A man looks through newspapers with front pages leading with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the International Court of Justice hearing, near a roadside journal shop Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Yangon, Myanmar. Suu Kyi testified to the court that the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to neighboring Bangladesh was the unfortunate result of a battle with insurgents. She denied that the army had killed civilians, raped women and torched houses. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
The Associated Press
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Lawyers seeking to halt what they allege is ongoing genocide in Myanmar have slammed leader Aung San Suu Kyi's defense of her country's armed forces, saying Thursday that the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former pro-democracy icon chose to ignore 'œunspeakable'ť crimes targeting Muslim civilians.
The United Nation's top court is conducting emergency legal proceedings to determine if military personnel committed genocide against Myanmar's Rohingya minority in 2017. The African nation of Gambia, acting on behalf of a large group of Muslim countries, requested the International Court of Justice hearings and alleges that human rights violations against the Rohingya continue.
With maps, satellite imagery and graphic photos, Myanmar's accusers have detailed what they insist is a deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide - including the killing of civilians, raping of women and torching of houses - that forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
Gambia wants the U.N. court to take 'œall measures within its power to prevent all acts that amount to or contribute to the crime of genocide.'ť
The U.N. court proceedings in The Hague produced the astonishing spectacle on Wednesday of Suu Kyi, who was awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for championing democracy and rights under Myanmar's then-ruling junta, defending the army that kept her under house arrest for some 15 years.
'œWe heard nothing about sexual violence from Myanmar yesterday, not a single word about it,'ť lawyer Paul Reicher told the world court Thursday as Suu Kyi watched on impassively. 'œBecause it is undeniable and unspeakable, they chose to ignore it completely. I can't really blame them. I would hate having to be the one to defend it.'ť
Suu Kyi testified Wednesday that the exodus of Rohyinga was a tragic consequence of hostilities initiated by insurgents. The allegations of genocide and other crimes by the army stemmed from 'œan internal armed conflict started by coordinated and comprehensive armed attacks ... to which Myanmar's defense services responded," she said.
Suu Kyi also insisted that Gambia's legal representatives had painted 'œan incomplete and misleading factual picture'ť of what happened in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state in August 2017.
Reicher argued otherwise, saying: 'œThere is no reasonable conclusion to draw other than the inference of genocidal intent from the state's pattern of conduct.'ť
Referring to a U.N. fact-finding mission's report on military 'œclearance operations,'ť Reicher said: "Everyone was a target and no one was spared. Mothers, infants, pregnant women, the old and infirm. They all fell victim to this ruthless campaign.'ť
He also refuted Myanmar's claims that no mass graves were found.
'œTo be sure, Myanmar has not made it easier to find them" by denying access to suspect sites, Reicher said. 'œNevertheless, The Associated Press located at least five mass graves of Rohingyas.'ť
Suu Kyi was expected to take the stand later Thursday for final remarks before the hearing concludes. The court will likely issue a decision on Gambia's request for provisional measures relatively quickly, but the main case will probably take years to resolve.
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Cook reported from Brussels.
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi leaves the International Court of Justice after addressing judges on the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Aung San Suu Kyi defended Myanmar and denied genocide accusations in a case filed by Gambia at the ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, accusing Myanmar of genocide in its campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
Yasmin Ullah and other representatives of the Rohingya community take their seats for a "Right of Reply" meeting after two days of hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi defended Myanmar Wednesday and denied genocide accusations against the Rohingya Muslim minority in a case filed by Gambia at the ICJ, the United Nations' highest court. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi leaves the International Court of Justice after addressing judges on the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Aung San Suu Kyi defended Myanmar and denied genocide accusations in a case filed by Gambia at the ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, accusing Myanmar of genocide in its campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
Supporters greet Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi as she leaves the International Court of Justice after addressing judges on the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Aung San Suu Kyi defended Myanmar and denied genocide accusations in a case filed by Gambia at the ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, accusing Myanmar of genocide in its campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi addresses judges of the International Court of Justice for the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Aung San Suu Kyi will represent Myanmar in a case filed by Gambia at the ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, accusing Myanmar of genocide in its campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and legal advisor Prof. William Schabas of Canada, second left, admire the ceiling of the court room prior to addressing judges of the International Court of Justice for the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. Aung San Suu Kyi will represent Myanmar in a case filed by Gambia at the ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, accusing Myanmar of genocide in its campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
The Associated Press
Locals read through newspapers with fronts leading with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the International Court of Justice hearing outside a roadside shop Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Yangon, Myanmar. Suu Kyi testified to the court that the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to neighboring Bangladesh was the unfortunate result of a battle with insurgents. She denied that the army had killed civilians, raped women and torched houses. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
The Associated Press
People read newspapers with front pages leading with Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the International Court of Justice hearing near a roadside journal shop Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Yangon, Myanmar. Suu Kyi testified to the court that the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to neighboring Bangladesh was the unfortunate result of a battle with insurgents. She denied that the army had killed civilians, raped women and torched houses. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
The Associated Press