• Burmese
Friday, June 13, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Myanmar’s Image ‘Severely Damaged’ by Int’l Legal Cases Over Rohingya: Govt

The Irrawaddy by The Irrawaddy
November 15, 2019
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Rohingya refugees are reflected in rainwater along an embankment next to paddy fields after fleeing from Myanmar into Palang Khali, near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh on Nov. 2, 2017. / Reuters

Rohingya refugees are reflected in rainwater along an embankment next to paddy fields after fleeing from Myanmar into Palang Khali, near Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh on Nov. 2, 2017. / Reuters

8.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON – Myanmar’s image has been “severely damaged internationally,” said government spokesman U Zaw Htay in his response to a series of international rights groups’ efforts to prosecute the country and its leadership at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN’s International Court of Justice and a court in Argentina this week.

He reiterated that Myanmar stands firm in its position on the ICC, as of its statement on April 13, 2018, which rejected the court’s claims.

The spokesperson stressed that Myanmar has the political will to take action against the perpetrators if its own Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE) finds human rights violations by the security forces in northern Rakhine State.

RelatedPosts

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

June 13, 2025
243
China Defends Myanmar Junta on Human Rights at UN

China Defends Myanmar Junta on Human Rights at UN

June 12, 2025
802
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

June 11, 2025
921

“We have the willingness to do so. That’s why we are investigating,” he said, adding that the ICOE investigation is ongoing, while the military’s court of inquiry is also doing its part.

He said these moves by the international community “have disturbed Myanmar’s own efforts on the investigation” and, as a consequence, “Myanmar’s image has been severely damaged internationally.”

The ICC on Thursday approved a prosecution request to investigate crimes against humanity against more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims, who fled from Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh after a 2017 crackdown by Myanmar’s military following the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’s coordinated attacks on security outposts. UN investigators say the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, acted with “genocidal intent,” a claim Myanmar denies.

Judges at the ICC, the world’s only permanent war crimes court, said that although Myanmar is not a member, the court has jurisdiction to examine alleged crimes that partially took place across the border in Bangladesh, which is a member.

In a statement, the ICC said prosecutors were granted permission to examine acts that could qualify as widespread or systematic crimes against the Rohingya, including deportation—a crime against humanity—and persecution on grounds of ethnicity and/or religion.

The ICC is now the second international court to look into alleged atrocities against the Rohingya, after Gambia on Monday filed a claim with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — the UN’s top court for disputes between states — against Myanmar for carrying out an alleged genocide against the Muslim minority.

U Zaw Htay said “Myanmar will respond to Gambia’s claim with the ICJ in accordance with international laws.”

“We are taking the necessary steps on the issue [to respond according to international regulations],” he added.

Regarding a case filed on Wednesday in Argentina over alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims, in which State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and the presidents of both the current and previous administrations are targeted, U Zaw Htay said Myanmar will not respond to it.

Rohingya activists in exile and Latin American human rights groups submitted the lawsuit in Argentina under the principle of “universal jurisdiction,” a legal concept enshrined in many countries’ laws. The premise is that some acts — including war crimes and crimes against humanity — are so horrific they are not specific to one nation and can be tried anywhere. The complaint seeks criminal sanctions against the perpetrators, accomplices and those who have covered up what it describes as genocide.

The spokesperson said the Rohingya issue will not be solved by prosecuting Myanmar in an international court.

“It has to be solved by collaboration between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Without cooperation from the Bangladesh side, the problem will still be there. You have to understand it,” he said.

U Zaw Htay said the official Rohingya repatriation program has been unsuccessful so far mainly due to a lack of cooperation from Bangladesh.

However, he added, 415 people have voluntarily—not under the official repatriation program with the assistance of Bangladesh—returned from Bangladeshi camps to Myanmar since last November.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: ArgentinaBangladeshcrimes against humanitydeportationGambiagenocideHuman RightsICCICJICOEIndependent Commission of EnquiryInternational Court of JusticeInternational Criminal Courtinternational justiceMilitaryprosecutionRakhinerepatriationRohingyaTatmadawUNUnited Nationsuniversal jurisdiction
The Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy

...

Similar Picks:

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns
War Against the Junta

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns

by The Irrawaddy
December 18, 2024
25.3k

Ethnic army reportedly poised to capture regime’s last stronghold in Rakhine State.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion
Burma

Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion

by The Irrawaddy
February 5, 2024
24.4k

Naing Naing Oo elevated to Lieutenant-General and made chief of powerful Bureau of Special Operations No. 2, in a reshuffle...

Read moreDetails
Interview

Myanmar’s Junta And Its Military Face Annihilation, Arakan Army Says

by Hein Htoo Zan
November 25, 2023
22.5k

The current war in Myanmar differs from past conflicts in the country because ethnic armies are no longer on the...

Read moreDetails
Battle of Paletwa Loss Turns Tide Against Myanmar Junta on Western Front
Analysis

Battle of Paletwa Loss Turns Tide Against Myanmar Junta on Western Front

by Moe Sett Nyein Chan
January 23, 2024
22k

The military’s demoralized Western Command is feeling the heat as the Arakan Army closes in on towns in northern Rakhine,...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats
Burma

Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats

by The Irrawaddy
January 12, 2024
20.1k

Major-General Hla Moe is reportedly the latest junta commander to pay the price for sweeping gains made by resistance forces. 

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Counteroffensives Failing Across Country: Analysts
Analysis

Myanmar Junta Counteroffensives Failing Across Country: Analysts

by Hein Htoo Zan
September 20, 2024
16.7k

Three major operations to retake territory from ethnic armies and their allies are being hampered by troop shortages, experts say.

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Daw Hnin Mya

The Day Myanmar Elected Its First Female Senator

President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa waves at his supporters as he leaves his house in Colombo on Nov. 17, 2019. / Reuters

Sri Lanka Strongman Rajapaksa Wins Presidency

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

The Hidden Fallout From China’s Cross-Border Crime Crackdown in Myanmar

The Hidden Fallout From China’s Cross-Border Crime Crackdown in Myanmar

4 days ago
1.4k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

2 days ago
921

Most Read

  • Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Advances into Karenni State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Jade Hub Burns as Junta Counteroffensive Penetrates Hpakant

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China Defends Myanmar Junta on Human Rights at UN

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • High-Level Ministerial Meeting Held to Speed Up Preparations for Myanmar Junta’s Election

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.