27 May -- London, UK -- On 23 January the International Court of Justice agreed to several provisional measures against Burma in response to allegations of genocide. Among those measures was one requiring Burma to report on their progress four months after the hearing, to demonstrate the steps they’ve taken to protect the minority Rohingya and stop any activity that would contribute to genocide. With the date now arrived it is clear Burma has done little to nothing to protect the minority and in many instances the situation has gotten worse as the conflict between the Burmese Army and the ethnic insurgent group, Arakan Army, escalates at severe cost to civilians.
“As the Burmese Government lies to the world about steps they’ve taken for the vulnerable they continue to suffer in plain sight. The provisional measures imposed by the ICJ can only be enforced with the support of the international community and now it is more important than ever for them to do so. The arbitrary arrest, torture, and murder of civilians has continued in Rakhine State and are now affecting ethnic Rakhine as well as Rohingya. Burma may claim a great deal of progress has been made, but their empty words cannot hide their continuing crimes,” said BHRN Executive Director, Kyaw Win.
While Burma issued presidential directives to prevent genocide and avoid the destruction of evidence, the situation on the ground has shown no effort to put this directive into action. The horrors that sparked the investigations into genocide in the first place are still ongoing to this day.
The military campaigns against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017 rightfully drew condemnation internationally as nearly a million civilians had to flee the state’s genocidal onslaught. But international criticism has quieted despite a new conflict raging in the state which has seen numerous civilian casualties and human rights abuses. These abuses include shelling of civilian areas, arbitrary detention and torture resulting in death, and the intentional destruction of civilian property.
On a day when Burma is expected to explain what they’ve done to improve human rights in Rakhine State, the world must ask why Burma has escalated its attacks on civilians. BHRN calls on the US, UK, EU, and ASEAN nations to impose further targeted sanctions on Burma for non- compliance with the ICJ’s provisional measures and to use the threat of further isolation if abuses continue and those responsible for previous crimes are not held accountable.
Abuses Continue Four Months After ICJ Measures on Burma
