“A finding of genocide would leave an indelible stain on my country and its people,” he said, describing the process as “of fundamental importance to the reputation and future of my country.”
Mr. Hlaing accused the plaintiff of relying on what he called rudimentary and partisan, including reports from a fact-finding mission, “which are neither reliable nor objective, and were a condemnation without trial of Myanmar.”
Ko Ko Hlaing, Agent of Myanmar, addresses judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
Myanmar acted against terrorists
Myanmar also rejected claims that its military’s so-called “clearance operations” in northern Rakhine state in 2016 and 2017 had genocidal intent, maintaining that they were counterterrorism operations launched in response to attacks by armed groups.
“Obviously, Myanmar was not obliged to stand by and allow terrorists free rein in northern Rakhine State,” Mr Hlaing told the Court, although he acknowledged that civilians were killed and large numbers of people fled to Bangladesh as a result of the fighting.
Additionally, he disputed accusations that Myanmar denies the existence or rights of the Muslim population in northern Rakhine state, arguing that issues of citizenship, terminology and identity “have nothing to do with the genocide.”
Myanmar said it had complied with all procedural orders of the Court, including provisional measures issued in January 2020, and had submitted regular reports on the measures taken.
It also reiterated its stated commitment to the repatriation of displaced people from Bangladesh, citing bilateral agreements and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
The case before the ICJ
The case arises from an application filed by The Gambia in November 2019, accusing Myanmar of violating the Genocide Convention through acts allegedly committed during military operations in Rakhine State.
Those operations escalated in 2017, forcing more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh amid widespread killings, sexual violence and village burnings, according to U.N. investigations. Nearly a million Rohingya remain refugees in Bangladesh.
The hearings, which will continue until the end of January, mark the first time the Court has examined the merits of the case. The Court’s final ruling, which could take months after the hearings conclude, will be legally binding.