Mizzima-Jan 15
A Gambian lawyer has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that two Buddhist monks, U Wirathu and Sitagu Sayadaw U Nyanissara, both closely linked to military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, played a role in supporting the Rohingya genocide, according to U Nay San Lwin, who attended the hearing and spoke to Mizzima. “Especially in terms of propaganda, how did they promote and encourage killings? For instance, Sitagu Sayadaw recounted a story in which a king killed 500,000 non-Buddhists, claiming they were not human because they were not Buddhists. How did the Patriotic Association of Myanmar (known as Ma Ba Tha) also spread propaganda and incite violence?” said U Nay San Lwin, co-chairman of the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC). The Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar at the ICJ in 2019 over the Rohingya genocide. The ICJ, the United Nations’ highest judicial body based in The Hague, will hold hearings on the Myanmar military’s genocide against the Rohingya minority from 12 to 29 January 2026. On the first day of the hearing, 12 January, Gambian lawyer Arsalan Suleman argued that the Rohingya are an indigenous people of Myanmar since ancient times, detailed the military’s human rights violations and killings against them, and highlighted how propaganda about the Rohingya was spread to the public. “This hearing has become particularly significant. We will be presenting submissions from witnesses, experts, and the military until Thursday, and if the proceedings conclude by the 29th, we could receive a court ruling this year. That makes this session especially noteworthy,” said U Nay San Lwin. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2026/01/15/30288
