ITLOS Issues Judgment in Bangladesh/Myanmar Delimitation Dispute

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered its judgment in the maritime delimitation dispute between Bangladesh and Myanmar on 14 March 2012. I have previously discussed the dispute here.

All the documents relating to the dispute can be found here. The final judgment can be found here (but, see the separate opinions also). An ITLOS press release succinctly summarizes the dispute and the judgment.

In reacting to the judgment, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh observed that the ruling constitutes “the equitable solution that Bangladesh has long desired, but was unable to obtain during 38 years of diplomatic stalemate preceding the lawsuit.” She went on to note:

But it is a victory for both States … because it finally resolves – peacefully and according to international law – a problem that had hampered the economic development of both States for more than three decades. We salute Myanmar for its willingness to resolve this matter by legal means and for its acceptance of the tribunal’s judgment.

See also: this report in The Irrawaddy by Joseph Allchin

Public Hearing: Bangladesh/Myanmar Delimitation Dispute at ITLOS

A recent Press Release by the ITLOS announces:

The public hearing in the Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal will open on 8 September 2011 at 10 a.m. Judge Jesus, President of the Tribunal, will preside. The public hearing will be broadcast live on the Tribunal’s website.

 

A public sitting of the Tribunal will be held at  10.30 a.m. on  Monday, 5 September 2011, at which Mr  Thomas Mensah, Judge ad hoc  chosen by Bangladesh, and Professor Bernard H. Oxman, Judge ad hoc chosen by Myanmar, will make the solemn declaration required under article 9 of the Rules of the Tribunal.

 

Written records of the oral hearings will be available on the ITLOS website here. The hearing will also be webcast live here, and, in case you miss it, a recording of the webcast will be available in the archives.

On the background of the dispute see this insightful note (The Maritime Boundary Dispute Between Bangladesh and Myanmar: Motivations, Potential Solutions, Implications, Asia Policy, No. 10, 103 (July 2010)) by Jared Bissinger.