UNITED STATES on Monday said that Myanmar may have chemical weapons stockpiled since 1980s although the country officially joined Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 2015. Myanmar is about to face legal action in at least three courts, including the International Court of Justice, for committing genocide against Rohingya ethnic community. The global community is eagerly waiting to see what action the international courts take against this country for its non-stop atrocities against the own minority population. There is a doubt that Myanmar may still possess chemical weapons due to a historic facility as mustard gas was produced there. Washington had information that Myanmar had a chemical weapon-oriented plan in the 1980s that included a sulphur-mustard development programme and chemical weapons production facility. Based on available information, the US certifies that Myanmar is non-compliance with the CWC, for its failure to cancel its past chemical weapons programme and destroy its chemical weapons facility.
In 2013, a parliamentary report said Myanmar police had used phosphorus the previous year against protesters at a copper mine in the north of the country, causing severe burns to victims. In July 2014, five journalists from Myanmar were sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for publishing articles accusing the military of producing chemical weapons. The previous year, Myanmar’s then quasi-civilian government denied using chemical weapons against Kachin ethnic minority rebels during clashes in the country’s north. In 2005, London-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide accused the former military junta of using chemical weapons against Karen rebels also. Civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is due to travel to the International Court of Justice in The Hague in December to lead the defence in a genocide case against Myanmar. She has chosen to turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in her country. The former iconic democratic leader has no way but to defend the allegation of stocking chemical weapons if she wants to retain her political power.
We think, it’s the proper time for Bangladesh to initiate a diplomatic war against Myanmar capitalising the chemical weapon issue with a view to ensuring its punishment not only for violation of CWC but also conducting genocide against Rohingya people.
