NAYPYIDAW (MYANMAR) - Myanmar on Friday "resolutely" rejected a ruling by the International Criminal Court empowering the tribunal to probe alleged crimes against the Rohingya even though the Southeast Asian nation is not a member of it. "The decision was the result of manifest bad faith, procedural irregularities and general lack of transparency," the statement said, adding the country "resolutely rejects" the court ruling. Myanmar has come under intense global pressure in recent weeks over its crackdown on the Rohingya, a group it denies citizenship to. The ICC upped the ante on Thursday ruling that it had the power to investigate the forced deportations, even though Myanmar has not signed the statute underpinning the tribunal. The ICC ruling followed international outrage triggered by the sentencing of two Reuters journalists -- both Myanmar nationals -- on Monday to seven years in jail under a draconian state secrets act.

Source: Bangkok Post September 07, 2018 15:33 UTC