Junta set to defend Myanmar at ‘genocide’ hearing in the Hague

20 February 2022
Junta set to defend Myanmar at ‘genocide’ hearing in the Hague
The premises of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo: Wikipedia

A team led by the Myanmar junta's envoy for international coordination and its Union Attorney-General is likely to defend Myanar at The Hague on Monday, reports Reuters.

Both of the delegates, Ko Ko Hlaing and Thida Oo, are on the US sanctions list.

The National Union Government (NUG) had petitioned the court to allow it to represent the country at the restart of the trial, arguing that Myanmar's ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, was the only person with the legitimacy to lead a defense in the case, according to the report.

In a significant break from the policy of the National League for Democracy-led government administration, the NUG has stated it will not contest the charges brought against Myanmar by The Gambia, which relate to the alleged genocide committed against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority in 2017.

Over 700,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine State as a result of the crackdown of the Myanmar military that claimed to be rooting out a Muslim militant group that attacked a number of border posts.