by the ICC to voluntarily turn himself in to the court. Unlike three other Sudanese suspects, including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the court had not issued a warrant for Abu Garda's arrest. Because he had stated his willingness to cooperate, the court merely summoned him. Court Registrar Silvana Arbia said 'the voluntary appearance of Abu Garda might serve to encourage other suspects currently at large to come before the court to be heard with all guarantees of a fair trial.' ICC-chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said in a statement he 'welcomed' the fact Abu Garda had voluntarily reported to the court. He also said cooperation by all parties to the conflict with the ICC, as mandated by UN resolutions, is of critical importance.' The alleged attack occurred on September 29, 2007 against the African peacekeeping mission stationed at the Military Group Site Haskanita in Umm Kadada, North Darfur. According to the ICC prosecutor, some 1,000 troops of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement allegedly killed twelve, and severely wounded eight, AMIS soldiers. They also destroyed AMIS material and property. Moreno Ocampo also said 'the attack on African Union peacekeepers in Haskanita was an attack on millions of civilians they had come to protect; we will prosecute those allegedly responsible' During today's arraignment before Italian Judge Cuno Tarfusser, Abu Garda will be informed of the crimes he alleged committed. A confirmation hearing will be held shortly to determine whether or not there are substantial grounds to believe that he committed the crimes charged. Abu Garda is the fourth suspect in the Darfur conflict to be tried at the ICC, but the first to appear before the court. The other suspects, Ahmad Muhammad Harun, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman and Al Bashir, remain at large.