by Hafizur Rahman
Myanmar’s military junta has claimed it rescued 118 people from a sinking boat in the sea about 156 miles south of Yangon on 10 January. According to a military statement, the rescue was carried out by the navy and coast guard.
The military did not clarify the identity of the people on board. However, human rights groups believe they were Rohingya refugees attempting to flee Myanmar by sea in search of safety.
In previous cases, Rohingya who tried to leave Myanmar by boat were often arrested upon interception. Because of this history, human rights observers say the latest announcement should not be viewed as a humanitarian act, but rather as a propaganda effort.
Timing linked to ICJ hearings
Observers say the timing of the announcement is significant, as it comes while hearings are underway at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, where Myanmar is accused of committing genocide against the Rohingya people.
U Nay San Lwin, co chair of the Arakan Rohingya National Council, told Connect Burma that the rescue claim appears to be a public relations effort aimed at the international community during a period of heightened scrutiny.
He said that in practice, the military continues to detain Rohingya attempting to flee by sea. According to him, two boats were seized near Sittwe in December. One of the boats reportedly carried around 200 people. While children under the age of 18 were released, adults remain in detention.
Long history of propaganda
U Nay San Lwin said the military has a long record of using propaganda to improve its international image during moments of global attention. He added that decades of human rights abuses and acts of genocide against the Rohingya cannot be concealed through selective announcements.
“Genocide is a serious crime,” he said, adding that no public relations campaign can erase what has already happened to the Rohingya people.
The military statement said the rescued individuals would be handed over to authorities after verification and procedural checks.
ICJ hearing schedule
The ICJ hearings on the Rohingya genocide case are scheduled from 12 January to 29 January. The Gambia is presenting its arguments from 12 to 15 January, while Myanmar is set to respond on 16, 19, and 20 January.
From 21 to 23 January, the Court will hear witness statements and examine evidence. These sessions will be closed to the media and observers for security and privacy reasons. Additional hearings will continue until 29 January.
Myanmar’s military has announced that senior officials, including ministers and legal representatives, will attend the proceedings.
