The United Nations’ top court has begun hearings on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority.
West African nation The Gambia filed the case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2019, claiming that Myanmar’s military “clearance operations” in 2017 violated the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The hearings began on Monday in The Hague, with Myanmar, now under military rule, denying all allegations.
In his opening statement, Gambian Justice Minister Dawda Jallow said his country had taken the case out of a “sense of responsibility” based on its own experience with military rule. “Wherever and whenever oppression or crimes against individuals and groups occur, we must raise our moral voice in condemnation,” he told a packed courtroom.
The 2017 ‘Clearance Operation’
Myanmar launched military operations in Rakhine State following attacks by a Rohingya insurgent group. Security forces have been accused of mass killings, rape, and burning thousands of homes, prompting over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.
Today, around 1.2 million Rohingya live in overcrowded camps, where armed groups recruit children, and girls as young as 12 are forced into prostitution.
Humanitarian Crisis
Severe cuts to foreign aid under former US President Donald Trump last year led to the closure of thousands of camp schools, leaving some children to starve. “We don’t have anything that human beings should have,” said Yousuf Ali, who travelled from a refugee camp in Bangladesh to attend the hearings in the Netherlands.
Aung San Suu Kyi at the Court
Myanmar was initially represented by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who denied that the country’s armed forces committed genocide. In 2019, she described the mass exodus of Rohingya as the “unfortunate outcome” of fighting insurgents. Suu Kyi is now in prison following a military coup in 2021.
Myanmar contested the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that The Gambia was not directly involved in the conflict. Judges rejected this in 2022, allowing the case to proceed.
Global Implications
The ruling opened the door for South Africa to file a case accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Experts say the ICJ’s decision on Myanmar could also influence other international proceedings, including the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where the chief prosecutor in 2024 requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that R...
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence an...
Donald Trump said Monday that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25% U.S. tariff on all trade with the United States, with the measure t...
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement....
The UK government will introduce a new criminal offence this week targeting the creation of non-consensual intimate images, Technology Secretary Liz K...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that Russia and China could become more active in the strategically important region.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
Donald Trump said Monday that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25% U.S. tariff on all trade with the United States, with the measure taking effect immediately.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Real Madrid have parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso, appointing former defender Álvaro Arbeloa as his replacement.
Timothée Chalamet won the Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy on Sunday for his role in Marty Supreme, beating strong competition in one of the night’s most closely watched categories.
Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano is showing increased activity, with lava flowing from two summit craters and flames, smoke and ash rising from the caldera.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
Israel has sharply escalated its warnings to Lebanon amid rising regional tensions linked to Iran, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan.
Finland and Sweden have called for tougher economic measures against Russia, proposing higher import duties, export restrictions, and an EU ban on Russian energy shipments.
Finance ministers from the G7 and partner nations met in Washington on Monday to discuss a potential price floor for strategic rare-earth metals and ways to secure their supply. Representatives from Australia, Mexico, South Korea and India also attended the talks.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allied nations are discussing “next steps” to ensure the security of the Arctic, citing concerns that Russia and China could become more active in the strategically important region.
The U.S. has issued an urgent security notice calling all American citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests, growing violence and widespread communication shutdowns across the country.
Apple will use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence models for its revamped Siri voice assistant later this year, in a multi-year deal that strengthens the tech giants’ partnership and boosts Alphabet’s position in the race against OpenAI.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment