Atrocities Against Rohingyas: UN probe body draws up list of 100 suspects

The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar has prepared a list of over 100 suspects involved in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes since 2011 in the country’s Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states.

The list was initially published in September 2018 and had only six names of high-ranking Tatmadaw generals. In the latest update, the list included names of army, police and security personnel as well as members of civilian authorities, non-state armed groups and individuals.

The UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) received the updated list recently and would present a report to the UN Human Rights Council’s 42nd session in Geneva on Tuesday.

The report would be presented at a time when the Rohingya crisis was worsening.

Two attempts of Rohingya repatriation have already failed as the refugees refused to return, arguing that the situation in Rakhine was not safe and they did not receive confirmation that they would be granted citizenship and freedom of movement.

The report that was produced to IIMM said it found a strong inference of genocidal intent in Rakhine state and genocidal actions may recur.

Besides, Myanmar was failing in its obligation to prevent genocide, to investigate genocide and to enact effective legislation criminalising and punishing genocide, the report added.

Meanwhile, in the international front, the UN Security Council remained divided over any concrete action against Myanmar because of opposition from its veto members China and Russia.

There are efforts on part of Organization of Islamic Conference and Gambia that Myanmar’s case is taken to the International Court of Justice, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) is working to examine the forcible deportation of the Rohingya from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

The fact-finding mission report said despite these important efforts, the mission deeply regrets the continuing inability of the Security Council to act by referring the situation of Myanmar as a whole to the ICC.

The Council should impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans against alleged perpetrators of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, the report said.

The mission also called upon the Human Rights Council to continue to monitor the situation in Myanmar, including progress on accountability, to react promptly and decisively to early warning signs of impending human rights crisis, and to take necessary steps to prevent violations.

The crimes under international laws are also linked to the atrocities against the Rohingya since 2017 when more than 743,000 Rohingya fled a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine.