Attachments
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF THE MECHANISM
In the four years since the Myanmar military overthrew the elected government, crimes against humanity and war crimes have continued unabated and unpunished. Every week we collect new reports of indiscriminate airstrikes; civilian deaths in artillery and drone attacks; the burning or destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and places of worship; and torture and abuse committed against those in detention, including sexual violence.
In January I visited Bangladesh, where I had the opportunity to thank the Government for consistently cooperating with the Mechanism and for facilitating our investigations. In Cox’s Bazar, I exchanged views with Rohingya activists. They expressed their deep concern regarding the current situation in Rakhine State following increased fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army. They told me that life in Rakhine State has become increasingly intolerable for the Rohingya that remain. While internet and phone blackouts and the security situation make it very difficult to obtain a clear picture of recent events, the Mechanism is collecting evidence concerning alleged crimes connected to the recent fighting, including testimonies from those with first-hand knowledge. The Mechanism will fulfill its mandate to collect evidence of such crimes regardless of the ethnicity, religion or political affiliation of the victims or perpetrators.
Many of the Rohingya I spoke to in Cox’s Bazar expressed feelings of hopelessness. They feel that the international community has forgotten about them and that there will never be justice for the crimes they suffered. But they also expressed gratitude for the work of the Mechanism and were happy to learn that there has been some progress in accountability efforts.
The Mechanism has shared vast amounts of evidence and analysis with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Federal Prosecutor in Argentina. In November 2024, the ICC Prosecutor requested an arrest warrant for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing – the person who holds the highest position in the Myanmar military – for the crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution of Rohingya. This month, the Federal Criminal Court of Argentina ordered the arrest of Min Aung Hlaing and 24 other suspects in order for them to appear in court to answer questions relevant to the investigation. I believe that these recent developments send a strong message to perpetrators that no one stands above the law.
I told the Rohingya I met that the tide could turn when we least expect it, as recent events in Syria demonstrate. The Mechanism is committed to collecting evidence of the most serious international crimes that have been committed in the country, so that this evidence is preserved and available to be used whenever there is a court of law ready and able to prosecute and punish those responsible.
Nicholas Koumjian