Prayers for justice in dealing with the case filed in ICJ

In responding to the application filed by Gambia, a country in West Africa, accusing Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia, of failing to abide by the UN Genocide Convention, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has decided to defend Myanmar at the ICJ from 10 to 12 December at The Hague, the Netherlands, and for this, we all pray for justice and for truth to be revealed in the case.

As she has decided to take the leadership role in defending this case, with responsibility and accountability, we pray for the Light of Wisdom and the Grace of God to be upon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and to grant her the Light of Wisdom to enable her to make the correct decisions.

We also pray that the Judges of the ICJ follow the principal function of its statute, which is to safeguard the peace and security of the countries of the world, and in the independent exercise of their duties, the judges, without representing any person, dispatch their duties with honesty, integrity, loyalty and impartially in line with the international rules and regulations.

Furthermore, we pray that, in their efforts to seek justice and in attempting to show those who are guilty of crimes, the international community might not unwittingly end up either putting the blame on those not actually involved or penalizing the citizens of Myanmar in general or resorting to ways and means which would hurt the poorest of the poor.

Since genuine peace can only be attained by accepting and acknowledging Justice and Truth, I sincerely hope that this case will have an effect on the internal unity and the peace process of Myanmar.

Cardinal Charles Bo
 Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Yangon