UNION OF MYANMAR: Shameful anniversary highlights lack of accountability for atrocities against Rohingya

29 Aug 2018

[International Secretariat]

Region: UNION OF MYANMAR

Topic: Indigenous people Minority group

More than 700,000 Rohingya women, men, and children fled from northern Rakhine State to neighbouring Bangladesh after 25 August 2017, when the Myanmar security forces launched a widespread as well as systematic assault on hundreds of Rohingya villages.

“This anniversary marks a shameful milestone. By its continued failure to hold to account those responsible for crimes against humanity, the international community risks sending the message that Myanmar’s military will not only enjoy impunity but will be allowed to commit such atrocities again.
“A year on, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya women, men, and children are still in limbo in refugee camps in Bangladesh. As long as their tormentors in Myanmar’s security forces remain at large, any notion that Rohingya refugees can have a safe, dignified and voluntary return home is farcical.”

Long-standing apartheid conditions

In June 2018, UN agencies and the government of Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding, described as a ‘first step’ towards the repatriation of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh. Although a near-final draft has been leaked, the final agreement has never been made public.

But serious reforms are needed in northern Rakhine State for any future repatriations to be viable.
“Having Rohingya refugees return from overcrowded camps in Bangladesh to what has been essentially an open-air prison in Rakhine State is not a viable option. States around the world must push for Myanmar to dismantle its system of apartheid and allow Rohingya and all other ethnic minorities to enjoy their rights to nationality and freedom of movement,” said Tirana Hassan.

UN Fact-Finding Mission’s report

The upcoming report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar will be an important addition to the existing mountain of evidence.
Lack of political will, not a lack of evidence, is at the root of the international community’s inaction. It is undeniable that Myanmar’s security forces committed crimes against humanity against the Rohingya. But while the international community drags its feet deciding what to do about it, vital evidence risks disappearing or being destroyed.

No brushing atrocities under the carpet

At the end of May 2018, in response to mounting international pressure, the Myanmar authorities announced an Independent Commission of Enquiry to investigate human rights violations in Rakhine State. Previous commissions have been little more than sham investigations to whitewash military atrocities. At a press conference earlier this month, the Commission’s Chairperson stated that there would be no “finger-pointing”, “blaming” or “saying ‘you are accountable’” – a clear indication that this latest body will be no different.

“Myanmar’s authorities must not be allowed to use a national commission of enquiry to brush atrocities against the Rohingya under the carpet. We’ve been down that road before and it’s clear that they are trying to buy time until the world moves on,” said Tirana Hassan.

Critical moment for accountability

In its June 2018 report, Amnesty International named 13 individuals – including Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing – who played key roles in the atrocities against the Rohingya.
The organization recommended concrete steps to hold them and others accountable – including a UN Security Council referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court and the establishment of an international mechanism to collect and preserve evidence for use in future criminal proceedings.

While the European Union, Canada and the United States have announced targeted sanctions against some of the alleged perpetrators in recent months, much more needs to be done urgently at the UN to ensure accountability.

“When the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly meet next month, strong, decisive action is needed to pave the way for justice for the Rohingya and for ethnic minorities in northern Myanmar. The UN Security Council must urgently refer the situation to the International Criminal Court – the threat of veto power is no excuse for inaction. This critical opportunity cannot be missed,” said Tirana Hassan.

24 August 2018
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE