The new muscle of international justice

While newspapers around the world have been recording images of Russia's resurgent military might, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has been flexing new muscle of a very different, multilateral kind. In May, former Congolese strongman Jean-Pierre Bemba was arrested on ICC charges of crimes against humanity. Last month, the Court for the first time indicated a sitting head of state, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. And most recently, Radovan Karadzic, the infamous genocidaire of the Balkan Wars, was turned over to the ICTY to stand charges.

Not since the days of Nuremberg have so many of the world's most prolific murderer-tyrants been called to justice by the international community. It heralds a promising trend, not least because the United States, ever suspicious of international justice, has not stood in the way: it elected not to block Bashir's indictment before the Security Council. Moreover, the recent show of force by international judicial institutions sends a powerful signal that murderous regimes can no longer hide nor escape judgment for their crimes.

If it lasts, that is. Bashir remains ensconced in power, and the kind of theatrics that deprived Slobodan Milosevic's victims of justice may yet derail the trials of Bemba and Karadzic. To prevent that, the world's governments, America's in particular, need to encourage the pursuit of justice. The world's international courts are to be congratulated for their new-found resolve. We can only hope that its governments will follow suit.

Real Peace? Unlikely.

Well, it seems the leader of Sudan Omar al-Bashir has finally agreed to engage in peace talks with the rebels. The Sudanese President will be meeting with the rebels and the Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in Libya. Although, are they really peace talks? I highly doubt it. Omar al-Bashir's government has been aiding the rebels with weapons. Why would he now try and have peace? In my opinion, the Sudanese President has only agreed to these peace talks to appease the nations putting pressure on his government. It's an act; a show. I truly would like to believe that there could be peace in Darfur, but I don't think this is the way it will happen. Omar al-Bashir denies aiding the rebels, but he does not deny that he believes the people of Darfur do not have to right to live in Sudan, or live at all. Considering that the rebels have not done as Omar al-Bashir has requested, it doesn't make sense for him to want a reconciliation. My question to you is: What do you think will come out of these talks? Think about it.