International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan has sought an international arrest warrant against Myanmar's military ruler Min Aung Hlaing for alleged persecution of the Rohingya population. He said on Wednesday (Nov 27) that the leader, who seized power in a 2021 military coup, was involved in crimes against humanity for oppressing the Rohingya. Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this news.
The ICC Prosecutor's Office said the investigation into crimes committed during the violence in Rakhine State in 2016-17 has been ongoing for five years. At that time, the Myanmar military carried out a terrible campaign against the Rohingya population. At least 700,000 Rohingya are forced to flee to neighboring Bangladesh as a result of killings, rape, torture and arson.
According to the prosecutor, from August 25 to December 31, 2017, this crime against humanity was organized with the cooperation of the Myanmar Armed Forces, National Police, Border Guard Forces and some local communities.
Statement of the ICC Prosecutor
Karim Khan said these crimes were committed in Myanmar and partly in Bangladesh. Min Aung Hlaing is guilty of persecution and deportation of Rohingya people.
He also said that ICC is working as a symbol of Rohingya people's determination and trust in their laws. More than a million Rohingya have been displaced by military operations.
ICC judges will now review the application and determine whether to issue an arrest warrant. The entire process may take several months to complete.
The situation in Myanmar and the role of China
Since the military coup, instability in Myanmar has steadily increased. Various armed groups fought against the military government and won in some areas. This fight has intensified especially in the areas bordering China.
According to analysts, China, despite being Myanmar's military's main arms supplier and largest trading partner, has expressed displeasure over its failure to control unrest and crime in the border area. Min Aung Hlaing made his first visit to China after taking power earlier this month.
Rohingya persecution and the UN investigation
UN investigators said the military operation against the Rohingya population was carried out with the intention of genocide. Myanmar, however, rejected the allegations.
In 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court of the United Nations, opened a genocide case filed by The Gambia against Myanmar. Apart from this, Canada and five European countries participated in this case.
Prosecutor's commitment
Karim Khan said in a statement from the Bangladesh refugee camp that the Rohingya have not been forgotten. They also have the right to protection of law.
He also said that although this is the first arrest warrant application against Min Aung Hlaing, more applications will be made in the future.
The ICC's first action against an official of Myanmar's military government. Similar arrest warrants were issued against Israeli and Hamas leaders months earlier.
