Argentina to open Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar

On the 26 November, the Second Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court in Buenos Aires confirmed that it would launch a case against senior Myanmar officials under the principle of universal jurisdiction, a media release issued by the BROUK said today.

Referring that Second Chamber it said the some crimes against Rohingya are so horrific that they can be tried anywhere.

BROUK first petitioned the Argentinean judiciary to open such a case against Myanmar military including Min Aung Hlaing and much of the current junta’s senior leadership – in November 2019

“This is a day of hope not just for us Rohingya but for oppressed people everywhere. The decision in Argentina shows that there is nowhere to hide for those who commit genocide – the world stands firmly united against these abhorrent crimes,” said Tun Khin, President of BROUK.

Applauding  the Argentinian judiciary for showing the courage and moral leadership to take up this case, he said justice for decades of dehumanising and killings of Rohingya in Myanmar is now within reach,” Tun Khin said, and continued:

This is not just about accountability for Rohingya, however, but for everyone who has suffered under the Myanmar military’s brutal reign. This includes the thousands killed, injured, tortured or disappeared since the coup in February this year, he continued.

In 2017, the release said, the Myanmar military and its proxies launched a vicious campaign in the region, committing the worst atrocities and driving close to 800,000 Rohingya to flee across the border into Bangladesh.

On 13 November 2019, BROUK petitioned Argentinean Courts to open an investigation into the role of Myanmar’s civilian and military leaders in committing genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.

The BROUK said under the principle of universal jurisdiction, such crimes can be investigated anywhere in the world regardless of where they were committed.