MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF THE MECHANISM
The conflict in Myanmar continues to intensify and spread across the country, resulting in ever-increasing suffering inflicted upon the civilian population. People of various ethnic groups and religions have been injured and killed in their homes, schools and places of worship. Villages have been burned and houses destroyed. Thousands have been arrested and killed or tortured in detention. In the past six months, over three million people were forced to flee their homes.
The Mechanism is closely monitoring attacks on civilians across the country, including in the recent upsurge in fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. We are speaking to victims and witnesses of violent events and analyzing information that we have received to assess if crimes against humanity or war crimes have been committed. From the violence and destruction of property in Buthidaung Township to the alleged torture and killing of more than 70 people in Byaing Phyu village, we are looking at potential crimes committed regardless of the ethnic group or affiliation of the perpetrators or the victims.
Conducting our investigations without access to crime scenes is an enormous challenge. The Myanmar military has ignored numerous requests from the Mechanism for access to the country and specific information. We recently issued a statement on our latest request for information concerning the capture and burning alive of two young men in Magway Region, in the hope that publicizing a request about such a heinous crime might lead to a response.
Without access to Myanmar and with regular internet blackouts that restrict the flow of information from affected areas, the Mechanism relies to a great extent on courageous civil society organizations to provide us with information about crimes and connect us to witnesses. At our second Civil Society Dialogue last month, representatives of organizations shared their challenges securing funding, recruiting staff and dealing with their own trauma amid increased threats to their security. We noted their recommendations on how the Mechanism could better respond to the realities on the ground, and we are currently assessing what modifications we might make to our working methods.
The Mechanism is grateful to everyone who shares evidence and testimonies with us. We use this information to objectively investigate and to build criminal cases against those perpetrators most responsible for serious international crimes. This includes crimes committed by Myanmar security forces and members of armed groups. Just as we are sharing evidence with those working on ongoing cases concerning the Rohingya at the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and in Argentina, I am optimistic that the evidence we collect and analyze of other crimes will one day be used to bring justice for the people of Myanmar.
Nicholas Koumjian