No impediment to opening trial against Myanmar: ICC

There is no problem in starting trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against those who committed atrocities against the Rohingya, even though Myanmar is not a party to the Court, a senior official said.

Phakiso Mochochoko, director of the ICC and a member of the visiting ICC delegation, made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Monday.

"If the ICC judge finds that in this case legal criteria are fulfilled and if the judge grants the prosecutor the permission to launch investigation, the fact that Myanmar is not a party to ICC will not create any hindrance," said Mr Mochochoko

The prosecutor is committed to making the persons accountable who were responsible for committing atrocities against the Rohingya, he added.

The ICC director made it clear the Court's prosecution is not against any state; rather it is against individuals who were responsible for the atrocities.

"The prosecution will collect evidence against those who were responsible, who were in command and who gave instructions for the crimes committed against the Rohingya," he said.

"There is no doubt that crimes were committed against the Rohingya. The prosecution will collect evidence to ensure a rational end to attribute the accountability to individuals," he said.

Responding to a question, he said, in this case allegations have been made and now the prosecutor will have to collect evidence to prove those allegations "beyond any reasonable doubt".

About their visit, he said that they are in the country to conduct operational assessment.

This is a very early stage, which will be followed by legal assessment, he said.

"Legal assessment is conducted to establish legal criteria and the trial starts when legal criteria are met," he said narrating how trial is initiated.

The delegation arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday and is scheduled to leave today (Tuesday).