More than 100 UK MPs want intervention in Rohingya genocide case

UK MPs have called on the UK government to support the genocide case filed by The Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Myanmar.

Rushanara Ali and Jeremy Hunt, co-chairs of All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Rights of the Rohingya, signed the letter on behalf of 104 UK MPs, who said, “We are convinced that if the United Kingdom joins the case, it will bring significant added value, both legally and symbolically.”

The Gambia has brought proceedings against Myanmar for breach of the Genocide Convention, in response to Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya, a minority ethnic group who live in Rakhine State in Myanmar.

In a letter to Foreign Minister Dominic Rabb on December 17, UK MPs Rushnara Ali and Jeremy Hunt said: “The UK is responsible for overseeing Myanmar’s affairs in the UN Security Council and if it does not join the case, it will inadvertently send a wrong message to the Myanmar military,” reports Bangla Tribune.

In the letter, they added that the impact of the case was already starting to be felt, as the court agreed with Gambia that the Rohingya were victims of genocide. There is preliminary evidence of that and the court felt that it was necessary for Myanmar to take steps to protect the Rohingya in Rakhine.

Seventeen judges agreed with the decision, with lawmakers saying the security council’s recommendation could not be sent to the International Criminal Court (ICC) because of opposition from China and Russia. For that reason, joining The Gambia is now the best way to ensure accountability and justice, stated the letter.

Source: DailyStar