link to article:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/21/myanmar-rohingya-genocide-case
Summary: The International Court of Justice is beginning proceedings to hear Myanmar’s preliminary objections to the genocide case against them. These proceedings start Monday, and have been given urgency and have been very much complicated by the Military led coup in Myanmar about a year ago. The case of genocide against Myanmar was filed by Gambia with the backing of The Organisation for Islamic Cooperation following 700,000 Rohingya fleeing into neighboring country Bangladesh due to the Myanmar military burning villages and carrying out many horrible acts such as mass killings. A United Nations investigation found that these killings were done with genocidal intent and has stated that Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing and his five generals be prosecuted. After complications from the Coup on who was going to argue the preliminary objections in court it has now been decided and a court date has been posted.
Analysis: Genocide is a terrible crime and is a crime that has international repercussions. The UN and other peacekeeping organizations should not allow anyone to get away with genocide or killings with genocidal intent. Many times the UN has dodged their international responsibility to stop genocides by classifying these mass killings as “acts of genocide”. This can not go on any longer and the UN should get involved in all mass killings with genocidal intent whether it’s officially classified as a genocide or not. This case also deserves the urgency it’s receiving as everyday that the court day is pushed back is the possibility of more lives being lost to this corrupt, military led government.
How this relates to class: We see how the international court of justice does cases. We can also see here the lack of power that it has in how long it has taken to even get this case heard and dealt with. This also shows us how the UN plays its role in international law keeping. It does investigations and recommends actions but it can not act on it’s own.