UN urges ICC to urgently open investigation

Atrocities against Rohingya

September 10, 2018 00:00:00

United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng has urged ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to consider the recommendation of its Chamber to decide on the opening of an investigation into the atrocities against Rohingyas without delay, reports UNB.

He said the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) provides victims an opportunity to access justice for some of the crimes they have endured, which is an important first step.

Myanmar has refused to cooperate with any impartial investigation into the matter and continues to insist hiding behind its sovereign borders, he said in a statement.

"It is about time that countries understand that borders are not strong enough to protect those involved in the most horrible crimes committed against human beings from prosecution," reads the statement a copy of which the news agency obtained.

He welcomed the decision issued on Thursday by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Pre-Trial Chamber I, in which it concluded that the Court has jurisdiction over the alleged deportation of members of the Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

Adama Dieng said deportation can constitute a crime against humanity under international law.

The Chamber also ruled that the Court would have jurisdiction over other crimes committed, such as the crime of persecution, if at least one element of the crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court - or part of such a crime - has been committed on the territory of a State Party to the Statute.

"This decision is a light in what has been a very dark episode for the Rohingya people this past year," said the Special Adviser.

The decision followed a request by the Prosecutor of the ICC on April 09, 2018, in which she sought a ruling from the Pre-Trial Chamber on the jurisdiction of the Court in a situation in which persons are deported from the territory of a State which is not party to the Rome Statute of the ICC into the territory of a State which is a party to the Statute.