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London, UK -- BHRN welcomes the 27 December United Nations General Assembly passage of a resolution condemning the brutal abuses against Burma’s Rohingya by state forces and encourages members to support solid actions to resolve the situation. The resolution, a non-binding condemnation, was supported by the vast number of states in the UNGA, with nine voting against it and 28 abstaining.
“The 134 nations who voted to condemn the abuses against the Rohingya by Burma’s security forces have sent a clear message that the world opposed such brutality and they must support that message with decisive action. These nations must also sanction and cut ties with the Burmese military and their business cronies. Similarly, their support for the cases against Burma at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are vital to ensuring that such abuses cannot continue,” Said BHRN’s Executive Director, Kyaw Win.
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London, UK -- While defending Burma and its military this week, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has also managed to further normalise violence and bigotry against Muslims in her country, putting them at greater risk. Suu Kyi’s arguments relied on justifying the majority of military actions, often referring to mass killings as military encounters even in cases where BHRN and other human rights organisations found there were no militants present. These massacres included gang rape, burning rape victim to death, the mass slaughter of unarmed men and boys, and the murder of children. By doing this she is presenting Rohingya civilians as militants by default simply for their identity. When Suu Kyi was presented with accounts of rape, torture, and mass killing, she was unfazed and unsympathetic. As the leader of Burma’s ruling party and a symbol of peace and democracy to her supporters, she has set an example of how to treat atrocities against Muslims with indifference.
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London, UK -- As testimony from The Gambia and Burma is set to begin over the coming days, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will find itself tested as well. In the face of overwhelming evidence of Genocide committed by the Burmese military against the Rohingya population, the court will have to ensure that justice can be delivered to the victims despite significant political hurdles. Major advancements in the case, like a referral to form a tribunal, will likely go through the United Nations Security Council where China and Russia have veto power and may act preemptively to protect Burma.
“This is a challenge between the International Justice System and the genocidal generals of Burma. The credibility of international justice system may find itself questionable should it fail to deliver any legal remedy to the Rohingya crisis. Because of this, nations must ensure they put humanity before their political entanglements. Veto power comes with great moral responsibility and the misuse of it to protect one’s political interest would be a devastating blow to the morality and credibility of the international community if it allowed the perpetrators of genocide in Burma to escape any consequences,” Said BHRN’s Executive Director Kyaw Win.
