Myanmar’s government has said it will not respond to a request put forward by the International Criminal Court (ICC), regarding the alleged deportation of almost 700,000 people to Bangladesh last year, according to reports. A local newspaper quoted government spokesman U Zaw Htay as saying the “ICC has nothing to do with Myanmar”, and therefore it has no reason to respond. Earlier this month, the ICC had asked Myanmar to respond by July 27 to the deportation claims. Although Myanmar is not a member of the ICC, Bangladesh is and lawyers are trying to establish whether a referral can be made through Dhaka. Meanwhile, a statement by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said that “hate narratives from outside the country” have fueled tensions between Buddhists and Muslims living in Rakhine State. “The State Counsellor explained that the confidence building between the communities requires patience and time, and the United Nations needs to support in those efforts,” said the statement. “She stated that the mistrust between the two communities exists for decades.”