Overview
- Representing Myanmar, Ko Ko Hlaing said the 2017 “clearance operations” were a lawful counter-terrorism response and argued that Gambia has not met its burden of proof.
- Gambia’s legal team alleged a state-led pattern of mass killings, widespread sexual violence and the burning of villages that it says shows genocidal intent.
- Counsel pointed to dehumanizing rhetoric by military figures, including social-media videos inciting violence against Rohingya, as evidence of intent.
- The court plans to take closed testimony from Rohingya witnesses, with oral proceedings scheduled to run through January 29.
- A U.N. fact-finding mission previously concluded genocidal acts occurred, large numbers of Rohingya remain in camps in Bangladesh, and a final ruling could take months or years without direct enforcement mechanisms.