The #Myanmar military will appear at the #ICJ in The Hague on 21 February 2022. Their interest does not lie in defending the country against #genocide allegations. #whatshappeninginMyanmar judithbeyer.com/2022/02/18/who…
In this post I hold that after the attempted coup of 1 Feb 2021, the #Myanmar army "has at no point achieved full control of the country". I further reiterate that @NUGMyanmar "have established working relations with many states and international organizations, including the #UN"
The @NUGMyanmar declared that Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun is the only person authorised to represent #Myanmar in The Hague. They announced that the previous preliminary objections by Myanmar to the lawsuit should be withdrawn, thus encouraging the efforts to proceed with the case.
The @NUGMyanmar also introduced a new legal team of international legal experts that would work with the NUG and Myanmar’s Ambassador to the UN in representing Myanmar. But still now, it is unclear which side will represent Myanmar in front of the ICJ — the NUG or the junta.
It seems likely that the generals will be able to do so. Fittingly, one might say, as they are also the ones directly implicated in the crime. However, for the generals, defending the country against the genocide accusation is largely a means to an end. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
In contrast to Aung San Suu Kyi’s appearance in December 2019, it will not be about personal aura: they will use this opportunity to conduct themselves as the legitimate representatives of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on a global stage. One should not fall for this trick!
Already in April 2021 a general participated in an online-event of the UN CND, thereby bypassing the UN Secretary General’s own advice not to cooperate with the junta. Lt.-Gen Than Hlaing was understandably content and expressed his “pleasure in having this opportunity”.
To invite the junta to represent the country means to offer them the chance to use the court as a platform for strategic litigation where no longer the crime, but the performance of legitimacy will be key...
When the #ICJ reopens the case against #Myanmar, the #Rohingya #genocide is not a primary concern of the generals. Rather, it is to be ‘Myanmar’. The ICJ has a historical opportunity to avoid such an ethical, political and legal failure. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Similar takes on the situation are currently being published. For example here by @FortifyRights : irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-…
and here by @poppymcp et al swissinfo.ch/eng/myanmar-ju…
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