International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday expressed its readiness to assist Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) if requested by Bangladesh, ICC’s senior lawyer said on Wednesday.
“The ICC has always said that it is available to assist states in terms of technical support, training, and guidance when requested,” said ICC’s senior trial lawyer Essa Mbye Faal while responding to a question at a press briefing.
The International Crimes Tribunal is dealing with the cases related to crimes committed during the July-August uprising.
“With this level of cooperation, if Bangladesh were to seek assistance, the Office would be more than happy to oblige,” said the ICC lawyer.
ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC announced that he is filing an application for a warrant of arrest before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court in the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar.
ICC to seek arrest warrant for Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing: Prosecutor
After an extensive, independent and impartial investigation, his office has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Senior General and Acting President Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, bears criminal responsibility for the crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution of the Rohingyas, committed in Myanmar, and in part in Bangladesh.
“Today’s application draws upon a wide variety of evidence from numerous sources such as witness testimonies, including from a number of insider witnesses, documentary evidence and authenticated scientific, photographic and video materials,” ICC lawyer Faal said, while reading out Khan’s statement.
It is now for the judges of the International Criminal Court to determine whether this application meets the necessary standard for the issuance of an arrest warrant, Faal said, quoting Khan as saying.
“In the event that the independent judges of the ICC issue the requested warrant, we will coordinate closely with the Registrar of the Court in all efforts to arrest the named individual,” said the ICC Prosecutor.
Khan expressed his deep, profound gratitude to the Rohingyas, saying more than a million members of their community have been forced to flee violence in Myanmar.
“We are grateful to all those who provided testimony and support to my Office, those that have shared their stories, those that have given us information and material.”
In his visits to the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar over the last three years, including on Tuesday, Khan met with Rohingya women who spoke with clarity and purpose about the need for accountability.
“I sat with youth activists who wanted to play their own role in seeking justice. And I spoke with men of all ages including the old and the sick, who were united in demanding to be seen and to have accountability for what befell them. Our work, the work of the International Criminal Court, seeks to vindicate their resilience and their hope in the power of the law,” he said.