'Myanmar won't totally accept ICC's demand'

As the pre-trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) wants to know Myanmar's observations on the 'intentionally deported' into Bangladesh, the country says the ICC does not have the right to taking action against it, reports UNB.

"Myanmar is neither a member country nor signs the agreement. Therefore, the ICC does not have the right to taking action against Myanmar," said Director General of the Myanmar State Counsellor Office Zaw Htay.

Quoting Zaw Htay Myanmar's Eleven Media Group reported that the ICC did not send such cases to other countries facing refugee crisis.

"The ICC has sent similar case to Myanmar as Bangladesh is a member country. We have never seen such case in the ICC's exercising international rules and regulations. For that reason, Myanmar won't totally accept (ICC's demand)," Zaw Htay was quoted as saying.

In her request, the prosecutor alleged that since August 2017 more than 670,000 members of the Rohingya people, lawfully present in Myanmar, have been intentionally deported into Bangladesh.

"Considering that the crime of deportation is alleged to have commenced on the territory of Myanmar, the Chamber deems it appropriate to seek observations from the competent authorities of Myanmar on the prosecutor's request," the ICC letter sent to Myanmar reads.

The pre-trial Chamber of the ICC on Thursday invited the competent authorities of Myanmar to submit written observations, either publicly or confidentially, on three specific matters by July 27, a senior official told the news agency.