Myanmar Denounces Rohingya Genocide Case as Flawed and Unfounded

Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement denying allegations made by The Gambia against the country at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ is currently hearing a case brought by The Gambia, which accuses Myanmar of committing genocide against its Rohingya minority in 2017.

The statement claims that the allegations are “flawed and unfounded” and that they rely on “biased reports based on unreliable evidence.” It also asserts that the truth cannot be established through such reports.

Myanmar’s military government has cooperated with the ICJ case, according to the statement, as a sign of respect for international law. The Gambia filed the case against Myanmar in 2019, following the country’s military launch an offensive that led to the displacement of approximately 750,000 Rohingya people, mostly into neighboring Bangladesh.

Survivors of the military operation have reported mass killings, rapes, and arson attacks. Today, around 1.17 million Rohingya live in dilapidated refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

The trial is expected to last three weeks and will determine whether Myanmar committed genocide against its Rohingya minority. The outcome of the case could have significant repercussions beyond Myanmar, potentially affecting other countries’ petitions against Israel over its actions in Gaza.

In 2017, the human rights chief of the United Nations described the military’s offensive as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” A UN fact-finding mission also concluded that the military’s 2017 offensive included “genocidal acts.”

Myanmar has rejected these findings, claiming that its military operation was a legitimate counterterrorism campaign in response to attacks by Rohingya armed groups.

A final decision on the case could take months or even years. The ICJ lacks the power to enforce its decisions, but a ruling in favor of The Gambia would likely increase political pressure on Myanmar.

Source: Al Jazeera