Gambian and Canadian authorities on Wednesday urged all the countries of the world and the international community to extend all possible support to the Gambia on ensuring justice for the victims of genocide committed against the Rohingya community in Rakhine state by the Myanmar authorities.
They made the call in a reception hosted in honour of Gambian justice minister Abu Bacarr Tambadou and Canadian prime minister’s special envoy to Myanmar Bob Rae in The Hague. The embassies of Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia in The Hague jointly organised the reception, according to a press release.
Speaking at the reception, Tambadou said that the Gambia’s fight at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar was not a fight between two states rather a fight of the international community for humanity. He urged the international community to extend their political, diplomatic and moral support in ensuring justice for the Rohingya genocide victims.
Bob Rae, too, urged all the governments to extend their support to the Gambia. Bangladesh foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque, UAE ambassador to the Netherlands Hissa Abdulla Alotaiba, Saudi charge d’ affairs in The Hague Nasser Alghanoom, Malaysian charge d’ affairs in The Hague Mohd. Norhisyam Mohd. Yusof and OIC director Hassan Ahmed Abedin spoke at the reception.
Those attending the reception included ICJ president, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons director general, Gambian legal team to the ICJ, Dutch politicians and senior government officials, ambassadors and members of diplomatic corps.
Representatives of The Hague-based international organisations and of the OIC secretariat, members of international civil society organisations, Rohingya representatives and others also joined the reception. Bangladesh foreign secretary called upon them to raise their voice to ensure justice for the persecuted Rohingyas of Myanmar.
He lauded The Gambia for instituting the case against Myanmar at the ICJ under the 1948 Genocide Convention and thanked the OIC for backing The Gambia in this endeavour. The UAE ambassador, charges d’affaires of the KSA and Malaysia and OIC representative in their speeches praised Bangladesh for hosting persecuted Rohingyas and assured their support to the Gambia in the case against Myanmar at the ICJ.
Bangladesh ambassador to the Netherlands Sheikh Mohammed Belal received the guests at the reception on behalf of the host countries of Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Malaysia.