Blog Elements – Page 461

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Tatmadaw snubs UK’s Hunt, who stresses accountability

September 26, 2018/in News

Top Tatmadaw (military) officers refused to meet with British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who underscored the need for Myanmar to hold accountable those officers suspected of committing human rights abuses against Muslims in northern Rakhine State. Hunt arrived in Myanmar on Thursday for a two-day official visit, during which he met with State Counsellor Daw […]

UN: ‘Wanted for mass murder’ posters target Myanmar’s top general

September 26, 2018/in News

“Wanted” pictures of Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military who oversaw atrocities against the country’s Rohingya population, were posted around New York overnight, as part of Amnesty International’s campaign for accountability in Myanmar. World leaders, including representatives from Myanmar’s government, are meeting in New York this week for the 73rd session of the […]

Tatmadaw snubs UK’s Hunt, who stresses accountability

September 26, 2018/in News

UN: ‘Wanted for mass murder’ posters target Myanmar’s top general

September 26, 2018/in News

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Tatmadaw snubs UK’s Hunt, who stresses accountability

September 26, 2018/in News

Hunt arrived in Myanmar on Thursday for a two-day official visit, during which he met with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and visited northern Rakhine.

Hunt underscored the need for accountability and justice for any atrocities that have been perpetrated in the restive state. He said that if there is no accountability and justice in Myanmar, then the international community needs to look at all options, including referring the case to the International Criminal Court.

‘’The latter would need the support of the (UN) Security Council, which it may not get, so we need to look at other options too,” Hunt said.

He confirmed that he will discuss what the international community should do with the Rakhine issue at the UN general assembly.

‘’Britain can’t act alone. We need to act in concert with other countries – we are a believer in the international rules-based order. It’s incredibly important for all of us that the perpetrators face justice,’’ Hunt said.

On Monday, the UN general assembly’s high-level meeting and general debate begins, and the Rakhine issue is likely to be among the top agenda items.

Earlier this month, a UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar released a report that called for Myanmar military leaders to be investigated for crimes against humanity. Most of UN’s member countries have backed its proposals, and Hunt has said Britain will use all the tools at its disposal to try to make sure there is accountability.

‘’What is essential now is that the perpetrators of any atrocities are brought to justice, because without that, there can be no solution to the huge refugee problem,’’ Hunt said.

President’s Office spokesperson Zaw Htay talks about the northern Rakhine crisis during a press briefing on Friday. Photo – EPA

U Aung Myo Min, executive director of social advocacy group Equality Myanmar, said Myanmar can have wider access to the international community through the ICC.

“The government should consider whether to continue placing itself into a tighter situation,” he said.

He added that the government should start cooperating with the international missions in dealing with the Rakhine crisis.

U Thein Than Oo, a lawyer, said the government took the wrong approach of making blanket denials when faced with the possibility of an ICC referral by the international community.

“Under the procedures of the UN, it’s not easy for the case to reach the ICC. However, the situation is in flux, so the government needs to be careful,” he said.

However, U Nandar Hla Myint, spokesperson of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, described Hunt’s actions as interference in the country’s internal affairs. ‘’We reject what [Hunt] said when he met with the State Counsellor. This is interference,” he said.

He added that the Rakhine crisis is an internal matter that must be solved through cooperation between the government, military and political parties under the country’s laws.

At a press conference on Friday, President Office’s spokesperson U Zaw Htay said the fact-finding mission’s report on northern Rakhine was issued unilaterally, was aimed at the dissolution of Myanmar, and did not follow accepted international procedures.

“Tremendous pressure is being put on the government, which might hinder our democratic transition,” said U Zaw Htay.

On August 25 last year, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launched deadly attacks on government security outposts in northern Rakhine, prompting a brutal military crackdown that was considered by the international community as “overkill.” It accused government forces of perpetrating massive human rights abuses against the Muslim minority in the state.

The United Nations and other international humanitarian agencies estimated that the crackdown forced over 700,000 Muslims from northern Rakhine to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.

Myanmar Times

UN: ‘Wanted for mass murder’ posters target Myanmar’s top general

September 26, 2018/in News

World leaders, including representatives from Myanmar’s government, are meeting in New York this week for the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is responsible for overseeing crimes against humanity in Myanmar.

Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

Accountability for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya and Myanmar’s other ethnic minorities is expected to be high on the agenda. The UN Human Rights Council is currently discussing the establishment of an evidence preservation mechanism which could see Min Aung Hlaing and other suspected perpetrators come closer to prosecution.

Amnesty International’s posters have been plastered on sidewalks in 30 locations around the city, including iconic landmarks.

“Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is responsible for overseeing crimes against humanity in Myanmar. He was top of the chain of command during the Myanmar army’s vicious campaign of murder, rape, torture and village burning which forced hundreds of thousands from their homes,” said Kumi Naidoo, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“His army has also committed war crimes against ethnic minority civilians in northern Myanmar, where conflicts continue to rage. We want world leaders to have his face in their minds this week when they discuss next steps for accountability.

“For too long Min Aung Hlaing has managed to stay out of the spotlight and escape international attention, despite overseeing the horrendous crimes against the Rohingya. It’s time to expose those responsible for these atrocities, and make sure they are held to account.”

The posters put up around New York overnight read: “Wanted for mass murder – Don’t let him get away with it”, and also include harrowing quotes from Rohingya survivors.

“I heard the baby cry, then they shot, then nothing,” one Rohingya woman, 45, said. She was referring to her seven-month-old granddaughter who was murdered by soldiers in August 2017.

More than 80% of northern Rakhine State’s Rohingya population have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh to seek safety since military operations began on 25 August 2017.

Command responsibility

Amnesty International’s research shows that many of the crimes committed against Rohingya women, men and children were planned and orchestrated at the highest levels in the Myanmar military. At the very least, the Myanmar military’s command structure means it is inconceivable that Min Aung Hlaing and other senior military officials would not have been aware of what was happening on the ground in northern Rakhine State, yet they failed to take action to prevent or stop the crimes, or to punish those responsible.

In fact, top military commanders, including Min Aung Hlaing, travelled to the region before or during the ethnic cleansing campaign to oversee parts of the operation and documented their visits in Facebook posts.

World leaders must commit Min Aung Hlaing’s face to memory,

Kumi Naidoo

Amnesty International also identified specific military units operating under the direct command of the Senior General’s War Office which were on the ground in northern Rakhine State from August 2017 and responsible for many of the appalling abuses against the Rohingya. Amnesty International has also implicated these same units in war crimes and other human rights violations against ethnic minority civilians in Kachin and Shan States in northern Myanmar.

Amnesty International is calling for the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court without delay.

“World leaders must commit Min Aung Hlaing’s face to memory,” said Kumi Naidoo.

“He and his fellow commanders were in command of forces that committed shocking crimes under international law – it’s time they faced justice.”

Amnesty International

Spring Revolution

Human Rights Situation weekly update (September 8 to 14, 2024)September 20, 2024 - 2:30 pm
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Sep 8 to 14, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in the Magway Region, Shan State, Kachin State, and Rakhine State from September 8th to 14th. Military Junta arrested the civilians as human shields from Mindon Township, Magway Region, and Salingyi Township, […]
Human Rights Situation weekly update (September 1 to 7, 2024)September 13, 2024 - 5:08 pm
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Sep 1 to 7, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in the Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, and Shan State from September 1st to 7th. The Military Junta threatened that they would launch airstrikes on the townships which they lost. The […]
Human Rights Situation weekly update (Aug 22 to 31, 2024)September 7, 2024 - 4:09 pm
Human Rights Violations took place in States and Regions from Aug 22 to 31, 2024 Military Junta Troop launched airstrikes and dropped bombs in the Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Mandalay Region, Tanintharyi Region, and Shan State from August 22nd to 31st. Head of Prison which works under Military Junta, tortured and blackmailed the […]

Multimedia

What is the Truth (Cartoon Animation)May 31, 2024 - 4:58 pm
What is Transitional Justice (Cartoon Animation)May 3, 2024 - 8:38 am
Close the SkyApril 11, 2024 - 7:45 am
Forced MarriageJanuary 9, 2024 - 2:12 pm

ND Burma

ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

ND Burma

Recent Posts