ICC reiterates inability to act on Lanka

July 18, 2011 09:43 am

Head of the International Criminal Court, President Sang-Hyun Song has reiterated that the ICC was unable to act on matters from non-signatory states such as Sri Lanka, Israel and the US.

“Whenever certain atrocities are committed in the corners of the world, everybody seems to refer to the ICC as an ultimate place to send that situation to,” he said.

“We are very glad to notice all this growing recognition of the court. On the other hand we have to play by the rules that are specified in the Rome Statute.”

Therefore the court was unable to act on matters from non-signatory states such as Sri Lanka, like Israel and the US.

On the final days of the Sri Lankan civil war, he said that country -- along with Israel and the US -- had not acceded to the Rome Statute.

So without a reference to the court by the UN Security Council, the ICC was unable to act, The Australian reports.

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