Canada, Netherlands Will Assist In Case Against Myanmar For Genocide Against Rohingya

 In a Joint Statement (full text) issued on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministers of Canada and the Netherlands said that their governments plan to intervene in the genocide case that has been brought against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice. In the case, Gambia claims that Myanmar has taken and condoned actions against Rohingya Muslims that violate the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In an initial decision, the International Court imposed provisional measures on Myanmar.  In their Joint Statement, Canada and the Netherlands said in part:

The Gambia took a laudable step towards ending impunity for those committing atrocities in Myanmar and upholding this pledge. Canada and the Netherlands consider it our obligation to support these efforts which are of concern to all of humanity. As part of this intervention, Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands will assist with the complex legal issues that are expected to arise and will pay special attention to crimes related to sexual and gender-based violence, including rape.

Al Jazeera reports on these developments.

Gambia Sues Myanmar In International Court of Justice Over Rohingya Genocide

The International Court of Justice announced this week that the Republic of Gambia has instituted proceedings against Myanmar alleging actions taken and condoned against Rohingya Muslims violated the Genocide Convention. The full text of Gambia's Nov. 11 Application Instituting Proceedings is available from the ICJ's website. Myanmar Times reports on the filing of the case.

Gambia's President Declares It an Islamic State

On Friday, the President of the West African nation of Gambia proclaimed the largely Muslim country to be an Islamic state.  According to Al Jazeera, Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh said that his country "cannot afford to continue the colonial legacy." However Jammeh pledged to protect the rights of Gambia's Christian community-- about 8% of its population, and said there will be no mandates as to dress.  Opposition politicians say that the Constitution provides that Gambia is a secular state. Some commentators suggest that Jammeh's move is an attempt to create closer relations with the Arab world after losing Western support because of the country's dismal human rights record and rampant corruption.