Myanmar shadow government says junta should not take stand in genocide trial

RFA
Radio Free Asia
2022.02.03

The NUG says it wants to defend the country against charges because it represents the people.

The International Court of Justice hears proceedings in a trial on charges of genocide against Myanmar in The Hague, Netherlands, Dec. 10, 2019. Reuters

A decision by Myanmar’s shadow government to withdraw preliminary objections to charges of genocide against ethnic Rohingyas at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) was made to ensure the case is not fought by a party that does not represent the will of the people, its foreign minister said Thursday.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said in a Feb. 1 statement that it would withdraw all preliminary objections in the ICJ case over Myanmar’s military operations against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017, a scorched-earth campaign that forced 730,000 Rohingya to flee Rakhine state, mostly to neighboring Bangladesh.

The NUG asked that it and not the ruling military junta that took over Myanmar in the Feb. 1, 2021, coup represent the country before the court.

How to Defeat Myanmar’s Military

The New York Times

By Zin Mar Aung

April 16, 2021

Ms. Zin Mar Aung, a former political prisoner, is an elected member of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Parliament) of Myanmar and the acting foreign minister of the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw. 

Elected legislators deposed in the February coup have a plan for building a new federal democratic union. We need help.

Protesters prayed in Yangon, Myanmar, in March for demonstrators who died during demonstrations against the military coup.Credit...Theint Mon Soe/SOPA Images and LightRocket, via Getty Images

The people of Myanmar have been fighting for the life of our nation since the military, or Tatmadaw, seized power on Feb. 1. We have been protesting peacefully, risking our lives to protect neighborhoods, cities and towns — fighting not for any---one political party, ethnic group or leader, but for freedom and a genuine federal democracy.

This is why those of us who were duly elected to office by the people of Myanmar, and who continue to act for their interests, are now asking for direct help.