‘Lasting solution only possible if there’s no impunity’

A lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis in Rakhine and the situation in other parts of Myanmar is only possible if there is no impunity, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh, Harry Verweij, has said.

"Justice and accountability for gross violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, regardless of who commits it, is necessary to foster conditions for durable peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar," he said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star yesterday.

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok recently wrote a letter to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

Harry Verweij handed over the letter to Momen on October 18 ahead of The Gambia's submission of its memorial on the Rohingya genocide to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top UN court, today.

Asked about the content of the letter, the ambassador said with the letter, The Netherlands confirms its intention, together with Canada, to intervene in the case brought by The Gambia.

The case shows the discrimination and persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar, which created the conditions for Myanmar's security forces to perpetrate atrocities against the Rohingya.

Myanmar's violations include the commission of genocide against the Rohingya, mostly by way of the systematic and widespread perpetration of mass murder, sexual violence, torture, forced displacement, and denial of access to food and shelter. These conditions have caused over 850,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh since 2016.

The Gambia filed the case more than two years after a brutal military crackdown against the Rohingya in 2017 when 750,000 of them fled to Bangladesh from Rakhine state.

"As States Party to the Genocide Convention, The Netherlands and Canada consider it our obligation to support the laudable step The Gambia took," the Dutch envoy said.

Its objectives include ending impunity for those committing atrocities in Myanmar, upholding the pledge to prevent genocide and holding those responsible to account.

Harry Verweij said The Netherlands will assist with the complex legal issues that are expected to arise and will pay special attention to crimes related to sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, against the Rohingya.

The joint application by The Netherlands and Canada will be submitted to the ICJ after the deadline, which is July 23, 2021, for receiving all documents from both The Gambia and Myanmar.

Asked how this application will support the genocide case, he said The Netherlands wants to support The Gambia's request and ensure an independent process of investigation that might lead to international accountability for the perpetrators and voluntary returns of Rohingyas to Rakhine in safety, security and dignity.

"As a State Party to the Genocide Convention, the Netherlands considers it an obligation to support these efforts which are of concern to all of humanity," Harry Verweij said.

Asked why only Canada and The Netherlands come up to support The Gambia's case when 152 countries ratified the Genocide Convention, he said the two countries found each other in supporting The Gambia, based on common goals and efforts.

"We think that with our mutual input the case is strong; it's also helpful to work with a committed partner who is on the same line," the diplomat said.

Asked if Myanmar is complying with the IJC order to prevent further acts of genocide in Rakhine, he said The Netherlands remains deeply concerned about the Rohingya crisis.

"Developing a sustainable, long-term solution has become ever more complex with the intensification of conflict in Rakhine between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw, which is, of course, separate from the Rohingya crisis."

A lasting solution for the situation in Rakhine State and other parts of Myanmar is only possible if there is no impunity, he said.

Accountability for the most serious crimes is one of the human rights priorities of Dutch foreign policy and is a key element in promotion of the international legal order and strengthening human rights, Harry Verweij said.

"The Netherlands, therefore, supports accountability efforts, specifically the ICC (International Criminal Court) investigation and the IIMM [Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar]," he said.

The Netherlands will also continue to call on Myanmar to grant full access and to cooperate with the aim to achieve accountability, he said.