ICC opens Myanmar Rohingya crimes probe
Wednesday September 19, 2018
The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into Myanmar's alleged crimes against its Rohingya Muslim minority.
There have been widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killing, rape and burning of land over many years.
On Tuesday, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she had decided "to carry out a full-fledged preliminary examination of the situation at hand".
Ms Bensouda said the initial probe, which could lead to a formal investigation by the ICC, could focus on a number of alleged "coercive acts" that possibly led to the "forced displacement" of Rohingya Muslims.
She said that these might include "deprivation of fundamental rights, killing, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, destruction and looting".
While Myanmar has not signed up to the ICC, judges have ruled that the court still has jurisdiction over any alleged crimes against the Rohingya, because Bangladesh is an ICC member.
ICC opens Myanmar Rohingya crimes probe
The move could pave the way to a full investigation into Myanmar's military crackdown that has seen thousands killed and over 700,000 displaced. Last month Myanmar rejected a UN report calling for Burmese military figures to be investigated f