ASIATODAY.ID, THE HAGUE – Myanmar on Friday launched its defence at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, forcefully rejecting allegations that it committed genocide against the Rohingya minority.
Addressing judges during public hearings, Myanmar argued that the case brought by The Gambia is built on what it described as “unsubstantiated and partisan allegations,” as proceedings continued in a landmark test of the Genocide Convention.
Speaking on behalf of the State, Ko Ko Hlaing, Myanmar’s Agent before the Court, said the country fully recognizes the importance of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, but categorically denies breaching its obligations under international law.
“A finding of genocide would leave an indelible stain on my country and its people,” Mr. Hlaing told the Court, describing the hearings as “of fundamental importance to Myanmar’s reputation and future.”
He accused The Gambia of relying on what he called rudimentary and politically motivated material, including reports produced by a UN fact-finding mission, arguing that these documents were “neither reliable nor objective” and amounted to “a condemnation without trial.”
Myanmar: Counter-Terrorism, Not Genocide
Myanmar also rejected claims that its military’s so-called “clearance operations” in northern Rakhine State in 2016 and 2017 were carried out with genocidal intent.
Instead, it maintained that the operations were legitimate counter-terrorism measures launched in response to attacks by armed groups.
“Obviously, Myanmar was not obliged to remain idle and allow terrorists to operate freely in northern Rakhine State,” Mr. Hlaing told the judges, while acknowledging that civilians were killed and that large numbers of people fled to Bangladesh as a result of the violence.
He further disputed allegations that Myanmar denies the existence or rights of the Muslim population in northern Rakhine, arguing that issues of citizenship, terminology and identity “have nothing to do with genocide.”
Myanmar said it has complied with all procedural orders issued by the Court, including the provisional measures imposed in January 2020, and has submitted regular reports outlining steps taken in response.
The government also reiterated its commitment to the repatriation of displaced persons from Bangladesh, citing bilateral agreements with Dhaka and pointing to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
The Case Before the World Court
The case originates from an application filed by The Gambia in November 2019, accusing Myanmar of violating the Genocide Convention through acts allegedly committed during military operations in Rakhine State.
Those operations escalated in 2017 and, according to UN investigations, involved widespread killings, sexual violence and the burning of villages, forcing more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Nearly one million Rohingya continue to live as refugees there.
The current hearings, which will run through late January, mark the first time the ICJ is examining the merits of the case.
A final judgment—expected months after the hearings conclude—will be legally binding and could carry far-reaching consequences for international accountability in cases of alleged genocide. (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel