ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrant for Myanmar's Military Chief
Facts
- International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan has requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing, citing alleged crimes against humanity related to the deportation of Rohingya Muslims between August and December 2017.[1][2]
- The military campaign allegedly forced more than 700K Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh amid widespread reports of killings, torture, rape, and arson, with UN investigators determining the actions were carried out with "genocidal intent" — a charge that Myanmar denies.[3]
- While Myanmar isn't a member of the ICC, the court claimed jurisdiction because some alleged crimes, particularly deportation, occurred partially in Bangladesh, which is a member state of the international court.[4][5]
- The prosecutor's office conducted a five-year investigation into the alleged crimes, examining evidence of attacks allegedly by Myanmar's armed forces, national police, border guard police, and non-Rohingya civilians against the Rohingya population.[6][7]
- Currently, approximately 1M predominantly Muslim Rohingya live as refugees in Bangladesh, including about 740K who fled during 2017. Most have reportedly been denied citizenship and are said to face widespread discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.[8]
- The request for an arrest warrant will be reviewed by a panel of three ICC judges, who will evaluate the evidence and determine whether to issue the warrant, with no specific deadline for their decision. Myanmar has criticized the decision, claiming that it maintains a policy of "peaceful coexistence."[6]
Sources: [1]Middle East Eye, [2]The Washington Post, [3]Al Jazeera, [4]Associated Press, [5]BBC News, [6]Reuters, [7]Human Rights Watch and [8]Breitbart.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by The New York Times and Amnesty International. The ICC's action represents a crucial step toward justice and accountability for the Rohingya people, demonstrating that military leaders aren't beyond the reach of international law. This decision sends a strong message to the world that these crimes haven't been forgotten and can potentially help end the impunity Myanmar's junta has enjoyed.
- Narrative B, as provided by The Global New Light of Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Myanmar due to a campaign launched against Rohingya militants, not against civilians. There's no concrete evidence to suggest Hlaing ordered the deportation of Rohingyas to Bangladesh. Instead of helping the Junta in its peace efforts, the ICC has brought forward frivolous charges that will destabilize the country.