Reuters
March 18, 2019
Myanmar's army has set up a military court to investigate its conduct during a crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in 2017 that forced more than 730,000 to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The court, comprising a major-general and two colonels, will investigate events in western Myanmar's Rakhine state in August 2017, the military said on Monday in a statement posted online.
The court will respond to allegations made by the United Nations and rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accusing security forces of mass killings, rape and arson.
Myanmar forces launched their offensive in Rakhine State in response to a series of attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts near the Bangladesh border.
A UN fact-finding mission last year said the military campaign was orchestrated with "genocidal intent" and recommended charging General Min Aung Hlaing and five other generals with the "gravest crimes under international law".
Myanmar has denied the accusations of murder, rape and other abuses by its forces though Min Aung Hlaing said last month "a number of security men may have been involved".
A previous military investigation in 2017 exonerated the security forces of any crimes.
The new court is "another bad faith manoeuvre" to fend off international pressure, said Nicholas Bequelin, Southeast Asia and Pacific Director of Amnesty International.
"The military stands accused of the gravest crimes under international law and has shown no sign of reform," he said.
"The idea that the Tatmadaw could investigate itself and ensure justice and accountability is both dangerous and delusional," Bequelin said, referring to the army.
The military information unit did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Myanmar is facing growing international calls for accountability over the Rakhine campaign.
The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into the violence, while a commission of enquiry formed by Myanmar is due to publish its findings this year.
Myanmar's army has set up a military court to investigate its conduct during a crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in 2017 that forced more than 730,000 to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The court, comprising a major-general and two colonels, will investigate events in western Myanmar's Rakhine state in August 2017, the military said on Monday in a statement posted online.
The court will respond to allegations made by the United Nations and rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accusing security forces of mass killings, rape and arson.
Myanmar forces launched their offensive in Rakhine State in response to a series of attacks by Rohingya insurgents on security posts near the Bangladesh border.
A UN fact-finding mission last year said the military campaign was orchestrated with "genocidal intent" and recommended charging General Min Aung Hlaing and five other generals with the "gravest crimes under international law".
Myanmar has denied the accusations of murder, rape and other abuses by its forces though Min Aung Hlaing said last month "a number of security men may have been involved".
A previous military investigation in 2017 exonerated the security forces of any crimes.
The new court is "another bad faith manoeuvre" to fend off international pressure, said Nicholas Bequelin, Southeast Asia and Pacific Director of Amnesty International.
"The military stands accused of the gravest crimes under international law and has shown no sign of reform," he said.
"The idea that the Tatmadaw could investigate itself and ensure justice and accountability is both dangerous and delusional," Bequelin said, referring to the army.
The military information unit did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Myanmar is facing growing international calls for accountability over the Rakhine campaign.
The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into the violence, while a commission of enquiry formed by Myanmar is due to publish its findings this year.
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