Argentine Trials on Rohingya Genocide Began 

20-12-2021

Idil Aydinoglu

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher,

Global Human Rights Defense.

On December 16, 2021, the Argentine Court heard testimonies of a representative Rohingyan group in the case examining the genocidal campaign and crimes of the Myanmar military against the Rohingyans, including mass and gross murders, sexual violence, physical attacks that occurred in 2017, which eventually led 800.000 Rohingyan to flee to Bangladesh. In the trial, one of the victims, Tun Khin, explained the forced exiles his family was subjected to for two generations and the consequent deprivations he had to endure. In August, the Court had remotely heard six women residing in Bangladeshi refugee camps who have testified on sexual violence and life losses they had to face. Outside of the Court, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK representatives, the plaintiffs of the case, underlined the newly imposed restrictions against Rohingyans in Myanmar and called for international legal scrutiny and a firm stance to prevent the situation before worsening. 

The Court had launched the proceedings on November 26, 2021, based on the universal jurisdiction principle. This principle provides authority to all states to investigate, prosecute and judge all persons who have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, or actions violating ius cogens norms, such as torture or enforced disappearances. The case is significant for being the first application of universal jurisdiction regarding the Rohingya Genocide. It is further critical since the leader of the incumbent junta of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, is among the authorities responsible for the crimes involved in the case.

Sources and further reading:

“Argentine Case into Crimes Against Rohingya Begins”, 16 December 2021, https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/85658-argentine-case-into-crimes-against-rohingya-begins.html  

“Historic Decision By Argentinian Courts To Take Up Genocide Case Against Myanmar”, 28 November 2021, https://www.brouk.org.uk/historic-decision-by-argentinian-courts-to-take-up-genocide-case-against-myanmar/