Episode: KPN 27-08-2024

UN urges end to impunity for crimes against Myanmar’s Rohingya population

The United Nations’ investigative body on Myanmar has called for an end to the “cycle of impunity” related to crimes committed against the country’s ethnic Rohingya minority.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), established by the UN in 2018, released a statement on Thursday urging an end to impunity for these horrific crimes.

“Seven years since the clearance operations against the Rohingyas, the cycle of impunity must be broken,” the statement read.

The IIMM was created to collect and analyse evidence of serious international crimes following a brutal military campaign against the Rohingya that began on August 25, 2017, in northern Rakhine State. This operation forced more than 700,000 Rohingyas from their homes in Rakhine, leading them to live as refugees in dire conditions in neighbouring Bangladesh.

This week marks seven years since the Myanmar security forces’ violent actions drove hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas—women, men, and children—to flee their homes, according to Nicholas Koumjian, head of the IIMM.

The Rohingyas have lost loved ones and property, and many have suffered horrific sexual violence. They now live in Bangladesh’s refugee camps, waiting for the day they can return home, Koumjian added.

“No one has been held accountable for these horrific crimes, which has emboldened perpetrators to continue their brutal actions without fear of consequences,” Koumjian stated.

“When crimes go unpunished, it can lead to further violence,” he continued. “This cycle of impunity must be broken.”

He also noted increased armed conflicts in Myanmar, including in Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army has been waging a major offensive against the country’s junta since late last year. This has left the Rohingya particularly vulnerable to violence, including killings, torture, rape, and arson attacks, he said.

The IIMM has initiated new investigations and is gathering evidence on all alleged perpetrators, regardless of their affiliations. Koumjian warned that atrocities are likely to persist until those responsible for earlier crimes are held accountable.

“International justice is often slow, which can be frustrating for victims who rightfully seek justice,” Koumjian said. “We are working towards presenting the evidence in a court of law, where perpetrators will have to answer for their actions.”

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