From Armenia to Myanmar: Accusations of genocide in the past

According to a UK-based Rohingya advocacy group, an Argentine&nbsp;court is set to conduct a case over the persecution of the Rohingyas.

The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) while calling it a "historic step" said the case against the Myanmar military includes Min Aung Hlaing and the current junta’s senior leadership.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fear-stalks-rohingya-refugee-camps-after-murders-427108">Also Read:&nbsp;Fear stalks Rohingya refugee camps after murders</a>

The federal court in Buenos Aires had confirmed to launch the case against senior Myanmar officials under the principle of universal jurisdiction, it said.

The group had earlier petitioned the court in November 2019. "Under the principle of universal jurisdiction such crimes can be investigated anywhere in the world regardless of where they were committed," the group said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/seven-killed-in-bangladesh-rohingya-refugee-camp-attack-422904">Also Read:&nbsp;Seven killed in Bangladesh Rohingya refugee camp attack</a>

The Argentine court will reportedly investigate the "full range of crimes committed against the Rohingyas in Myanmar".

The Rohingya victims&nbsp;are also set to appear in court to testify. The case relates to the crackdown on Rohingyas in 2017 which had led over 730,000 people to flee the country into Bangladesh as Myanmar's armed forces allegedly targeted the Rohingyas in Rakhine state.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-16-rohingya-arrested-in-anti-militant-crackdown-419721">Also Read|&nbsp;Bangladesh: 16 Rohingya arrested in anti-militant crackdown</a>

There were widespread reports of alleged atrocities committed by Myanmar's military against the Rohingyas which had led to worldwide condemnation. The UN had called the persecution&nbsp;genocide as thousands of men, women and children were displaced.

The UN Security Council had recently expressed concern over clashes between the military and militants from various groups in the Rakhine state which had hampered the return of Rohingyas.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to a UK-based Rohingya advocacy group, an Argentine court is set to conduct a case over the persecution of the Rohingyas. The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) while calling it a "historic step" said the case against the Myanmar military includes Min Aung Hlaing and the current junta’s senior leadership.

According to a UK-based Rohingya advocacy group, an Argentine court is set to conduct a case over the persecution of the Rohingyas. The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) while calling it a "historic step" said the case against the Myanmar military includes Min Aung Hlaing and the current junta’s senior leadership. Also Read: Fear stalks Rohingya refugee camps after murders The federal court in Buenos Aires had confirmed to launch the case against senior Myanmar officials under the principle of universal jurisdiction, it said. The group had earlier petitioned the court in November 2019. "Under the principle of universal jurisdiction such crimes can be investigated anywhere in the world regardless of where they were committed," the group said. Also Read: Seven killed in Bangladesh Rohingya refugee camp attack The Argentine court will reportedly investigate the "full range of crimes committed against the Rohingyas in Myanmar". The Rohingya victims are also set to appear in court to testify. The case relates to the crackdown on Rohingyas in 2017 which had led over 730,000 people to flee the country into Bangladesh as Myanmar's armed forces allegedly targeted the Rohingyas in Rakhine state. Also Read| Bangladesh: 16 Rohingya arrested in anti-militant crackdown There were widespread reports of alleged atrocities committed by Myanmar's military against the Rohingyas which had led to worldwide condemnation. The UN had called the persecution genocide as thousands of men, women and children were displaced. The UN Security Council had recently expressed concern over clashes between the military and militants from various groups in the Rakhine state which had hampered the return of Rohingyas. (With inputs from Agencies)

Argentine court to hear Rohingya case

As Aung San Suu Kyi is vilified internationally for denying genocide against the Rohingya, her opponents in Sunday's Myanmar election are ramping up the rhetoric against the Muslim minority.

There was global revulsion at military-backed operations in 2017 that saw hundreds of thousands of people flee burning villages into the squalor of refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-army-chief-accuses-government-of-unacceptable-mistakes-ahead-of-election-340534" hreflang="en">Myanmar army chief accuses govt of 'unacceptable mistakes' ahead of election</a>

The horrifying violence,&nbsp;including widespread reports of murder and rape,&nbsp;has left Suu Kyi's international reputation in tatters and sees Myanmar facing genocide charges at the UN's top court.

But Than Htay, leader of the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), insists Myanmar has nothing to be sorry for.

"I cannot accept useless people in our country," Than Htay told AFP of the stateless Rohingya.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-expert-airs-human-rights-concerns-ahead-of-myanmar-vote-340405" hreflang="en">UN expert airs human rights concerns ahead of Myanmar vote</a>

The USDP is the main opposition group standing against Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party in this week's polls, Myanmar's second after emerging from outright military rule in 2011.

Than Htay told a campaign rally he was free of "Muslim or Chinese" blood, while his deputy slurred an NLD Muslim candidate, according to local news site Myanmar Now.

USDP supporters even created a parody of an NLD anthem, claiming Suu Kyi's party had welcomed "Bengali Muslims as if they were gods".

Stripped of citizenship and rights over decades, the Rohingya are widely referred to in Myanmar by the pejorative term "Bengali", implying they are illegal immigrants.

'Picnic' or genocide?

The uncompromising campaign rhetoric shows that anti-Muslim rhetoric in mainly Buddhist Myanmar remains "fair game",&nbsp;Yangon-based analyst Khin Zaw Win told AFP.

"There is no danger for political parties to speak out against either the Rohingya or Muslims in general," he said.

Just four percent of Myanmar's 55-million population are Muslim.&nbsp;

They have no mainstream political representation and are often discriminated against in schools or when applying for ID cards or jobs.

The brutal ejection of the Rohingya in 2017 was seen very differently inside the country, where the government maintains the military was simply rooting out Rohingya insurgents and did not force the community to flee.

"They left happily," Than Htay told AFP in an interview late August at the USDP's opulent headquarters in the capital, Naypyidaw.

"If they'd been running from the military, they wouldn't have prepared their bags as if going on a picnic."

Rebrand 'failure'&nbsp;

Suu Kyi's NLD party -- born out of the pro-democracy movement under the former junta --&nbsp;is widely expected to be returned to office in Sunday's polls.

The nation only emerged from outright military rule a decade ago and the armed forces still wield enormous power, retaining control of a quarter of parliamentary seats and three key ministries.

Stacked with former army officers, the USDP is now trying to downplay its links to the military in a country still deeply suspicious of the institution.

Than Htay, who attained the rank of Major General before retiring, insisted: "I'm a civilian now," although conceded army chief Min Aung Hlaing was an old childhood friend.

"We were commanders at the same military command. Our families are close. But that's all. We have boundaries between us."

The USDP ruled Myanmar after a hugely flawed election in 2010, boycotted by the NLD and other parties.

In 2015, the party won 28 percent of the popular vote, although the country's electoral system meant this translated as only eight percent of electable seats.

Than Htay underlined to AFP what he saw as the NLD government's economic failures during its five-year term -- a drop in GDP, more debt and an increase in living costs.

But the USDP has "failed to rebrand itself", concluded watchdog International Crisis Group.

Analyst Khin Zaw Win warned a "tacit" alliance between the military and NLD could even make the USDP redundant.&nbsp;

"If this develops, the military will have no further use for the USDP," he said.

"The party runs the risk of losing its main prop."

As Aung San Suu Kyi is vilified internationally for denying genocide against the Rohingya, her opponents in Sunday's Myanmar election are ramping up the rhetoric against the Muslim minority.

As Aung San Suu Kyi is vilified internationally for denying genocide against the Rohingya, her opponents in Sunday's Myanmar election are ramping up the rhetoric against the Muslim minority. There was global revulsion at military-backed operations in 2017 that saw hundreds of thousands of people flee burning villages into the squalor of refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. Also read: Myanmar army chief accuses govt of 'unacceptable mistakes' ahead of election The horrifying violence, including widespread reports of murder and rape, has left Suu Kyi's international reputation in tatters and sees Myanmar facing genocide charges at the UN's top court. But Than Htay, leader of the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), insists Myanmar has nothing to be sorry for. "I cannot accept useless people in our country," Than Htay told AFP of the stateless Rohingya. Also read: UN expert airs human rights concerns ahead of Myanmar vote The USDP is the main opposition group standing against Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party in this week's polls, Myanmar's second after emerging from outright military rule in 2011. Than Htay told a campaign rally he was free of "Muslim or Chinese" blood, while his deputy slurred an NLD Muslim candidate, according to local news site Myanmar Now. USDP supporters even created a parody of an NLD anthem, claiming Suu Kyi's party had welcomed "Bengali Muslims as if they were gods". Stripped of citizenship and rights over decades, the Rohingya are widely referred to in Myanmar by the pejorative term "Bengali", implying they are illegal immigrants. 'Picnic' or genocide? The uncompromising campaign rhetoric shows that anti-Muslim rhetoric in mainly Buddhist Myanmar remains "fair game", Yangon-based analyst Khin Zaw Win told AFP. "There is no danger for political parties to speak out against either the Rohingya or Muslims in general," he said. Just four percent of Myanmar's 55-million population are Muslim. They have no mainstream political representation and are often discriminated against in schools or when applying for ID cards or jobs. The brutal ejection of the Rohingya in 2017 was seen very differently inside the country, where the government maintains the military was simply rooting out Rohingya insurgents and did not force the community to flee. "They left happily," Than Htay told AFP in an interview late August at the USDP's opulent headquarters in the capital, Naypyidaw. "If they'd been running from the military, they wouldn't have prepared their bags as if going on a picnic." Rebrand 'failure' Suu Kyi's NLD party -- born out of the pro-democracy movement under the former junta -- is widely expected to be returned to office in Sunday's polls. The nation only emerged from outright military rule a decade ago and the armed forces still wield enormous power, retaining control of a quarter of parliamentary seats and three key ministries. Stacked with former army officers, the USDP is now trying to downplay its links to the military in a country still deeply suspicious of the institution. Than Htay, who attained the rank of Major General before retiring, insisted: "I'm a civilian now," although conceded army chief Min Aung Hlaing was an old childhood friend. "We were commanders at the same military command. Our families are close. But that's all. We have boundaries between us." The USDP ruled Myanmar after a hugely flawed election in 2010, boycotted by the NLD and other parties. In 2015, the party won 28 percent of the popular vote, although the country's electoral system meant this translated as only eight percent of electable seats. Than Htay underlined to AFP what he saw as the NLD government's economic failures during its five-year term -- a drop in GDP, more debt and an increase in living costs. But the USDP has "failed to rebrand itself", concluded watchdog International Crisis Group. Analyst Khin Zaw Win warned a "tacit" alliance between the military and NLD could even make the USDP redundant. "If this develops, the military will have no further use for the USDP," he said. "The party runs the risk of losing its main prop."

As Suu Kyi denies genocide, opponents up anti-Rohingya rhetoric

The International Court of Justice(ICJ) today pronounced its&nbsp;verdict in the Rohingya genocide case at The Hague on Thursday.

Gambia had filed a lawsuit last November requesting emegency measures to tackle the alleged atrocities against Rohingyas in Myanmar.

The court said Myanmar should take "all measures within its powers" to prevent alleged genocide against Rohingyas.&nbsp;

The top UN court said it has jurisdiction in Myanmar genocide case. Gambia's claim is plausible, the court observed.

"The court concludes that it has prima facie jurisdiction to rule in the case," presiding judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said.

Rohingyas remain extremely vulnerable, the world court said while adding that Myanmar failed to present concrete evidence&nbsp;to the international court.

The court said that irreparable harm will be committed if Rohingyas are not protected.

Gambia had accused Myanmar of violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

The world court's ruling comes just days after the Myanmar commission in a report said some soldiers had committed war crimes against the Rohingyas but the military wasn't guilty of genocide.

At least 730,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since 2017 ever since the country's military allegedly carried out a crackdown against the minority Rohingya Muslims. The crackdown led to a huge exodus of Rohingyas to neigbouring Bangladesh leading to a refugee crisis.

The International Court of Justice(ICJ) today pronounced its verdict in the Rohingya genocide case at The Hague on Thursday. Gambia had filed a lawsuit last November requesting emegency measures to tackle the alleged atrocities against Rohingyas in Myanmar.

The International Court of Justice(ICJ) today pronounced its verdict in the Rohingya genocide case at The Hague on Thursday. Gambia had filed a lawsuit last November requesting emegency measures to tackle the alleged atrocities against Rohingyas in Myanmar. The court said Myanmar should take "all measures within its powers" to prevent alleged genocide against Rohingyas. The top UN court said it has jurisdiction in Myanmar genocide case. Gambia's claim is plausible, the court observed. "The court concludes that it has prima facie jurisdiction to rule in the case," presiding judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said. Rohingyas remain extremely vulnerable, the world court said while adding that Myanmar failed to present concrete evidence to the international court. The court said that irreparable harm will be committed if Rohingyas are not protected. Gambia had accused Myanmar of violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. The world court's ruling comes just days after the Myanmar commission in a report said some soldiers had committed war crimes against the Rohingyas but the military wasn't guilty of genocide. At least 730,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since 2017 ever since the country's military allegedly carried out a crackdown against the minority Rohingya Muslims. The crackdown led to a huge exodus of Rohingyas to neigbouring Bangladesh leading to a refugee crisis.

International Court of Justice raps Myanmar in Rohingya genocide case

The Gambia condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's "silence" over the plight of Rohingya Muslims on Thursday after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate defended Myanmar against genocide charges at the UN's top court.

Lawyers for the mostly Muslim African country said her arguments that Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown was a "clearance operation" targeting militants ignored widespread allegations of mass murder, rape and forced deportation.

"Madame agent, your silence said far more than your words," The Gambia's lawyer Philippe Sands told the International Court of Justice (ICJ), referring to Suu Kyi, who is officially acting as Myanmar's agent in the case.

"The word 'rape' did not once pass the lips of the agent," Sands added, as Suu Kyi sat impassively in the courtroom, wearing traditional Burmese dress and flowers in her hair.

The Gambia has taken majority-Buddhist Myanmar to the court in The Hague, accusing it of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide convention and seeking emergency measures to protect the Rohingya.

Once regarded as an international rights icon for standing up to Myanmar's brutal junta, Suu Kyi has seen her reputation tarnished by her decision to side with the military over the Rohingya crisis.

She used a dramatic appearance at the ICJ on Wednesday to say there was no "genocidal intent" behind the operation that led to some 740,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi defended Myanmar's actions saying it faced an "internal conflict" and that the military conducted "clearance operations" after an attack by Rohingya militants in August 2017.

'Imminent risk of genocide'

But Paul Reichler, another of The Gambia's lawyers, said that those killed included "infants beaten to death or torn from their mothers' arms and thrown into rivers to drown. How many of them were terrorists?

"Armed conflict can never be an excuse for genocide," he said.

The lawyer said Suu Kyi had also failed to deny the conclusions of a 2018 UN investigation that found that genocide had been committed in Myanmar against the Rohingya.

"What is most striking is what Myanmar has not denied," Reichler said.

He also dismissed Suu Kyi's insistence that Myanmar's military should be left to probe the allegations itself, saying it was not credible when its own top generals have themselves been accused of genocide.

"How could anyone expect the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) to investigate when six of its top generals, including Min Aung Hlaing, have all been accused of genocide by the UN fact-finding mission?" he asked.

The US on Tuesday slapped fresh sanctions including a travel ban on military chief Min Aung Hlaing over the Rohingya crisis.

The lawyer added that Suu Kyi in her speech to the court had also followed Myanmar's "racist" policy of refusing to refer to the Rohingya Muslim minority by their name.

Gambian Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou pushed the court to impose the emergency measures, saying there was a "serious and imminent risk of genocide recurring" and that "the lives of these human beings are at risk."

Suu Kyi was expected to make closing remarks later Thursday.

A decision on the measures could take months, while a final ruling if the ICJ decides to take on the full case could take years.

The Gambia condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's "silence" over the plight of Rohingya Muslims on Thursday after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate defended Myanmar against genocide charges at the UN's top court.

The Gambia condemned Aung San Suu Kyi's "silence" over the plight of Rohingya Muslims on Thursday after the Nobel Peace Prize laureate defended Myanmar against genocide charges at the UN's top court. Lawyers for the mostly Muslim African country said her arguments that Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown was a "clearance operation" targeting militants ignored widespread allegations of mass murder, rape and forced deportation. "Madame agent, your silence said far more than your words," The Gambia's lawyer Philippe Sands told the International Court of Justice (ICJ), referring to Suu Kyi, who is officially acting as Myanmar's agent in the case. "The word 'rape' did not once pass the lips of the agent," Sands added, as Suu Kyi sat impassively in the courtroom, wearing traditional Burmese dress and flowers in her hair. The Gambia has taken majority-Buddhist Myanmar to the court in The Hague, accusing it of breaching the 1948 UN Genocide convention and seeking emergency measures to protect the Rohingya. Once regarded as an international rights icon for standing up to Myanmar's brutal junta, Suu Kyi has seen her reputation tarnished by her decision to side with the military over the Rohingya crisis. She used a dramatic appearance at the ICJ on Wednesday to say there was no "genocidal intent" behind the operation that led to some 740,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighbouring Bangladesh. Suu Kyi defended Myanmar's actions saying it faced an "internal conflict" and that the military conducted "clearance operations" after an attack by Rohingya militants in August 2017. 'Imminent risk of genocide' But Paul Reichler, another of The Gambia's lawyers, said that those killed included "infants beaten to death or torn from their mothers' arms and thrown into rivers to drown. How many of them were terrorists? "Armed conflict can never be an excuse for genocide," he said. The lawyer said Suu Kyi had also failed to deny the conclusions of a 2018 UN investigation that found that genocide had been committed in Myanmar against the Rohingya. "What is most striking is what Myanmar has not denied," Reichler said. He also dismissed Suu Kyi's insistence that Myanmar's military should be left to probe the allegations itself, saying it was not credible when its own top generals have themselves been accused of genocide. "How could anyone expect the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) to investigate when six of its top generals, including Min Aung Hlaing, have all been accused of genocide by the UN fact-finding mission?" he asked. The US on Tuesday slapped fresh sanctions including a travel ban on military chief Min Aung Hlaing over the Rohingya crisis. The lawyer added that Suu Kyi in her speech to the court had also followed Myanmar's "racist" policy of refusing to refer to the Rohingya Muslim minority by their name. Gambian Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou pushed the court to impose the emergency measures, saying there was a "serious and imminent risk of genocide recurring" and that "the lives of these human beings are at risk." Suu Kyi was expected to make closing remarks later Thursday. A decision on the measures could take months, while a final ruling if the ICJ decides to take on the full case could take years.

Suu Kyi criticised for 'silence' over Myanmar genocide claims

Bangladesh&#39;s foreign minister said on Sunday that Myanmar was waging &quot;genocide&quot; against the Rohingyas in the violence-racked Rakhine state which had led to an exodus of nearly 300,000 of the Muslim minorities to the country.

&quot;The international community is saying it is a genocide. We also say it is a genocide,&quot; AH Mahmood Ali told the press after meeting Western and Arab diplomats and the heads of UN agencies in Dhaka.

The foreign minister met the diplomats and stakeholders to seek support for a political solution and humanitarian aid for the Rohingyas.

He told the diplomats that some 300,000 Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh in the past two weeks, taking the total number of such refugees to over 700,000.

&quot;This is creating a huge challenge for Bangladesh in terms of providing shelter as well as other humanitarian assistance to them,&quot; a foreign ministry statement said.

At least two diplomats who attended the briefings said the minister told them as many as 3,000 people may have been killed in the latest round of violence.&nbsp;

As per the UN, 294,000 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh since attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar security forces on August 25 sparked a major military backlash in the state.

Tens of thousands more are believed to be on the move inside Rakhine, AFP reports.

Myanmar, which has a majority of Buddhists, does not recognise its stateless Muslim Rohingya community. It labels them &quot;Bengalis&quot; -- illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

 
&nbsp;

Bangladesh's foreign minister said the violence in Rakhine state had led to an exodus of nearly 300,000 of the Muslim minorities to the country

Bangladesh's foreign minister said on Sunday that Myanmar was waging "genocide" against the Rohingyas in the violence-racked Rakhine state which had led to an exodus of nearly 300,000 of the Muslim minorities to the country. "The international community is saying it is a genocide. We also say it is a genocide," AH Mahmood Ali told the press after meeting Western and Arab diplomats and the heads of UN agencies in Dhaka. The foreign minister met the diplomats and stakeholders to seek support for a political solution and humanitarian aid for the Rohingyas. He told the diplomats that some 300,000 Rohingyas had fled to Bangladesh in the past two weeks, taking the total number of such refugees to over 700,000. "This is creating a huge challenge for Bangladesh in terms of providing shelter as well as other humanitarian assistance to them," a foreign ministry statement said. At least two diplomats who attended the briefings said the minister told them as many as 3,000 people may have been killed in the latest round of violence. As per the UN, 294,000 Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh since attacks by Rohingya militants on Myanmar security forces on August 25 sparked a major military backlash in the state. Tens of thousands more are believed to be on the move inside Rakhine, AFP reports. Myanmar, which has a majority of Buddhists, does not recognise its stateless Muslim Rohingya community. It labels them "Bengalis" -- illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Violence in Myanmar's Rakhine genocide: Bangladesh