Suriname should support the International Criminal Court
Suriname should support the International Criminal Court by acceding to it as soon as possible and refusing to enter
into unlawful US impunity agreement
Today, Amnesty International wrote to President Ronald Venetiaan welcoming his statements in February supporting
Suriname's accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. However at the same time the organization
raised serious concern that the government is considering entering into an unlawful impunity agreement with the USA.
Amnesty International's letter, which was copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Marie Levens, urges Suriname to join
the international community in establishing the new system of international justice to end impunity for the worst crimes
known to humanity by acceding to the Rome Statute as soon as possible.
The International Criminal Court has been established to investigate and prosecute crimes of genocide, crimes against
humanity and war crimes when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. An initiative of the government of
Trinidad and Tobago, the ICC is strongly supported by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Currently the ICC Prosecutor,
in his first year of office is conducting a preliminary examination of crimes committed in the Ituri province of the
Democratic Republic of Congo and is taking steps towards investigating war crimes committed in the Northern Ugandan
conflict between the Lord's Resistance Army and government forces, including the murder of over 190 people at the
Barlonya Camp on Saturday 21 February 2004.
Regrettably, at the same time as the ICC begins its important work with the support of the vast majority of states, the
USA is conducting a worldwide campaign to undermine the Court. Amnesty International and many states believe that US
fears that the ICC could be used to bring politically motivated prosecutions against US nationals are unfounded given
the comprehensive fair trial guarantees and safeguards included in the Rome Statute.
Suriname should refuse to enter into the agreement proposed by the USA committing Suriname not surrender US nationals
accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to the ICC, if requested. According to Amnesty
International's analysis, the agreement violates both the Rome Statute and other conventions under international law,
including the Geneva Conventions and the Convention against Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or
treatment. The European Union has analysed the agreement and reached the same conclusion.
While it conducts the process of acceding to the Rome Statute, Suriname should uphold the rule of law and the principle
that no one, regardless of their nationality should be granted impunity for the worst crimes known to humanity by
joining Trinidad and Tobago and other states in refusing to enter into such an agreement.
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