The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar should appoint an ethnic Rohingya representative to help it implement and expand upon its new policy on the rights of Rohingya people, human rights NGO Fortify Rights has said. The NUG has issued a new 'Policy Position on the Rohingya in Rakhine State', acknowledging the rights of the Rohingya and the atrocities they faced in Myanmar.  The statement represents a monumental shift from the persecution of the Rohingya by the military junta as well as previous governments, which routinely denied their existence as well as evidence of mass atrocity crimes they suffered, according to Fortify Rights. Also read: Fully cooperating with ICJ to “ensure justice” for Rohingyas: NUG “This is an important moment for the Rohingya people and Myanmar as a whole,” said Matthew Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Fortify Rights, on Thursday.  “This new policy establishes a foundation for the future realisation of Rohingya rights in Myanmar, and for a more unified path to democracy.” The statement commits the NUG to ensuring justice and accountability for crimes against the Rohingya in Myanmar. “We will actively seek justice and accountability for all crimes committed by the military against the Rohingya and all other people of Myanmar throughout our history,” the statement read. “We intend, if necessary, to initiate processes to grant (the) International Criminal Court jurisdiction over crimes committed within Myanmar against the Rohingya and other communities.” The NUG is committed to "abolishing" the National Verification Card process, which is coercive and requires the Rohingya to identify as foreigners.  Also read: Bashan Char: an excellent example for a safe, sustainable, and resilient place for Rohingya relocation The NUG has further committed to ensuring citizenship rights based “on birth in Myanmar or birth anywhere as a child of Myanmar citizens", which would effectively restore or grant full citizenship rights of all Rohingya people and others. The NUG has also affirmed its commitment to “voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation” of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine State. The NUG cabinet currently does not include any Rohingya representatives. Established on April 16 by elected legislators and others ousted in the February 1 military coup d’état, the NUG has 26 ministers and four executives, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who both remain imprisoned by the junta. Also read: Voluntary Rohingya repatriation in short term looks more challenging: UN “The NUG should appoint a Rohingya envoy to liaise with Rohingya people and to ensure Rohingya concerns are adequately represented and addressed by the cabinet,” said Matthew Smith. “This new policy is a positive first step in that direction. In addition to appointing a Rohingya representative, the NUG should continue to prioritise meaningful consultation with Rohingya people globally, including Rohingya women, said Fortify Rights.

Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG) has said they are fully cooperating with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to “make sure that justice is delivered to Rohingya brothers and sisters” and to all from every ethnicity who have suffered so much for so long under the brutal military generals’ reign of terror in Myanmar. “Together, we’ll end this reign of terror once and for all. Justice will prevail,” said Dr Sasa, Union Minister of International Cooperation and Spokesperson of Myanmar's shadow government in a post shared on his verified Facebook page. Also read: UNHCR seeks adequate medical assistance for Rohingyas affected in Bhasan Char Dr Sasa also shared an official statement that reads, "The National Unity Government is taking every step to cooperate with the International Court of Justice, the world's highest court…to ensure that we comply with Myanmar's international legal obligations.” The NUG said they are concerned about the difficult situation of the Rohingyas, especially those who fled to Bangladesh in 2016-17. Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas both in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char. Also read: General Assembly has not forgotten Rohingya people: Bozkir Earlier, The Gambia, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), filed a genocide case with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague. The NUG statement says it is among its duties, as lawful government of Myanmar, to ensure the continuity of representation before the ICJ, and to be mindful of the timetable established by the Court. Also read: Rohingyas rights to return, citizenship must be respected: UNGA President  It said the NUG is also actively considering accepting the exercise of jurisdiction by the ICJ over the killings, torture and other crimes against the civilians that have occurred since the "attempted" coup on February 1. The NUG reaffirmed that it will continue to work closely with the Court and all relevant stakeholders for benefits of the country and all people in Myanmar, the statement adds.

The parallel government launched by pro-democracy forces in Myanmar following a military coup to rival the ruling junta said Wednesday that it has established what it calls "People's Defence Force." The National Unity Government said the defense force aims to protect supporters and others from violence by the military, but did not say whether it would engage in an armed struggle with the military in earnest. The statement, issued under its prime minister's name, did not provide details about the force, either. The National Unity Government has set its sights on creating a federal army with armed ethnic minorities that are seeking greater autonomy and in conflict with the military in the Southeast Asian country. The National Unity Government said it has a responsibility to stop terrorism committed by the military and end a 70-year civil war, adding that it has already taken up arms and been fighting "terrorist" elements in multiple cities. The junta has issued arrest warrants against senior officials of the parallel government, saying they will be tried for treason, which is punishable by death. Violence against anti-coup protesters and others by Myanmar's security forces since the Feb. 1 coup had killed 769 people as of Tuesday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group monitoring the situation in Myanmar.