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AJC STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE ESCALATING MILITARY ABUSES IN CHIN STATE AND NEIGHBOURING REGIONS
On 12 November, Asia Justice Coalition released a statement demanding an immediate end of the ongoing assault in Chin State and Sagaing-Magway Regions. The statement called upon UN Security Council to impose a global arms embargo and targeted sanctions on Myanmar’s junta leaders and refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. It further called upon neighbouring countries (India, China, Thailand, & Bangladesh) to provide protection and humanitarian support to refugees. The full statement can be read here.
AJC UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION CONVENING – FIRST SESSION
From 26 – 28 October, Asia Justice Coalition held its first Universal Jurisdiction Convening - a closed-door workshop with subject experts focusing on the experience of civil society actors that have promoted or pursued UJ matters. Stay tuned for the meeting note from the session.
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BROUK: ARGENTINIAN COURTS TO TAKE UP GENOCIDE CASE AGAINST MYANMAR
On 26 November, in a much-needed step towards justice and accountability, the Second Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court in Buenos Aires has opened an investigation under the principle of universal jurisdiction against the Myanmar military – including Min Aung Hlaing over the crimes committed against Rohingya. This decision is pursuant to a petition filed by AJC member Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) in 2019 on behalf of six survivors of the torture and sexual violence.
AJC PUBLISHED PRIMER ON CLASSIFICATION OF ARMED CONFLICT & INTERNATIONAL LAW
AJC's third publication in our series of primers for international accountability in Asia addresses conflict classification under international law. This primer serves as a brief but concise explainer on what constitutes an armed conflict, how & why such armed conflict is classified under international law, and what law and core principles govern the conduct of parties to armed conflict.
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CPJ – ICJ WEBINAR SERIES: SESSION 5 – ‘INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)’
The Refugee Studies Unit at the Centre of Peace and Justice (CPJ-BRACU) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) held the fifth session of the webinar series on 23 November. The session on Introduction to the International Court of Justice was supported by the Asia Justice Coalition and addressed by Mr. Kingsley Abbott (ICJ). The event recording with the simultaneous Rohingya translation is available here. The recordings of all previous sessions are available here.
FORTIFY RIGHTS RELEASES NEW REPORT DOCUMENTING ATTACK AGAINST MYANMAR AID WORKERS
On 10 November, Fortify Rights released a new report titled 'Access Denied: The Myanmar Military Junta’s Deprivation of Lifesaving Aid in Karenni (Kayah) State'. Drawing on more than 20 interviews, the report documents the arbitrary arrests of 14 aid workers in Karenni State that have created a chilling effect among local and international humanitarian agencies, instilling well-founded fears that the junta may target them for carrying out their legitimate activities.
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HRW: BANGLADESH: HALT FORCED RELOCATION OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES
On 23 November, Human Rights Watch called upon Bangladesh authorities, donor governments, and the UN to stop relocations of Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char Island until the freedom of movement and other rights are protected and UNHCR has developed a process for ensuring free and informed consent.
BROUK WEBINAR ON ‘ONGOING ROHINGYA GENOCIDE'
On 22 November, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK held a panel discussion to highlight the Myanmar military's defiance of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice. The panel was moderated by AJC member Akila Radhakrishnan (Global Justice Center) with the participation of Mr. Tun Khin (BROUK), Ms. Khin Ohmar (Chair Advisory Board, Progressive Voice Myanmar), M. Arsalan Suleman (Counsel, Foley Hoag), and Ms. Yanghee Lee (Former UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar; Member of Special Advisory Council for Myanmar). The event can be watched here.
ROHINGYA ORGANISATIONS CALL UPON UNSC AGAINST THE RISING ATTACKS IN CHIN STATE
In the background of the indiscriminate attacks by the Myanmar military against civilians in Chin State, Sagaing Region and Magwe, Rohingya ogranisations (including AJC member BROUK) called upon UN Security Council on 1 November to ‘not to repeat the mistakes it made in failing to act on warnings of an impending military offensive against the Rohingya in 2017’.
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HRW: MYANMAR: INVESTORS SHOULD ACT TO HALT FUNDS TO JUNTA
Human Rights Watch wrote to several dozen investment firms that own shares in companies that operate in joint partnership with entities under the control of Myanmar’s military. The letters to firms and investors detail how companies providing revenue to the junta are facing serious legal, financial, and reputational risks and are unable to fulfil their human rights responsibilities in Myanmar under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
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AJC SECRETARIAT PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES AND LECTURES
On 16 November, Dr. Priya Pillai participated in the 'International Criminal Justice & the Asia Pacific' panel of the LAWASIA Annual Conference along with Mr. Peter Lewis (Registrar, International Criminal Court), Professor Yasushi Higashizawa, and Ms. Usha Kulasegaran. On 30 November, she also delivered a guest lecture at the Hague University of Applied Sciences on the 'Situation in Myanmar: International Legal Considerations'.
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UN: CHILD RIGHTS VIOLATIONS MUST STOP NOW
On 29 October, the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid called on all parties in Myanmar to immediately stop all child rights violations, to exercise utmost restraint to protect children and to respect their responsibilities under international law.
UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON MYANMAR CALLS FOR UNSC ACTION
On 2 November, the UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews called for UN Security Council action in the light of the rising mass atrocities being committed by the Myanmar military in Chin State. He reiterated his call to ‘cut illegal junta’s access to revenue and weapons’ on 10 and 30 November as well.
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UN OHCHA CHIEF CALLS FOR SAFE, RAPID, AND UNIMPEDED HUMANITARIAN ACCESS
On 8 November, the OHCHA Chief Mr. Martin Griffiths called on the Myanmar armed forces — and all parties — to facilitate safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access. According to him, “across the country, there are now more than 3 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance because of growing conflict and insecurity, COVID-19 and a failing economy. Without an end to violence and a peaceful resolution of Myanmar’s crisis, this number will only rise.”
UNSC CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF VIOLENCE IN MYANMAR
On 10 November, the UN Security Council convened a special meeting on Myanmar and expressed its 'deep concern at further recent violence across Myanmar'. They called for an immediate cessation of violence and to ensure the safety of civilians.
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OHCHR: BACHELET DEPLORES PERSECUTION OF JOURNALISTS IN MYANMAR
On 12 November, the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet called on the Myanmar military to 'immediately release all journalists being detained in relation to their work'.
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REUTERS: U.S. JOURNALIST FREED IN MYANMAR
On 15 November, Reuters reported that the American journalist Danny Fenster was freed by the junta. Earlier, on 12 November, he was convicted and sentenced by the Myanmar Court for 11 years for the breach of immigration law, unlawful association, and encouraging dissent against the military. Further, he was charged with two additional grounds of sedition and terrorism by the junta.
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