A Message from Burma Campaign UK

Dear Habib For the last two days, I have been at The Hague to hear the case of genocide brought by The Gambia against Burma at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and to support the Rohingya and Burma’s other ethnic groups in their struggle for justice. This is a historic case. For the first time in 70 years the crimes of the military are being heard in court. For the first time the military are facing consequences for their actions. Many people at the demonstrations outside the Court told me how painful it was to see Aung San Suu Kyi, who for so long campaigned for democracy and human rights, now defending the military that committed such atrocities. Nijam Uddin Mohammed, a Rohingya refugee who now leads the British Rohingya Community UK, says his parents’ village was burnt to the ground and he lost more than 70 family members in 2017. He said, “Aung San Suu Kyi should be ashamed to deny Genocide. We are not against Burma but we want justice. My message to my fellow Burmese people is to stand with the truth.”

It was so inspiring to see solidarity from other ethnic groups in Burma. Ethnic people have suffered the same human rights violations by the military as the Rohingya have.

A refugee from the Kachin community explained why he had travelled to The Hague: “We are here because we want justice. What happened to the Rohingya happened to Kachin for many years. We should all show solidarity with Rohingya.” Taw K’lu, a Karen political refugee now in The Netherlands, told me “12 years ago I stood outside here to demonstrate against the military and call for Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest. Today it’s a very different story, a very sad story. Today I come to denounce her because she is here to defend the military that kill us.”

Aung San Suu Kyi has shocked many people around the world over her approach to the Rohingya crisis, and by personally leading the team defending Burma at the International Court of Justice against charges of genocide.

Read more here.

Thank you for your support. Anna Roberts Burma Campaign UK