Rallies in support of Aung San Suu Kyi were held in four Chin State townships on Tuesday, as the State Counsellor heads Burma’s defense against charges of genocide and crimes against humanity at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague this week.
The events in Hakha, Falam, Mindat and Matupi towns were all held at 9:00 a.m. on December 10, and were attended by government staff, students, and members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Participants held signs stating that they “stand with” Aung San Suu Kyi.
Representing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African nation of Gambia filed a case against Burma charging the state with committing genocide against the Rohingya community in Rakhine State during a violent military campaign in 2017 that displaced some 700,000 people. Hearings are taking place from December 10-12 at the ICJ in the Netherlands.
“NLD members organized the rally. They invited government officials. People don’t know whether the rally is supporting Daw Suu or if it is against her… people don’t understand why the rally is being held. It’s not a public campaign,” Salai Bawi Uk Thang, editor of the Hakha-based The Chinland Post, told Khonumthung News.
The Hakha rally had some 200 people in attendance, he added.
“Students in downtown Mindat and nearby the town attended the rally. Students from five private schools and all of the high school students attended the rally,” Salai Mang Oam, who is working with a Mindat-based civil society organization, said.