Suu Kyi to defend Myanmar from genocide accusations at International Court of Justice, ICJ

Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi has personally defended her country from accusations of genocide against the Rohingya community at the United Nation’s top court, ICJ in the Hague.

The ICJ is the UN’s top court, and cases must be submitted to it by countries. This one is being brought by The Gambia – a small, Muslim-majority country in west Africa.

The Gambia’s attorney general and justice minister, Abubacarr Marie Tambadou, speaking as he opened his country’s case against Myanmar said : “I stand before you to awaken the conscience of the world and arouse the voice of the international community. In the words of Edmund Burke, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’.”

“Another genocide is unfolding right before our eyes yet we do nothing to stop it. This is a stain on our collective conscience. It’s not only the state of Myanmar that is on trial here, it’s our collective humanity that is being put on trial” he added.

Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to plead her country’s case tomorrow at The Hague. Citizens of Myanmar took to the street in protest against their leader’s court appearance.