ICC President Akane Speaks Out

The president of International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, held a press conference on the sanction of the United States to her and another ICC staff at Japan National Press Club on August 26th. Akane accused the decision of the U.S. and insisted on her determination to implement rule of law, while thanking support from Japan. However, a discussion about weakness of the government of Japan on this issue arose among political parties. 

The U.S. Department of State issued a statement on August 18th which imposed sanction on Akane and an ICC Trial Lawyer. “The ICC is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate,” says the statement in the name of Rubio. The U.S. is not a member country of ICC, not having ratified Rome Statute which is the treaty for establishing the ICC.

 

In her web press conference connecting Hague with Tokyo, Akane refuted argument of the U.S. Akane insisted that there was no such fact as that ICC is a corrupt political organization which had stolen sovereignty of independent states or that she encouraged such activities. “Justice will and should always prevail over what is on its opposite side,” Akane unequivocally said.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi left a comment on U.S. sanction on Akane that she felt like “regretful” (in Japanese expression) about it on August 19th, which was interpreted in English as “unfortunate”. Facing criticisms on the weakness of her comment, Takaichi released another comment which said that she took it very seriously, because the it (U.S. sanction) was not compatible with the standpoint of Japan on August 25th. Takaichi has been insisting on Japan’s diplomatic principle called Free and Open Indo-Pacific which is aimed at upholding democracy, human rights and rule of law to distinguish Japan from China.

 

Akane thanked support from Japan, stressing its responsibility to preserve rule of law in the world. She hoped Japan, as an ally of the U.S., to assert importance of the ICC and persuade the U.S. not to escalate the sanctions. On the other hand, she requested Japanese government to promote domestic legislation against “core crimes,” which are about war, humanity, genocide and aggression.

 

While Akane thanked Takaichi’s support, some lawmakers are not satisfied with the response of the prime minister on this issue. A multi-partisan group of lawmakers for human rights diplomacy issued a statement that accused Japanese government of its weakness, compared to other countries. The statement criticized the government of lacking blaming, demand of retraction and determination to protect the president from Japan.

 

Takaichi was also accused of her weakness in diplomacy this month. When Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Etorofu Island which is one of the islands of Japan’s Northern Territory, Takaichi simply told that it would not be tolerable. While she made no comment following that, Russian government called Japanese Ambassador to Moscow to protest Takaichi’s comment. Takaichi achieved no diplomatic gain, in terms of gaining approval rate for her, in August.

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