The Hague (dpa) – Germany and five other countries want to join Gambia’s genocide trial against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. A corresponding declaration of intent of the states was published by the court in The Hague. Besides Germany, this includes Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Canada.
The Gambia sued Myanmar in 2019 for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. The highest court of the United Nations had already declared itself competent in the matter last year. The date of the main hearing has not yet been determined. Trials before the International Court of Justice can last for years.
What is it about?
Since 2017, the Burmese army has reportedly murdered thousands of people, raped women and children, razed villages and burned their homes alive. More than 700,000 people have fled to neighboring Bangladesh.
In an interim ruling issued in 2020, the UN court had already ordered Myanmar to immediately protect the Rohingya. At the time, Aung San Suu Kyi, then head of government and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, rejected the allegations in The Hague. She was arrested after the 2021 coup.
The UN tribunal decides in the event of a conflict between states. His judgments are binding. The International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague, prosecutes individual suspects.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:231117-99-982540/3
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