ICC Takes Aim at Myanmar Junta Chief Over Rohingya Crimes

Myanmar Junta Chief Faces Arrest Warrant for Crimes Against Humanity

The alleged crimes were committed between August and December 2017, resulting in the forced displacement...

International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar's military commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing, over alleged crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority.

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar's junta chief, Min Aung Hlaing, over alleged crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya Muslims.

Here's what we know about the ICC warrant request for Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing:

The International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has requested an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing, accusing him of crimes against humanity, specifically deportation and persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Khan's request is a significant step towards holding Myanmar's military leaders accountable for their actions. The ICC prosecutor stated that he intends to request more warrants for Myanmar's leaders soon, ensuring that the Rohingya are not forgotten and are entitled to the protection of the law.

The alleged crimes were committed between August and December 2017, resulting in the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. A panel of three ICC judges will now decide whether to issue the arrest warrant.

Myanmar's armed forces, the Tatmadaw, are accused of committing crimes against humanity, supported by the national and border police, as well as non-Rohingya citizens. This is according to the ICC prosecutor, who has applied for an arrest warrant against Myanmar's military commander-in-chief, Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing.

“This is the first application for an arrest warrant against a high-level Myanmar government official,” the prosecutor said, vowing that “more will follow.”

The prosecutor emphasized that this is the first application for an arrest warrant against a high-level Myanmar government official, with more to follow. This development comes after over 730,000 Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar's Rakhine State during the 2016-2017 period when the alleged crimes were committed.

Although Myanmar is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, the ICC has jurisdiction over alleged crimes that partially took place in Bangladesh, an ICC member country. This ruling was made in 2018 and 2019. The ICC's announcement comes on the heels of issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif.

Myanmar has been embroiled in a complex and escalating conflict. For decades, the country has grappled with insurgencies by various ethnic groups. However, the situation took a turn for the worse in 2021 when the military seized power, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

The conflict has intensified, with rebel groups making significant gains and taking control of large areas of territory. This shift in power dynamics has had severe consequences, including renewed attacks on the Rohingya minority. Rights groups have documented these attacks, which have exacerbated the already precarious situation of the Rohingya people.

The Rohingya traditionally inhabit the northwestern Rakhine State, where they coexist with the largely Buddhist Rakhine people. However, the state is now largely controlled by the Arakan Army rebel group, which is predominantly composed of ethnic Rakhine. The Rohingya have faced widespread discrimination and persecution in Myanmar for decades, with most being denied citizenship and basic human rights.