Myanmar Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) issued a joint letter on Monday calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expedite the issuance of the arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing “without delay.”
“This application represents a monumental step toward justice and accountability, not only for the Rohingya but for all peoples of Myanmar. We eagerly anticipate further applications for arrest warrants in the near future,” stated the letter signed by 174 CSOs, referring to ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s pledge to request more arrest warrants for Myanmar military leaders.
Min Aung Hlaing is alleged to have committed crimes against humanity for the Myanmar military’s role in the forced displacement of Rohingya from northern Arakan State into Bangladesh in 2016-17.
The letter was issued on the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide, which is observed annually on Dec. 9. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the 1948 U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
“The best way to honour the victims and survivors of genocide is to ramp up action to prevent this atrocious crime,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. The U.N. stated that since the 2021 military coup, 6,000 civilians have been killed and 27,797 have been detained by the regime in Myanmar.
Groups opposed to the 2021 coup, including the civilian-led National Unity Government (NUG), vowed to abide by an ICC arrest warrant and hand over Min Aung Hlaing for prosecution. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan gave an exclusive interview about why he’s pursuing an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing to DVB Chief Editor Aye Chan Naing on Dec. 9.
