Rohingya Muslims”/>International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan is seeking an arrest warrant for the head of Myanmar’s junta over the deportation and persecution of Rohingya Muslims.
According to prosecutor Karim, these crimes were committed from 25 August to 31 December 2017 by the Myanmar Armed Forces, and supported by the national police, border police and non-Rohingya civilians.
“After a thorough, independent and impartial investigation, my Office has concluded that there are sufficient grounds to believe that Senior General and Acting President Min Aung Hlaing, Supreme Commander of the Myanmar Defense Forces, bears criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity of deportation and the persecution of the Rohingya, carried out in Myanmar, and partly in Bangladesh,” said Karim Khan.
Khan emphasized that the application was submitted based on various evidence from a number of sources such as witness statements, documentary evidence, as well as legitimate scientific materials, photos and videos. He added this was the first application for an arrest warrant against a top Myanmar government official filed by the prosecutor’s office.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Rohingya. More than one million members of their community were forced to flee violence in Myanmar,” said Khan.
“We thank all parties who have provided testimony and support to my Office, those who have shared their stories, those who have provided us with information and materials,” he said. (Anadolu/Ant/P-3)
#ICC #Arrests #Myanmar #Junta #Persecution #Rohingya #Muslims
How likely is it that Myanmar’s military junta will cooperate with the ICC in light of this arrest warrant?
## Seeking Justice for the Rohingya: An Interview
**(Host)** Welcome back to the program. Today, we are discussing a significant development at the International Criminal Court. Joining us is Professor Anya Sharma, an expert in international law and human rights. Professor Sharma, the ICC prosecutor has just requested an arrest warrant for the head of Myanmar’s military junta. Can you tell us more about this?
**(Professor Sharma)** Certainly. This is a momentous step in the pursuit of justice for the Rohingya people. Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, has formally requested the court issue an arrest warrant for the leader of Myanmar’s military junta, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, for his role in the crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority. These atrocities, which took place in 2017, involved mass killings, sexual violence, and the systematic destruction of Rohingya villages, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
**(Host)** This has been a long time coming. What does this request for an arrest warrant mean for the Rohingya and for Myanmar?
**(Professor Sharma)** It’s a significant step towards accountability. The request sends a powerful message that the international community will not tolerate such egregious crimes. It offers a sliver of hope for the Rohingya, who have suffered unimaginable horrors and continue to live in precarious conditions. For Myanmar, it could mark a turning point. While the junta is unlikely to voluntarily hand over the general, this move puts pressure on them to cooperate with the ICC and potentially engage in meaningful dialog about addressing these horrific crimes.
**(Host)** Do you think this action will actually lead to an arrest?
**(Professor Sharma)** That’s a difficult question. Myanmar is not a member of the ICC, so enforcing the warrant directly will be challenging. However, the potential for international sanctions and diplomatic pressure cannot be ignored. The international community must now rally behind the ICC prosecutor and exert pressure on Myanmar to ensure that General Hlaing faces justice for his alleged crimes.
**(Host)** Professor Sharma, thank you for shedding light on this important development. We’ll be following this story closely.
**(Professor Sharma)** You’re welcome.
[[1](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/international-criminal-court-prosecutor-seeks-arrest-warrant-myanmar-military-2024-11-27/)]
