Myanmar’s shadow govt formed by ousted leaders pledges to comply with ICJ

Myanmar's National Unity Government has pledged to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which last year ordered the Southeast Asian country to prevent any acts of genocide against the Rohingyas in Rakhine State.

"The National Unity Government is taking every step to cooperate with the International Court of Justice, the world's highest court…to ensure that we comply with Myanmar's international legal obligations," said Dr Sasa, Union Minister of International Cooperation and Spokesperson of the Myanmar's shadow government in a statement issued Monday.

It said the National Unity Government (NUG) is concerned about the difficult situation of the Rohingyas, especially who fled to Bangladesh in 2016-17. Nearly a million Rohingyas fled a military crackdown that has been dubbed by rights bodies as genocide.

In late 2019, The Gambia, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), filed a genocide case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague. In the hearing, the then state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League of Democracy (NLD), defended military actions.

The NLD, which won Myanmar's last year's general elections and formed the government, was ousted by the military in a coup. NLD leader Suu Kyi and a number of other leaders were arrested, while a nationwide movement began that faced crackdown by the military.

Early this year, the ousted leaders formed a shadow government, NUG, which is also seeking international recognition and mobilising Myanmar's ethnic groups, including the rebel ones. Last Saturday, the rebel Chin National Front signed an agreement to "demolish the dictatorship and to implement a federal democratic system" in Myanmar.

On May 24, Myanmar's Army General Min Aung Hlaing cast doubt on the return of Rohingyas from Bangladesh, which has been facing immense pressure for sheltering them but saw no headway since 2017.

Against this backdrop, Myanmar's NUG, which has not spoken anything concrete on Rohingya return yet, spoke of their justice against genocide where a number of military officers have been accused.

The NUG statement said it is among the its duties, as lawful government of Myanmar, to ensure continuity of representation before the ICJ, and to be mindful of the timetable established by the Court.

The NUG is actively conserving accepting the exercise of jurisdiction by the ICJ over the killings, torture and other crimes against the civilians that have occurred since the "attempted" coup on February 1.

"We will continue to work closely with the Court and all relevant stakeholders for benefits of the country and all people in Myanmar," the statement said.