RARE INITIATIVE: How an African nation dragged Myanmar to International Court of Justice over persecution of Rohingyas

Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

NewsBits.in

The case of atrocities on the Rohingya minority in Myanmar finally reached the international court of justice and the hearing has begun.

The role of Gambia, a small African nation, has been vital in this fight for justice against Myanmar. 

As third party, Gambia had approached ICJ and it later got the support of many other countries. This week the hearing began and Gambia's attorney general and justice minister Dawda A Jallow stated in front of the ICJ that the Myanmar government had targeted the Rohingya, a minority, and aimed at the latter's destruction.

It must be mentioned that the victims are also being produced and they are testifying in the ongoing trial at the ICJ. As hearing began, Myanmar officials tried to defend the role of the government and said that the charges of genocide and atrocities were not correct. 

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were forced to leave the country due to the killings and attacks over a long period. The persecution has been termed as genocide.

The Rohingya populace that was mainly concentrated in Rakhine state, was targeted and had been subjected to discrimination over a long period. The attacks, atrocities, displacement within the country and later the exodus have led to charges of orchestrated killings and genocide.

Human rights agencies had been documenting  the injustice—from denial of citizenship to discrimination in jobs and other ways of harassment, until the Rohingya community was brutally attacked in the last decade. 

Hundreds of thousands had to leave their land. Their settlements were burnt and bombed. Rohingya refugees live in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Saudi Arab, Pakistan and several other countries. In view of their immense suffering, the ICJ case assumes significance. 

The case of atrocities on the Rohingya minority in Myanmar finally reached the international court of justice and the hearing has begun. The role of Gambia, a small African nation, has been vital in this fight for justice against Myanmar.

As third party, Gambia had approached ICJ and it later got the support of many other nations. 'The Gambia' or 'The Republic of Gambia' is a country that is located in the west of African continent. It is a small country in this huge continent. The country is located more than 10,000 kms away from Myanmar. 

Gambia has an area of just over 11,000 sq kms and has a population of 2.4 million. However, it has taken a stand over a moral issue, Gambia went ahead with the case. This will become part of history, especially, in an era when nations avoid taking moral positions either due to economic and political interests or geopolitics.

The population of Rohigyas was nearly 1.4 million in Myanmar. But after the killings in 2012, it went down as tens of thousands had to leave the region. Many were forced to relocate or were exiled. A large number was confined in the camps or live as refugees in Myanmar and other countries.

The images of Rohingyas leaving the country in boats and stopped or returned from other countries or mishaps in the sea that led to deaths, shook the conscience of the world. The community has been described as 'stateless people'. Thousands of men, women and children were killed in the attacks on Rohingyas. 

Myanmar is a big country in South East Asia. It has a population of over 55 million. When Rohingyas were targeted, there were statements from leaders and activists in different countries. But the situation didn't improve. By 2017, the situation had worsened and hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas had to leave their homeland and reached Cox Bazar in Bangladesh.

In Malaysia, Pakistan and certain Gulf countries too, Rohingyas got refugee status. In Ining groups and media tried to defame them and blamed them, though a small number of refugees came to India. Myanmar has a military regime. Unfortunately, even during Aung San Suu Kyi's stint, Rohingyas were still taregeted and faced extreme violence.

Several other nations just gave lip sympathy. There was no major assistance though UN and other international agencies have been trying to provide relief and have raised the issue of injustice with the Rohingyas. However, a small nation, Gambia, set an example and its stature has gone up due to its decision to take up the issue seriously and fight for justice. The hearing of ICJ is held at The Hague in Neatherlands, Europe.