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Myanmar Rohingya: UN says military leaders must face genocide charges Myanmar Rohingya: UN says military leaders must face genocide charges
(35 minutes later)
A UN report has said top military figures in Myanmar must be investigated for genocide in Rakhine state and crimes against humanity in other areas.A UN report has said top military figures in Myanmar must be investigated for genocide in Rakhine state and crimes against humanity in other areas.
The report, based on hundreds of interviews, is the strongest condemnation from the UN so far of violence against the Rohingya. The report, based on hundreds of interviews, is the strongest condemnation from the UN so far of violence against Rohingya Muslims.
The army's tactics are "consistently and grossly disproportionate to actual security threats", it says.The army's tactics are "consistently and grossly disproportionate to actual security threats", it says.
It names six senior military figures it believes should go on trial. At least 700,000 Rohingya fled violence in Myanmar in the past 12 months.
It is also fiercely critical of Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, for failing to intervene to stop the violence. The report names six senior military figures it believes should go on trial and sharply criticises Myanmar's de facto leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, for failing to intervene to stop attacks.
The report calls for the case to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). It calls for the case to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The government has consistently said its operations targeted militant or insurgent threats. The government has consistently said its operations targeted militant or insurgent threats but the report says the crimes documented are "shocking for the level of denial, normalcy and impunity that is attached to them".
But the report says the crimes it has documented are "shocking for the level of denial, normalcy and impunity that is attached to them". "Military necessity would never justify killing indiscriminately, gang raping women, assaulting children, and burning entire villages," the report says.
"Military necessity would never justify killing indiscriminately, gang raping women, assaulting children, and burning entire villages." The UN mission did not have access to Myanmar for its report but says it relied on such sources as eyewitness interviews, satellite imagery, photographs and videos.
'A searing indictment' The UK has called for perpetrators of crimes to be punished and Facebook removed pages associated with the Myanmar military in response to the accusations.
Harder to dismiss now
Jonathan Head, BBC Southeast Asia correspondentJonathan Head, BBC Southeast Asia correspondent
Genocide is the most serious charge that can be made against a government, and is rarely proposed by UN investigators. Genocide is the most serious charge that can be made against a government and is rarely proposed by UN investigators.
That this report finds sufficient evidence to warrant investigation and prosecution of the senior commanders in the Myanmar armed forces is a searing indictment, which will be impossible for members of the international community to ignore. That this report finds sufficient evidence to warrant investigation and prosecution of the senior commanders in the Myanmar armed forces is a searing indictment which will be impossible for members of the international community to ignore.
However taking Myanmar to the ICC, as recommended by the report, is difficult. It is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the court, so a referral to the ICC would need the backing permanent five Security Council members - and China is unlikely to agree. However taking Myanmar to the ICC, as recommended by the report, is difficult. It is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the court, so a referral to the ICC would need the backing of the permanent five Security Council members - and China is unlikely to agree.
The report suggests instead the establishment of a special independent body by the UN, as happened with Syria, to conduct an investigation in support of war crimes and genocide prosecutions. The report suggests, instead, the establishment of a special independent body by the UN, as happened with Syria, to conduct an investigation in support of war crimes and genocide prosecutions.
The government of Myanmar has until now rejected numerous investigations alleging massive atrocities by its military. This one will be much harder to dismiss.The government of Myanmar has until now rejected numerous investigations alleging massive atrocities by its military. This one will be much harder to dismiss.
What crimes does the UN allege?What crimes does the UN allege?
The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar was set up in March 2017 to investigate widespread allegations of human rights abuses in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine state.The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar was set up in March 2017 to investigate widespread allegations of human rights abuses in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine state.
It began before the military started a large scale operation in Rakhine in August 2017, after deadly attacks by Rohingya militants. It began its work before the military started a large-scale operation in Rakhine in August of last year, after deadly attacks by Rohingya militants.
At least 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar in the subsequent violence. The situation was a "catastrophe looming for decades", the report argues, and the result of "severe, systemic and institutionalised oppression from birth to death".
The situation was a "catastrophe looming for decades" says the report, and the result of "severe, systemic and institutionalised oppression from birth to death". Crimes documented in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine include murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, sexual slavery, persecution and enslavement that "undoubtedly amount to the gravest crimes under international law".
The crimes documented in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine include murder, imprisonment, torture, rape, sexual slavery, persecution and enslavement that "undoubtedly amount to the gravest crimes under international law".
In Rakhine state, the report also found elements of extermination and deportation "similar in nature, gravity and scope to those that have allowed genocide intent to be established in other contexts".In Rakhine state, the report also found elements of extermination and deportation "similar in nature, gravity and scope to those that have allowed genocide intent to be established in other contexts".
The UN mission did not have access to Myanmar for its report but says it relied on such sources as eyewitness interviews, satellite imagery, photographs and videos. Who is blamed for the attacks?
Who does the UN blame? The UN mission names army officials who, it says, bear the greatest responsibility. They include Commander-in-Chief Ming Aung Hlaing and his deputy.
The UN mission names army officials who it says bear the greatest responsibility. They include Commander-in-Chief Ming Aung Hlaing and his deputy.
The military is described as being virtually above the law.The military is described as being virtually above the law.
Under the constitution civilian authorities have little control over the military, but the document says that "through their acts and omissions, the civilian authorities have contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes". Under the constitution, civilian authorities have little control over the military but the document says that "through their acts and omissions, the civilian authorities have contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes".
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi "has not used her de facto position as Head of Government, nor her moral authority, to stem or prevent the unfolding events in Rakhine". Aung Sang Suu Kyi, the report finds, "has not used her de facto position as Head of Government, nor her moral authority, to stem or prevent the unfolding events in Rakhine".
The report says that some abuses were also committed by armed ethnic groups in Kachin and Shan state, and by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) in Rakhine.The report says that some abuses were also committed by armed ethnic groups in Kachin and Shan state, and by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) in Rakhine.
The mission said it would release a more detailed report on 18 September.The mission said it would release a more detailed report on 18 September.
What has been happening? How did the situation reach crisis point?
The Rohingya are one of many ethnic minorities in Myanmar and make up the largest percentage of the country's Muslims. The government, however, sees them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and denies them citizenship.The Rohingya are one of many ethnic minorities in Myanmar and make up the largest percentage of the country's Muslims. The government, however, sees them as illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and denies them citizenship.
The military launched its latest crackdown after militants from Arsa attacked police posts in August 2017, killing several policemen.The military launched its latest crackdown after militants from Arsa attacked police posts in August 2017, killing several policemen.
The UN has previously described the military offensive in Rakhine as a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and refugees who have fled the violence have told horrific stories of sexual violence and torture.
According to the medical charity MSF, at least 6,700 Rohingya, including at least 730 children under the age of five, were killed in the first month after the violence broke out.According to the medical charity MSF, at least 6,700 Rohingya, including at least 730 children under the age of five, were killed in the first month after the violence broke out.
The army exonerated itself in an investigation in 2017.The army exonerated itself in an investigation in 2017.
Rights groups like Amnesty International have long called for top officials to be tried for crimes against humanity over the Rohingya crisis.Rights groups like Amnesty International have long called for top officials to be tried for crimes against humanity over the Rohingya crisis.
How is the world responding to the report?
The UK Foreign Office said the "appalling" violations against the Rohingya must be punished.
"There cannot and must not be impunity for such acts," said Minister of State for Asia Mark Field.
An EU spokeswoman, Maja Kocijancic, told reporters the EU also wanted to see justice done in Myanmar.
"We have made clear very consistently those responsible for alleged serious and systemic human rights violations must be held to account," she said.
Facebook said it was removing 18 Facebook accounts, one Instagram account and 52 Facebook pages as part of its work to "prevent the spread of hate and misinformation on Facebook".
"We continue to work to prevent the misuse of Facebook in Myanmar..." it said.
"This is a huge responsibility given so many people there rely on Facebook for information - more so than in almost any other country given the nascent state of the news media and the recent rapid adoption of mobile phones."