The Media Review Network (MRN) is pleased to note that the latest UN Report says that top military personnel in Myanmar must be investigated for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Rakhine state.
Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been killed while 700 000 were forced to flee the violence in the country.
The UN fact-finding mission recommended that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief in the Myanmar military, together with 5 other generals be investigated and prosecuted for genocide against the Muslim minority group.
The Report also severely criticises Myanmar’s de facto leader and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, for failing to intercede to stop the carnage.
While the world was waiting for her reaction to the Report, she chose to address students at the University of Yangon on Poetry and literature, 24 hours after the publication of the Report. She did not mention the UN once during her discourse.
The Media Review Network urges the South African Government to insist that the UN refer this Report to the International Criminal Court to set up a mechanism to preserve the evidence for future reference. If and when national governments decide to use universal jurisdiction, this evidence may be convenient.
In view of the damning evidence against these generals and other perpetrators of these war crimes and genocide against the Rohingya Muslims and they remain untouchable, it will further erode the trust deficit that exists in international structures, i.e. the United Nations and the International Criminal Court.
Issued By:
Ibrahim Vawda
Media Review Network.
0722950088