Bangladesh should push for ICC probe
By The daily star
We agree with the recent comments by UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights that the ongoing atrocities on the Rohingya community in
Myanmar should be referred to the International Criminal Court for prosecution.
He also stated that there is strong suspicion that what is happening in Myanmar
might amount to “acts of genocide” against the minority community.
It should be beyond doubt now that since August, the
Myanmar authorities have been engaged in ethnic cleansing of its Rohingya
population, driving almost 700,000 Rohingyas into Bangladesh. And even though
there have been talks of repatriation, there have been little talk from Myanmar
about the fundamental guarantees of safety and restoration of citizenship and
human rights which must precede repatriation. And while there has been
condemnation after condemnation from the UN, it has failed to act decisively in
deterring Myanmar.
In this background, the urging of the UN rights boss for
referring the issue to the ICC is apt. We have continually stressed the need
for international involvement in solving the crisis and holding Myanmar
accountable. Satellite images prove that Myanmar has been trying to
deliberately destroy evidence of its acts, and has so far not allowed
independent international monitors into Rakhine.
It is time that the Rome Statute be invoked in the
Security Council. And even though Myanmar is not a signatory to the statute,
Bangladesh as a country affected by the persecution of the Rohingyas should
push for bringing the matter to the ICC. If the UN Security Council can be made
to recognise Myanmar's crimes against humanity, it may then refer it to the
ICC. For this, Bangladesh needs to step up its diplomatic efforts so that China
and Russia do not veto the resolution. Recent history abounds with cases of
such crimes being tried at the ICC, and the gravity of the atrocities against
Myanmar certainly warrants the same response.