London, UK -- Burma’s self-appointed panel to investigate crimes against the Rohingya, the so-called Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE), has released their conclusions that they found evidence of war crimes committed by certain soldiers but no evidence of genocide. The ICOE has been suspected from its formation of serving the purpose of allowing Burma to investigate and exonerate itself and their supposed findings prove these suspicions to be correct.
“The ICOE was established for the purpose of undermining legitimate efforts to seek out the truth of what happened to the Rohingya since the Military unleashed a genocidal campaign against them and these findings attempt to do exactly that. By blaming low ranking soldiers for a campaign coordinated from the very top of the Burmese Military, Burma thinks they can absolve themselves of any wronging and they are attempting to do so only days before the International Court of Justice rules on provisional measures to protect the Rohingya from the Military. It would be extremely foolish to think that is a coincidence,” Said BHRN’s Executive Director, Kyaw Win.
The ICOE claimed that they found no evidence of genocidal intent against the Rohingya, claiming the military campaign against the Rohingya was in response to insurgent attacks where some lower-ranking figures in the military used disproportionate force or committed war crimes. The analysis intentionally ignores evidence that these attacks were coordinated from the highest levels, causing even the United States to utilise sanctions against high ranking military figures in response. The ICOE also focuses only on the events following the Military’s campaign in 2017 but omits the systematic abuses and expulsion of Rohingya for decades prior.
Another matter of concern is that those accused of crimes by the ICOE will be held accountable in Military courts which will lack the necessary transparency for justice. If guilty parties are found they are likely to have their sentences shortened with future pardons, as was the case with 7 soldiers pardoned in April of 2018 after less than a year of being found guilty of a massacre of 10 Rohingya civilians in Inn Din Village.
The international community must not take these findings as serious evidence, especially as cases at the ICJ and ICC are ongoing which have the independence and integrity to legitimately seek out the truth of the military’s crimes and hold those responsible or them accountable. Burma’s efforts to undermine these cases should instead be taken as a warning that Burma does not take the international community seriously and will deploy all methods at their disposal to evade accountability.
Background on the Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
BHRN is based in London and operates across Burma/Myanmar working for human rights, minority rights and religious freedom in the country. BHRN has played a crucial role in advocating for human rights and religious freedom with politicians and world leaders.
Please contact:
Kyaw Win
Executive Director
Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
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T: +44(0) 740 345 2378
BHRN's Press Release PDF
