The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested an arrest warrant for Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military regime, for crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Hlaing is accused of orchestrating the deportation and persecution of nearly a million Rohingya people, leading to mass rapes, killings, and the destruction of homes. The prosecutor, Karim Khan, plans to request more warrants for other Myanmar leaders soon to hold them accountable for their actions.
The allegations stem from a military campaign that began in 2017 in response to an insurgent attack. Hlaing is accused of directing the armed forces to attack Rohingya civilians. Despite Myanmar not being a member of the International Criminal Court, investigations are being conducted with the cooperation of Bangladesh, where many Rohingya refugees have fled. The court’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda, had previously requested to open an investigation into the situation, allowing for the pursuit of crimes beyond forcible deportations.
The request for an arrest warrant comes amidst ongoing conflict in Myanmar, with a rebel group seizing a key trading town on the Chinese border, further destabilizing the military-led government. Additionally, the International Court of Justice has advanced a separate case against Myanmar for genocide against the Rohingya, with multiple countries supporting the proceedings. The international community continues to pressure Myanmar’s military regime for their actions against the Rohingya minority.
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