Alfred Taban says ICC is going to entrench Bashir rather than weaken him

From the Los Angeles Times
Sudan's President Bashir charged with war crimes
By Edmund Sanders reporting from Khartoum, Sudan March 4, 2009 - excerpt:

" ... political experts here say hopes for a "soft landing" in which the regime's inner circle decides to sideline Bashir are misplaced.

"It's wishful thinking," said Alfred Taban, editor of an opposition newspaper. "If anything, the ICC is going to entrench Bashir rather than weaken him."

In recent months, Bashir's government has silenced most opponents, through payoffs or intimidation. The ICC has also stirred nationalist and anti-Western sentiments, with many Sudanese calling the case an attack on the country's sovereignty.

Others worry that the ICC case will doom efforts to reach a peace deal over Darfur by emboldening rebels. Two rebel groups have promised to increase their attacks against the government in the aftermath of the arrest warrant, calling Bashir's government "illegal."



Photo: Protesters demonstrate outside the Sudanese embassy in central London today. Members of the Darfur community gathered to remember the victims of crimes committed in Darfur. (Shaun Curry / AFP/Getty Images)

edmund.sanders@latimes.com

Note from Sudan Watch: I share Alfred Taban's view that the ICC is going to entrench Mr Bashir rather than weaken him. Note the above photo, posted here for future reference:  the materials are hand-outs from UK activists.