Rohingya atrocities: ICC team arrives Wednesday

A delegation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to arrive in Bangladesh on Wednesday to gather information on atrocities committed against Rohingyas by the Myanmar military.

The seven-strong team will be in the country for a week to collect necessary information for a “preliminary examination” report, based on which the ICC will hold a hearing to decide on opening a full-fledged investigation.

The ICC’s move marks a major step towards criminal prosecution over the violence that caused more than 700,000 Rohingyas to flee across the border into Bangladesh since August 2017, many alleging army abuses such as arson, rape and murder.

With the latest influx, Bangladesh is now home to over 1.1 million Rohingyas, living in overcrowded camps in the south eastern district of Cox’s Bazar, reports Bangla Tribune.

Apart from visiting the camps, the ICC delegation will also hold talks with Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, said Dhaka.

“We will provide logistic support to the delegation as per their demand,” said a foreign ministry official asking not to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

In April 2018, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda submitted a request seeking a ruling on whether the court may exercise jurisdiction over the alleged deportation of the Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

In a ruling in September, the court decided by majority that it may exercise its jurisdiction following which the ICC chief prosecutor announced the launch of a preliminary examination into the matter.

In February this year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a meeting with Bensouda on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, when she lauded the ICC’s move.

She then assured the ICC of giving all possible support to its team, which will start its seven-day visit to Bangladesh on Wednesday.