Reacting to Jurist report on " Africa leaders should be immune from ICC prosecution: AU "
The bullying of third world
countries by international agencies, especially courts is not something new and
it is a regular phenomena since the formation of UNO and other institutions which
came to existence subsequently. International criminal law might have taken a
new turn ever since the Nuremberg trials, but the disgust stems from the maxim - "Selective
application of law is no law" . Are we to assume that in this civil
world it is only in Africa people commit crimes especially state sponsored ie.,
the crime where leaders take an active role in engaging in war crimes, crimes
against humanity and/or genocide?
Whenever you hear about a case in
International Criminal Court (ICC), there is a high degree of probability that
the accused will be from third world, mostly from Africa. Mired in poverty,
illiteracy and political corruption and at the receiving end of super powers
they remain robbed off their wealth. Oppressed by the European colonial powers
they continue to remain as a second class civilians and their very state of
life is a blot on the legitimacy of civilized world.
The interest and alacrity which colonial powers shown in robbing off the wealth of Africa is not shown when
it comes to contributing towards its development. It is a misnomer to claim
that whatever little the developed world is doing is due its generosity but in
my opinion it is firstly a misplaced argument and secondly it must be seen as
if they are giving it back to the rightful owners from whom they have taken
forcefully. The rosy picture given by the the departments of international development of developed countries on their contribution towards global development cannot taken at face value.
Yes. There is no doubt that by
providing 70% of funding which is required to run ICC, EU uses it to settle
political scores and for the purpose of arm twisting in the resource rich
Africa. And in this light the threat by African Union to pull out of ICC is
highly legitimate and AU must make the regional institutions stronger and
establish an ICC like setup exclusive for Africa and try all cases there,
probably with an international supervision. And the former colonial powers must
not be allowed to use new tools to loot Africa.
If we ever have to try all the war crimes and crimes against
humanity committed by the European Colonial powers, especially by the countries
like Portugal, Spain and Britain we may have to establish hundreds of such
courts.
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