Press Releases

12/10/2019

At the International Court of Justice

Aung San Suu Kyi discredits herself completely (Press Release)

"Apparently, Aung San Suu Kyi thinks it is important for her to defend the crimes of her armed forces in the media," Delius stated. "On the international stage, however, she can no longer credibly distance herself from the rapes, murders, and mass expulsions." Picture: STP/2019

Today, Myanmar's Foreign Minister and State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi will appear at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Gambia filed a lawsuit due to the serious human rights violations in the country. "The atrocities committed by Myanmar's army against the Muslim Rohingya are undeniable and inexcusable," emphasized Ulrich Delius, Director of the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP). "The fact that Aung San Suu Kyi – who was once highly respected – wants to defend herself in court will jeopardize the last bit of respect for her earlier achievements.

It is unusual for a foreign minister of a country to speak on behalf of the defense in such a case, as this is usually the responsibility of Advocates General or Ministers of Justice. "Apparently, Aung San Suu Kyi thinks it is important for her to defend the crimes of her armed forces in the media," Delius stated. "On the international stage, however, she can no longer credibly distance herself from the rapes, murders, and mass expulsions.

Several United Nations institutions, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Mynamar, have described the crimes of Myanmar's army as cases of ethnic cleansing or genocide.

Header image: STP/2019