Episode: KPN 14-10-2026

UCR calls for independent investigation into alleged crimes by Arakan Army against Rohingya civilians

The United Council of Rohingya (UCR) has called for an independent and impartial investigation into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya civilians by the Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

The call was raised during a meeting between UCR representatives and Nicholas Koumjian, head of the United Nations-backed Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), at the UCR office in Cox’s Bazar on Friday morning, October 9, according to information released by the Rohingya organisation.

UCR raises allegations of abuses against Rohingya civilians

During the meeting, UCR leaders and executive committee members expressed concern over reported human rights violations affecting Rohingya civilians in Rakhine State.

The organisation urged that credible allegations of serious abuses be subjected to independent and impartial scrutiny and said anyone responsible should be held accountable regardless of ethnicity, position, organisation or affiliation.

UCR called for allegations involving the AA to receive independent scrutiny in the same way that allegations of serious international crimes involving Myanmar’s military have been investigated.

The allegations cited by UCR have not been independently verified by KPN, and the AA’s response was not included in the information released about the meeting.

IIMM discusses evidence-gathering mandate

According to UCR’s account, the IIMM delegation explained its work in collecting, preserving and analysing evidence concerning serious international crimes allegedly committed in Myanmar.

The IIMM was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018 to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar and to prepare files that may facilitate criminal proceedings in national, regional or international courts.

The mechanism itself does not have the authority to arrest, prosecute or try alleged perpetrators.

According to UCR, discussions also touched on international legal proceedings concerning crimes allegedly committed against the Rohingya, including proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Gambia’s genocide case against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and legal proceedings in Argentina.

Justice must go beyond documenting past crimes, UCR says

UCR said justice for the Rohingya should extend beyond documenting past violations and include establishing the truth, ensuring accountability and preventing further violence against civilians.

The organisation also highlighted what it described as a direct relationship between accountability and the prospects for the sustainable repatriation of Rohingya refugees currently sheltering in Bangladesh.

For any repatriation process to be viable, UCR said, return must be voluntary and take place under conditions that guarantee safety, dignity and respect for human rights.

The council stressed that Rohingya refugees would require credible guarantees concerning physical security, citizenship and fundamental rights before returning to Myanmar.

No announcement of separate IIMM investigation into AA

There has been no announcement, based on the information released about the meeting, that the IIMM has initiated a new or separate investigation specifically into allegations against the Arakan Army.

Nor does UCR’s account indicate that the mechanism made a specific new commitment to launch such an investigation during the meeting.

The distinction is significant because the IIMM’s mandate focuses on gathering, preserving and analysing evidence that can support criminal proceedings rather than directly prosecuting alleged perpetrators.

UCR’s appeal comes amid continuing concerns over the protection and security of Rohingya civilians in Rakhine State.

The information available so far concerning the October 9 meeting is based primarily on UCR’s account. The allegations against the AA remain allegations unless established through credible independent investigation or judicial proceedings, and the AA’s position on the specific claims raised by UCR was not provided in the original account.

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