Tuesday, 21 Jan 2020
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi meeting Philippine diplomat Rosario Manalo, a member of the Independent Commission of Enquiry for Rakhine State, at the Presidential Palace in Naypyitaw. Myanmar's president on Tuesday (Jan 21) called for soldiers to be prosecuted for killing Rohingya civilians during a 2017 military campaign that forced more than 730,000 of the minority to flee to Bangladesh. - AP
YANGON: Myanmar's president on Tuesday (Jan 21) called for soldiers to be prosecuted for killing Rohingya civilians during a 2017 military campaign that forced more than 730,000 of the minority to flee to Bangladesh.
The announcement from President Win Myint’s office came after a nominally independent commission concluded soldiers had committed war crimes but not genocide, a finding that angered rights groups.
"The president concurs ... that there need to be further criminal investigations," the statement said.
But activists say low-ranking soldiers are being targeted to shield senior generals from international justice.
On Thursday, the UN’s top court may rule to impose urgent measures to prevent an ongoing alleged genocide against the Rohingya. It is one of three international lawsuits aimed at securing justice for the group.
The Myanmar government-appointed Independent Commission Of Enquiry (ICOE) said soldiers had used disproportionate force and committed serious violations including killings of "innocent villagers and destruction of their homes.”
But there was "insufficient evidence to argue, much less conclude” that the violence was carried out with genocidal intent, the commission said, contradicting the view of UN experts.
The four-member commission, headed by Filipino diplomat Rosario Manalo, said it travelled to Rakhine state for its probe but made no mention of visiting refugee camps in Bangladesh, where the majority of reports of atrocities have been collected.
"The Commission has not established facts, but merely handed over a thick pack of lies, distortions and denial for Myanmar to use at various international tribunals,” said Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition. - dpa/Asian News Network
Link :https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/01/21/myanmar-president-calls-for-prosecutions-for-rohingya-killings?fbclid=IwAR0LShTEsxkBqQQQgxH9qCVI78AVYnpL49ZuPDGCWjG7A_vmug_U6TCNgThe announcement from President Win Myint’s office came after a nominally independent commission concluded soldiers had committed war crimes but not genocide, a finding that angered rights groups.
"The president concurs ... that there need to be further criminal investigations," the statement said.
But activists say low-ranking soldiers are being targeted to shield senior generals from international justice.
On Thursday, the UN’s top court may rule to impose urgent measures to prevent an ongoing alleged genocide against the Rohingya. It is one of three international lawsuits aimed at securing justice for the group.
The Myanmar government-appointed Independent Commission Of Enquiry (ICOE) said soldiers had used disproportionate force and committed serious violations including killings of "innocent villagers and destruction of their homes.”
But there was "insufficient evidence to argue, much less conclude” that the violence was carried out with genocidal intent, the commission said, contradicting the view of UN experts.
The four-member commission, headed by Filipino diplomat Rosario Manalo, said it travelled to Rakhine state for its probe but made no mention of visiting refugee camps in Bangladesh, where the majority of reports of atrocities have been collected.
"The Commission has not established facts, but merely handed over a thick pack of lies, distortions and denial for Myanmar to use at various international tribunals,” said Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition. - dpa/Asian News Network
9Q
No comments:
Post a Comment