Rohingya genocide trial to protect humanity

The hearing on the Gambia’s allegations of genocide on Rohingya against Myanmar begins at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On 11 November, on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar. It is not only a matter of ensuring justice to the Rohingya community but also the question of protecting the dignity of humanity. It generally seemed to the world until now that the military-controlled Myanmar is a very powerful state. Being influential the country carried out genocide on the Rohingya community and forced them to leave the country. The country kept the Rohingyas’ citizenship issue hanging. It has been making dilly-dally in repatriating its nationals from Bangladesh.

Myanmar as a state has been doing this systematically for long. But they have never stood at any international court for accountability. Earlier, Myanmar did not cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) raising the question of its jurisdiction. But this time ICJ will be able to try the Rohingya genocide committed by the Myanmar state. Now Myanmar itself is accused, not any individual.

We all know that the implementation of the ICJ’s verdict ultimately depends on the decision of the United Nations Security Council. It is unfortunate and disappointing that some influential member states of UN Security Council are openly backing Myanmar. These countries are also important development partners of Bangladesh. We hope these countries will extend cooperation to take the law its own course as the trial begins at the ICJ. In perspective of reality and experience we have to be cautious of our expectations. We have to take many realities into our consideration. Although crimes against humanity were carried out on the Rohingyas, many countries did not take steps against it due to their geo-political and national interests.

At the very beginning the United Nations treated the Rohingya incident in Rakhine state of Myanmar as ethnic cleansing instead of genocide. Later the UN acknowledges it as genocide. What is important to the court is that no fact-finding mission was allowed to visit Myanmar. But many independent commissions have got clear evidences of genocide. If the court wants, it can make a visit to the spot. People will also be interested to see the Myanmar’s Nobel Peace Prize winner state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s attitude to the wishes of the court.

Different countries and human rights organisations have a scope to stand by the Gambia in the fight to protect the human rights. This case has created an opportunity to send a strong message to the future perpetrators of genocide. Earlier at the OIC conference, Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina urged the international community to stand against Myanmar. It is expected that Bangladesh will continue its diplomatic activity during the proceedings of this law suit.

We have full confidence on the legal experts of the Gambia. Among the developed democratic countries, the Netherlands and Canada have raised voice against the Rohingya genocide. We hope other countries will join them soon.