sdv
30th August 2012, 08:07
Tony Blair will be addressing the Discovery Leadership Summit in Johannesburg today, and will be facing protests and an attempt to arrest him for crimes against humanity. Archibishop Tutu was also scheduled to speak at the summit but withdrew because of the presence of Blair.
Here is a report from Times Live:
Roads in Sandton will be closed on Thursday from 1pm until 5pm for a protest around the Discovery Leadership Summit, Johannesburg metro police said.
PrintMotorists were advised to avoid Alice lane and 5th street as it will be blocked off Thursday afternoon, spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.
"Protesters plan to gather at the Alice lane intersections at around 2pm," he said.
Minnaar said there would be a heavy police presence.
On Monday, the Muslim political party Al Jama-ah said it would protest against former British prime minister Tony Blair outside the Sandton Convention Centre, where the conference is being held.
Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks said the demonstration would be held to support a warrant of arrest to charge Blair for crimes against humanity relating to the invasion of Iraq.
"It is hoped that one or more demonstrators will be able to make a citizen's arrest on the day and put Tony Blair in jail and extradite him to the Hague for trial," said Hendricks.
Meanwhile, Blair has shrugged off the protests, saying: "What I say to these groups is this: 'Why don't you actually go and protest against the people doing the killing?'".
"The vast majority of people dying from terrorist activity is Muslim on Muslim violence," Blair said to the Star newspaper.
Blair also responded to criticism from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who pulled out of the conference.
Tutu had said Blair's part in the invasion of Iraq based on unfounded allegations of weapons of mass destruction was "morally indefensible."
Blair said the invasion of Iraq was needed to remove Saddam Hussein, who had committed atrocities, from power.
"These are very difficult decisions. But I don't think you could say that leaving Saddam Hussein in place was a morally superior choice. So I think it's sensible for us to just agree to disagree on it," Blair said.
One of the CEOs of Goldman Sachs is also one of the scheduled speakers.
http://www.theleadershipsummit.co.za/
I doubt that the South African police will let anyone get near enough to Blair to arrest him, but there is one group that is determined to try (also from Times Live):
An arrest warrant for former British prime minister Tony Blair is being sought by the Society for the Protection of our Constitution (Spoc).
"We filed a complaint with the SA Police Service yesterday and a 'crimes against the state' docket was opened," Muhammed Vawda, secretary of Spoc, said today.
"A case number was issued and it will go to the National Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision."
Blair and former US president George W Bush were found guilty in absentia of crimes against humanity by the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal in November last year.
They were also found guilty of genocide for their roles in the Iraq War.The tribunal was presided over by five judges.
The court acknowledged that the verdict was non-enforceable, but the findings were reported to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Daily Maverick reported that the official UK government inquiry into the Iraq War, the Chilcot Inquiry, is only set to release a report late into 2013, which will run more than 1-million words.
It reported that part of the delay was due to a row over whether Cabinet officials were willing to publish certain sensitive documents, such as notes passed between Blair and Bush, and records of their conversations.
The inquiry held public hearings between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2011 on matters including the background to the war.
Blair is in South Africa this week as one of the speakers at the Discovery Leadership Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre today.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu withdrew from the summit yesterday because of Blair's attendance.
The Muslim political party Al Jama-ah said it planned to protest against Blair when he spoke at the summit.
Vawda said South Africa was legally bound to the requirements of international law, as it fell under the United Nations jurisdiction, and therefore was compelled to co-operate.
"Legally speaking, we expect to get the warrant...all the grounds are there...there is no obstacle," said Vawda.
South Africa must operate without fear, favour or prejudice, he said, adding that the judiciary, police and National Directorate for Public Prosecutions must not bow down to political pressure.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindile Louw said she would comment on the matter after checking on the complaint.
I wonder if Blair genuinely does believe that he is a good man who did the right thing?
Here is a report from Times Live:
Roads in Sandton will be closed on Thursday from 1pm until 5pm for a protest around the Discovery Leadership Summit, Johannesburg metro police said.
PrintMotorists were advised to avoid Alice lane and 5th street as it will be blocked off Thursday afternoon, spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.
"Protesters plan to gather at the Alice lane intersections at around 2pm," he said.
Minnaar said there would be a heavy police presence.
On Monday, the Muslim political party Al Jama-ah said it would protest against former British prime minister Tony Blair outside the Sandton Convention Centre, where the conference is being held.
Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks said the demonstration would be held to support a warrant of arrest to charge Blair for crimes against humanity relating to the invasion of Iraq.
"It is hoped that one or more demonstrators will be able to make a citizen's arrest on the day and put Tony Blair in jail and extradite him to the Hague for trial," said Hendricks.
Meanwhile, Blair has shrugged off the protests, saying: "What I say to these groups is this: 'Why don't you actually go and protest against the people doing the killing?'".
"The vast majority of people dying from terrorist activity is Muslim on Muslim violence," Blair said to the Star newspaper.
Blair also responded to criticism from Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who pulled out of the conference.
Tutu had said Blair's part in the invasion of Iraq based on unfounded allegations of weapons of mass destruction was "morally indefensible."
Blair said the invasion of Iraq was needed to remove Saddam Hussein, who had committed atrocities, from power.
"These are very difficult decisions. But I don't think you could say that leaving Saddam Hussein in place was a morally superior choice. So I think it's sensible for us to just agree to disagree on it," Blair said.
One of the CEOs of Goldman Sachs is also one of the scheduled speakers.
http://www.theleadershipsummit.co.za/
I doubt that the South African police will let anyone get near enough to Blair to arrest him, but there is one group that is determined to try (also from Times Live):
An arrest warrant for former British prime minister Tony Blair is being sought by the Society for the Protection of our Constitution (Spoc).
"We filed a complaint with the SA Police Service yesterday and a 'crimes against the state' docket was opened," Muhammed Vawda, secretary of Spoc, said today.
"A case number was issued and it will go to the National Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision."
Blair and former US president George W Bush were found guilty in absentia of crimes against humanity by the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal in November last year.
They were also found guilty of genocide for their roles in the Iraq War.The tribunal was presided over by five judges.
The court acknowledged that the verdict was non-enforceable, but the findings were reported to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Daily Maverick reported that the official UK government inquiry into the Iraq War, the Chilcot Inquiry, is only set to release a report late into 2013, which will run more than 1-million words.
It reported that part of the delay was due to a row over whether Cabinet officials were willing to publish certain sensitive documents, such as notes passed between Blair and Bush, and records of their conversations.
The inquiry held public hearings between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2011 on matters including the background to the war.
Blair is in South Africa this week as one of the speakers at the Discovery Leadership Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre today.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu withdrew from the summit yesterday because of Blair's attendance.
The Muslim political party Al Jama-ah said it planned to protest against Blair when he spoke at the summit.
Vawda said South Africa was legally bound to the requirements of international law, as it fell under the United Nations jurisdiction, and therefore was compelled to co-operate.
"Legally speaking, we expect to get the warrant...all the grounds are there...there is no obstacle," said Vawda.
South Africa must operate without fear, favour or prejudice, he said, adding that the judiciary, police and National Directorate for Public Prosecutions must not bow down to political pressure.
National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindile Louw said she would comment on the matter after checking on the complaint.
I wonder if Blair genuinely does believe that he is a good man who did the right thing?