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The news of the arrival in The Hague from the Netherlands of two army officers who confessed to the brutal persecution and genocide of the Rohingya by the Myanmar army has caused a stir around the world. Analysts see the incident as the beginning of a nightmare for the army, government and especially Myanmar State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to various sources, Mio Win Tun, 33, and Ya Ning Tun, 30, left the Myanmar army and surrendered to the Arakan Army, which is fighting for autonomy in Rakhine State. He then made a confessional statement. Later, the two army officers reached the border with Bangladesh. They recently arrived in The Hague.
The Hague in the Netherlands is home to the International Criminal Court (ICC for short) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ for short). The Gambia is suing Myanmar for violating the ICJ anti-genocide charter and the Rohingya genocide. On the other hand, under the direction of the ICC, its prosecution is investigating serious crimes, including the Rohingya genocide and mass displacement.
The two Myanmar armies are known to be within reach of both courts. In the coming days, their testimonies, confessions and potential data could be a turning point in ensuring accountability for the Rohingya genocide. There were also questions from various quarters about the success of the investigation against Myanmar, which has denied accusations of persecution, including the Rohingya genocide. But confessional statements by two members of the Myanmar military could change the whole situation.
Felim Kain, former deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch in New York, tweeted that the presence of Myanmar military officers at the ICC as witnesses to the Rohingya genocide was a nightmare for Aung San Suu Kyi. Because your government has been following the policy of denying and ignoring the ICC.
Matthew Smith, executive director of the human rights group Fortify Rights, said that the confession of two Myanmar soldiers for the first time about the atrocities committed against the Rohingya would be a severe blow to impunity for the country’s armed forces. “This is a historic moment for justice for the Rohingya and Myanmar people,” he tweeted.
Matthew Smith said Fortify Rights had analyzed the allegations after it was confirmed that no forced confessions had been obtained from the two Myanmar soldiers. “If it appears that the confession has been forced, Bangladesh will not approach the ICC or the ICC will bring anyone to The Hague,” he said. This is not how the court (CPI) works.
Meanwhile, Bob Ray, Canada’s former special envoy to Myanmar and now Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, said that the confession of two Myanmar soldiers about the genocide of Rohingya Muslims would have a major impact on the international criminal investigation led by country’s military on atrocities.
Ambassador Bob Ray said Canada would help take the next step, although that person could face serious consequences. But most importantly, they know the extent of their criminal activities and did not commit that crime on their own.
Mong Journey, a London-based human rights activist in exile in Myanmar, also highlighted the role of Arakan army allies in Rakhine state in ensuring accountability for Myanmar’s atrocities against the Rohingya.
The Arakan army detained the two members of the Myanmar army. He was the first to describe the persecution of the Rohingya. An Arakan Army spokesman, Khain Thu Kha, said: “The two armies have fled from the Myanmar army. We interview them about their experiences.
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