South African police asked to arrest Tony Blair
The former British prime minister is due to speak at a function in Johannesburg later this week
An arrest warrant for former British prime minister Tony Blair is being sought by a group called 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 on Wednesday.
“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.
The court apparently acknowledged that the verdict was non-enforceable, but the findings were reported to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Blair is in South Africa this week as one of the speakers at the Discovery Leadership Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre on Thursday. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu withdrew from the summit 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. 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.
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Comments
DJ-Winner
Yep, they must send him to jail. This will be the biggest test of the NPAThis guy killed defenceless people in Iraq. He should be arrested....
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JohnStone
I wish they could too, unfortunately the colony will never arrest the representative of the British Imperial mornachy, never. South Africa is still a colony of Britain by and large. Even those who are against colonialism run to Britain to "talk to investors" all the time (Zuma, Tutu and Malema).Report Abuse
Publc2
Why they had to wait until he is in South Africa?Hehe they want to put us in trouble hihihihi.They must ask the likes of Bahgdad,Iraq and Lybia about this people - refering to Blair,Bush and ObamaReport Abuse
The-Rothschilds
Mr BlairI understand that at the time of the Iraq invasion, the world, particularly the Western World was under severe pressure from terrorist networks (9 11 etc) which put you as a prime minister in a very difficult position.
Had you not gone to Iraq, would we have been able to dismantle al-qaeda over the past decade, would the West have been any safer from a terrorist threat which scared us to death in 2001? These are questions we will never know.
I do not agree with war and i believe with the right attitude and diplomacy (of which we owe the UK & US all the credit for modern day diplomacy) most conflicts can be settled. Iraq was wrong, but i do not believe you should be arrested because you did what you thought was right was severe pressure from a ever demanding British public who pay high taxes for their safety and security. I just hope the UK can change their foreign policy to find more peaceful solutions for any future conflicts. Let Syria be the first test!
And well done to you to taking on Mugabe.
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MsKinkyakaKamaSutra
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. 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.*********************************************************************************************************
Unfortunately that will never happen in Mzansi
An English evil murderous husband planned his wi.fe's murder to the tee and now he is deemed to have psychological problems whilst the hired men are in jail...............
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The-Rothschilds
MsKinkyakaKamaSutraVawda 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. 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.
*********************************************************************************************************
Unfortunately that will never happen in Mzansi
An English evil murderous husband planned his wi.fe's murder to the tee and now he is deemed to have psychological problems whilst the hired men are in jail.............
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Just like that Murderous Zimbabwean Mugabe walks freely when he visits SA.
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DJ-Winner
@The-Rothschilds...ha ha ha...it is because he is white, isn't?This guy was found guilty of war crimes...He belongs in jail...
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The-Rothschilds
DJ-Winner@The-Rothschilds...ha ha ha...it is because he is white, isn't?
This guy was found guilty of war crimes...He belongs in jail...
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Dude you have a serious racial complex.
How does my comment correlate to Blair's race? I understand the pressure the Prime Minister was under in times of severe insecurity regarding terrorism.
If the ICC finds the man guilty of war crimes, then he must go to jail.
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maneater
@The-Rothschilds"a terrorist threat which scared us to death "
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speak for youself sir. i am not scared of terrorist or alqaeda because i have not doen them any harm so they do not have a reason to harm me. i am more scared of AWB and Booremag who would kll me at a drop of hat!!!
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The-Rothschilds
maneater@The-Rothschilds
"a terrorist threat which scared us to death "
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speak for youself sir. i am not scared of terrorist or alqaeda because i have not doen them any harm so they do not have a reason to harm me. i am more scared of AWB and Booremag who would kll me at a drop of hat!!!
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How is this related to Blair?
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