UN: Myanmar Should Be Investigated for Crimes Against Rohingya

Rasa - The UN human rights chief Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein called for all atrocities committed against Myanmar's Rohingya to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution.

News ID: 436796

Date: 10 March 2018 - 21:28

RNA - Zeid al-Hussein, who has previously described Myanmar's campaign against the Rohingya as a "textbook case of ethnic cleansing", also urged the country to allow monitors into restricted areas to investigate what he called suspected "acts of genocide", Al-Jazeera reported.

If they want to disprove the allegations of serious violations against the Rohingya, "invite us in" to Rakhine State, Zeid told a news conference on Friday in Geneva.

"We are saying there are strong suspicions that, yes, acts of genocide may have taken place. But only a court can confirm this," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights added.

Al-Hussein's comments come after Myanmar National Security Adviser Thaung Tun said on Thursday that "if it was genocide, they [Rohingya] would all be driven out".

He added that "We have often heard many accusations that there is ethnic cleansing or even genocide in Myanmar. And I've said it before and I'll say it again - it is not the policy of the government, and this we can assure you. Although there are accusations, we would like to have clear evidence."

Ro Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist, said the UN's announcement was "long overdue", adding that "It is very important to prosecute Myanmar leaders at the ICC and to end this ongoing genocide".

"More than a million Rohingya are seeking justice. The Myanmar military and government have been committing crimes against humanity and genocide for over 40 years. Not only against the Rohingya, but also against Kachin, Karen, Shan and other ethnic minorities, he stated.

"As a Rohingya activist, we want to see Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi in court at the Hague," he added.

The Rohingya, viewed by the UN and the US as one of the most persecuted communities in the world, have face widespread discrimination from Myanmar authorities.

Since August, more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh after the country's military cracked down on the minority in northern Rakhine State.

Those fleeing have brought with them accounts of rape, torture, arson and killings by Burmese soldiers and vigilante gangs.

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