State proffers tactics, not answers

DEAR SIR — The government’s request for an extension to respond to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on its failure to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (pictured) while in SA is a ploy to protract the matter.

The ICC obviously made the request to the government to see whether SA breached its obligations to the court by its failure to arrest Mr Bashir. The government has asked for an extension, citing the complex and conflicting legal principles involved, and the fact that the matter is still sub judice in our legal system.

This is a frequently preferred tactic employed by ministers, officials and cadres when no truthful or logical contention can be put forward.

The Rome Statute is not a complex piece of legislation and was signed voluntarily by our government, despite the fact that many other governments, such as China and the US, refused to sign it.

It is nonsense that we cannot reply timeously to the ICC.

We have nothing intelligent to proffer, and that is the reason for our nonsensical excuse. Why should it now be expedient for the government to shun its obligations?

Botswanan Vice-President Mokg- weetsi Masisi asked world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly recently to ensure the ICC was respected. He said “the Botswana government regrets that non-cooperation by some parties still plagues the court, making allowance for continued impunity and escape from accountability for crimes committed against humanity”.

The fact that more than a third of African countries are sliding backwards on governance, according to the Ibrahim index of African Governance, should be of serious concern to our nation. The top three countries in the index are Mauritius, Botswana and Cape Verde.

It is almost certain that our country is one of those that are gliding into deterioration because of our government’s reluctance to fulfil its obligations and also its failure to curb corruption. Nathan Cheiman Northcliff