<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-suu-kyi-arrives-at-un-court-for-genocide-hearings-267407">Myanmar</a> has put in place measures to protect Rohingya Muslims, a spokesman for the ruling party said on Friday, shrugging off an order from the International Court of Justice a day earlier to stop genocidal acts against the ethnic minority.

The Hague-based court-ordered Myanmar to protect the persecuted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-rohingya-crisis-what-to-watch-for-in-2019-187973">Rohingya</a> against further atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes, after mostly Muslim Gambia launched a lawsuit in November accusing Myanmar of genocide.

"The government is already doing most of the orders," Myo Nyunt, a spokesman for the ruling <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-court-frames-new-charges-against-saffron-revolution-leader-1522">National League for Democracy</a>, told Reuters by phone, without elaborating.

"One more thing we need to do is submit reports," he said, referring to one of several measures approved by the court requiring Myanmar to write regular summaries of its progress.

But he said the civilian government, who rule jointly with the military in an awkward constitutional arrangement that reserves great powers for the commander-in-chief, could not control troops.

"Under the current political circumstances, we have difficulties solving some issues - such as the (order) that the government must ensure its military or armed insurgents do not commit genocide or attempt to commit genocide against Rohingya or Bengali," he said.

More than 730,000 Rohingya fled western Rakhine state for neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017 to escape a military-led crackdown that the U.N has said was executed with genocidal intent. Myanmar says the military campaign was a legitimate counter-insurgency operation launched in response to militant attacks on security forces.

Some 600,000 Rohingya remain inside Myanmar, confined in apartheid-like conditions to camps and villages, unable to freely access healthcare and education.

They are derided as "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-call-them-bengalis-call-them-bangladesh-says-pakistan-skipper-sarfaraz-ahmed-to-journo-234088">Bengalis</a>", implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite tracing their history in Rakhine back centuries.

The court said in its judgment on Thursday it did not accept Myanmar’s assertion that it has been taking steps to facilitate the return of refugees, promote peace in Rakhine, and hold the military accountable through domestic mechanisms.

"In particular, the Court notes that Myanmar has not presented to the Court concrete measures aimed specifically at recognizing and ensuring the right of the Rohingya to exist as a protected group under the Genocide Convention," it said.

While Thursday's ruling was an emotional victory for the minority, who have for decades fought to prove their existence as an ethnic group, legal analysts said it will be difficult to force Myanmar to comply.

In a statement late Thursday, the ministry of foreign affairs said it had noted the ruling but did not mention specific steps it was taking. The next morning the front page of the state-run newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar read: "Myanmar takes note of ICJ decision. There was no genocide in Rakhine".

While the measures are legally binding, there is no enforcement mechanism.

In separate statements on Friday, Britain and Malaysia urged Myanmar to fully implement the measures. UN&nbsp;human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a UN&nbsp;briefing in Geneva the office "calls on Myanmar to immediately and unconditionally implement them in full".

"We know that there are limitations but it’s very important for the Rohingya community in Bangladesh and in Myanmar to know that the world has heard them, the highest court in the land has made this decision," said human rights lawyer Antonia Mulvey.

Kobsak Chutikul, a Thai diplomat who in 2018 quit a government-appointed panel set up to probe the alleged atrocities, said he feared the government would "delay and obfuscate" once the spotlight faded.

Of dozens of people interviewed by Reuters in Yangon, Myanmar's commercial capital, only two were aware of the judgment, and neither of them paid much heed.

"I already knew that Myanmar would lose this case since the other side is funded by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/6-times-islamic-countries-honoured-pm-modi-with-their-highest-awards-245560">Islamic countries</a>," said a civil servant, who also asked not to be named.

Myanmar has put in place measures to protect Rohingya Muslims, a spokesman for the ruling party said on Friday, shrugging off an order from the International Court of Justice a day earlier to stop genocidal acts against the ethnic minority.

Myanmar has put in place measures to protect Rohingya Muslims, a spokesman for the ruling party said on Friday, shrugging off an order from the International Court of Justice a day earlier to stop genocidal acts against the ethnic minority. The Hague-based court-ordered Myanmar to protect the persecuted Rohingya against further atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes, after mostly Muslim Gambia launched a lawsuit in November accusing Myanmar of genocide. "The government is already doing most of the orders," Myo Nyunt, a spokesman for the ruling National League for Democracy, told Reuters by phone, without elaborating. "One more thing we need to do is submit reports," he said, referring to one of several measures approved by the court requiring Myanmar to write regular summaries of its progress. But he said the civilian government, who rule jointly with the military in an awkward constitutional arrangement that reserves great powers for the commander-in-chief, could not control troops. "Under the current political circumstances, we have difficulties solving some issues - such as the (order) that the government must ensure its military or armed insurgents do not commit genocide or attempt to commit genocide against Rohingya or Bengali," he said. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled western Rakhine state for neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017 to escape a military-led crackdown that the U.N has said was executed with genocidal intent. Myanmar says the military campaign was a legitimate counter-insurgency operation launched in response to militant attacks on security forces. Some 600,000 Rohingya remain inside Myanmar, confined in apartheid-like conditions to camps and villages, unable to freely access healthcare and education. They are derided as "Bengalis", implying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite tracing their history in Rakhine back centuries. The court said in its judgment on Thursday it did not accept Myanmar’s assertion that it has been taking steps to facilitate the return of refugees, promote peace in Rakhine, and hold the military accountable through domestic mechanisms. "In particular, the Court notes that Myanmar has not presented to the Court concrete measures aimed specifically at recognizing and ensuring the right of the Rohingya to exist as a protected group under the Genocide Convention," it said. While Thursday's ruling was an emotional victory for the minority, who have for decades fought to prove their existence as an ethnic group, legal analysts said it will be difficult to force Myanmar to comply. In a statement late Thursday, the ministry of foreign affairs said it had noted the ruling but did not mention specific steps it was taking. The next morning the front page of the state-run newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar read: "Myanmar takes note of ICJ decision. There was no genocide in Rakhine". While the measures are legally binding, there is no enforcement mechanism. In separate statements on Friday, Britain and Malaysia urged Myanmar to fully implement the measures. UN human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a UN briefing in Geneva the office "calls on Myanmar to immediately and unconditionally implement them in full". "We know that there are limitations but it’s very important for the Rohingya community in Bangladesh and in Myanmar to know that the world has heard them, the highest court in the land has made this decision," said human rights lawyer Antonia Mulvey. Kobsak Chutikul, a Thai diplomat who in 2018 quit a government-appointed panel set up to probe the alleged atrocities, said he feared the government would "delay and obfuscate" once the spotlight faded. Of dozens of people interviewed by Reuters in Yangon, Myanmar's commercial capital, only two were aware of the judgment, and neither of them paid much heed. "I already knew that Myanmar would lose this case since the other side is funded by the Islamic countries," said a civil servant, who also asked not to be named.

Myanmar already protecting Rohingyas, says ruling party after ICJ order

A UN&nbsprights watchdog called on Hungary on Thursday to crack down on hate speech by politicians against Roma, Muslims and other minorities, and to repeal a law allowing migrants to be deported without a chance to seek asylum.

It urged the nationalist government to reject draft laws known as the "Stop-Soros Package" that would empower the interior minister to ban non-governmental organisations that support migration and pose a "national security risk".

The government says the bill is meant to deter illegal immigration that Prime Minister Viktor Orban says is eroding European stability and has been stoked in part by Hungarian-born U.S. financier George Soros. It says its policies are to ensure Hungarians can live in safety.

Orban, seeking a third consecutive term on Sunday, has campaigned on a strong anti-migration message - although a UN&nbsppanel expert said the timing of the watchdog's comments, at the end of a four-week meeting, was not directed at voters.

The UN&nbspHuman Rights Committee voiced concern at "hate crimes and about hate speech in political discourse, the media and on the internet targeting minorities, notably, Roma, Muslim, migrants and refugees, including in the context of government-sponsored campaigns".

The panel issued its findings and recommendations after its 18 independent experts reviewed Hungary's record on upholding civil and political rights.

"The concern we saw in Hungary is that sometimes hate speech is accompanied by hate crimes which are directed against minorities and against migrants," Yuval Shany, the panel vice-chair, told Reuters TV.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto defended Hungary's policies, telling the UN&nbsppanel last month: "First and foremost, it is a firm conviction of the government that the Hungarian people have the right to live a life in security, without fear of terrorist atrocities."

In 2015, the central European country had a "sad experience" when some 400,000 migrants passed through on their way to Western Europe, "ignoring all rules", he said.

The UN&nbsppanel also decried a Hungarian law adopted a year ago that allows for automatically removing all asylum applicants to transit zones for indefinite confinement.

People should be allowed freedom of movement while their individual asylum claims are examined to see whether they are refugees fleeing war or persecution, the committee said.

The panel added that Hungary should repeal a June 2016 law that enables police to summarily expel anyone entering irregularly.

The committee also voiced concern at the "prevalence of anti-Semitic stereotypes" and how "high-ranking officials have nurtured conspiracy theories relating to George Soros".

Orban has waged a billboard and media campaign asserting that Soros would "settle millions from Africa and the Middle East", among other allegations.

Soros, who is Jewish, has rejected the campaign against him as "distortions and lies" meant to create a false external enemy.

UN rights watchdog urged the nationalist government to reject draft laws known as the "Stop-Soros Package" that would empower the interior minister to ban non-governmental organisations that support migration and pose a 'national security risk'

A UN&nbsprights watchdog called on Hungary on Thursday to crack down on hate speech by politicians against Roma, Muslims and other minorities, and to repeal a law allowing migrants to be deported without a chance to seek asylum. It urged the nationalist government to reject draft laws known as the "Stop-Soros Package" that would empower the interior minister to ban non-governmental organisations that support migration and pose a "national security risk". The government says the bill is meant to deter illegal immigration that Prime Minister Viktor Orban says is eroding European stability and has been stoked in part by Hungarian-born U.S. financier George Soros. It says its policies are to ensure Hungarians can live in safety. Orban, seeking a third consecutive term on Sunday, has campaigned on a strong anti-migration message - although a UN&nbsppanel expert said the timing of the watchdog's comments, at the end of a four-week meeting, was not directed at voters. The UN&nbspHuman Rights Committee voiced concern at "hate crimes and about hate speech in political discourse, the media and on the internet targeting minorities, notably, Roma, Muslim, migrants and refugees, including in the context of government-sponsored campaigns". The panel issued its findings and recommendations after its 18 independent experts reviewed Hungary's record on upholding civil and political rights. "The concern we saw in Hungary is that sometimes hate speech is accompanied by hate crimes which are directed against minorities and against migrants," Yuval Shany, the panel vice-chair, told Reuters TV. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto defended Hungary's policies, telling the UN&nbsppanel last month: "First and foremost, it is a firm conviction of the government that the Hungarian people have the right to live a life in security, without fear of terrorist atrocities." In 2015, the central European country had a "sad experience" when some 400,000 migrants passed through on their way to Western Europe, "ignoring all rules", he said. The UN&nbsppanel also decried a Hungarian law adopted a year ago that allows for automatically removing all asylum applicants to transit zones for indefinite confinement. People should be allowed freedom of movement while their individual asylum claims are examined to see whether they are refugees fleeing war or persecution, the committee said. The panel added that Hungary should repeal a June 2016 law that enables police to summarily expel anyone entering irregularly. The committee also voiced concern at the "prevalence of anti-Semitic stereotypes" and how "high-ranking officials have nurtured conspiracy theories relating to George Soros". Orban has waged a billboard and media campaign asserting that Soros would "settle millions from Africa and the Middle East", among other allegations. Soros, who is Jewish, has rejected the campaign against him as "distortions and lies" meant to create a false external enemy.

UN rights watchdog urges Hungary to halt hate speech, protect refugees

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Myanmar already protecting Rohingyas, says ruling party after ICJ order

UN rights watchdog urges Hungary to halt hate speech, protect refugees