AJC STATEMENT ON THE FIRST COUP ANNIVERSARY IN MYANMAR

On 1 February, the Asia Justice Coalition released a statement to mark the first anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar and expressed its grave concern regarding crimes being committed by the Myanmar military and the inaction of the international community. AJC called for immediately ending all violations of international law; facilitating safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access; UNSC to impose a global arms embargo, targeted sanctions on junta leaders-military owned companies, and to refer Myanmar to the ICC, amongst others.

AJC, GJC, GCR2P, HRW: PANEL DISCUSSIONS ON INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE HEARINGS

Against the backdrop of the week-long International Court of Justice preliminary objections hearings in The Gambia v Myanmar, the Asia Justice Coalition co-sponsored two panel discussions on 22 and 24 February. The former discussion was moderated by Akila Radhakrishnan on ‘Justice for Myanmar, at the ICJ and Beyond' whereas the latter was moderated by Dr. Priya Pillai on ‘The Path Forward for the Rohingya Community’. The events were co-hosted by Global Justice Center, Human Rights Watch, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, No Peace Without Justice, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The recordings of both the event with Burmese translation is available here

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LAW AND FORTIFY RIGHTS CALL FOR NON-RECOGNITION OF MILITARY AT THE ICJ

On 3 February, the Myanmar Accountability Project, and AJC members Legal Action Worldwide and Fortify Rights wrote a letter to the President of the International Court of Justice, expressing serious concern at the de facto recognition of unlawful military junta as the legitimate government of Myanmar in The Gambia v Myanmar case.

BHRN RELEASES A NEW REPORT ON MYANMAR COUP ANNIVERSARY

On 1 February, the Burma Human Rights Network released a report titled ‘Brazen Tyranny of the Myanmar Military’ documenting the Myanmar military’s offensive, international law, and human rights violations since the coup on 1 February 2021 and called on the international community to act urgently.

FORTIFY RIGHTS AND AJAR CONDEMN MYANMAR’S DIGITAL COUP

On 8 February, Fortify Rights and Asia Justice and Rights co-signed a letter condemning the Myanmar junta’s digital coup violating rights to privacy, expression, information, association, and security. The letter calls on the international and business community to hold the Myanmar military accountable.

BHRN REPORT ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN BANGLADESH ROHINGYA CAMPS

On 8 February, Burma Human Rights Network released its new report titled 'We also have dreams: Ongoing safety and quality of life issues for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh". The report builds on the interviews conducted by BHRN with 29 refugees ages 14 to 60 from 10 different camps in Cox’s Bazar from October 2020 to April of 2021 and highlights the needs, hopes, and fears of the Rohingya refugees.

ICJ: A YEAR AFTER MILITARY TAKEOVER, NO RULE OF LAW OR JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

On 10 February, the International Commission of Jurists condemned the lack of judicial independence and rule of law in Myanmar and called for an immediate end to the state of emergency and a return to civilian rule so that an independent judiciary capable of protecting the human rights of people in the country can be restored and protected.

JUSTICE UPDATE – MYANMAR PODCAST

On 11 February, Akila Radhakrishnan (Global Justice Centre) and the AJC secretariat head Dr. Priya Pillai spoke to Asymmetrical Haircut podcast concerning the multiple investigations and proceedings ongoing against Myanmar - ICJ, Universal Jurisdiction case in Argentina, Hate Speech cases against social media. The podcast is available here.

GJC AND HRW: THE GAMBIA V MYANMAR Q&A BOOKLET

On 14 February, Human Rights Watch and the Global Justice Center released a Questions & Answers document outlining recent developments in the case, including the impact of 1 February 2021, military coup in Myanmar, on the International Court of Justice preliminary objections proceedings in The Gambia v. Myanmar case.

FORTIFY RIGHTS REPORT DOCUMENTING WAR CRIMES IN KARENNI STATE, MYANMAR

On 15 February, Fortify Rights released its new report ‘Ongoing War Crimes in Karenni (Kayah) State, Myanmar: May 2021 to January 2022’ and called upon the UN Security Council to impose a global arms embargo to prohibit the sale of weapons and dual-use technology to the Myanmar military junta. The report documents how the Myanmar military massacred civilians, used human shields and committed other atrocities in Karenni State in acts that may amount to war crimes.

HRW: SCRAP DRACONIAN CYBERSECURITY BILL

On 15 February, Human Rights Watch called on the Myanmar military to scrap the draconian draft cyber security law that would provide sweeping powers to the junta authorities to access user data, block websites, order internet shutdowns, and prosecute critics and representatives of non-complying companies, and potentially violating the  right to privacy, expression, and access to information.

HRW: EU NEEDS TO ENFORCE NEW SANCTIONS ON JUNTA

On 24 February, Human Rights Watch called on the European Union to enforce new sanctions targeting Myanmar’s junta and its state-owned oil company, Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) and to ensure that the withdrawals of EU companies complying with sanctions do not benefit the junta.

BROUK CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

On 1 February, Tun Khin wrote an op-ed in Al Jazeera calling for international justice mechanisms and strengthened resolve to investigate and prosecute the Myanmar military for its crime against humanity and war crimes across Myanmar and continuing genocide against the Rohingya.

UNHRC: "VOICES FROM MYANMAR" ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE MILITARY TAKEOVER

On 1 February, the UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews released a video to mark the first coup anniversary of the military in Myanmar. The video contains testimonies from individuals inside Myanmar who describe the dire human rights situation in the country.

UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR CALLS FOR A BAN ON WEAPONS TRANSFER TO MYANMAR MILITARY

On 22 February, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar issued a report ‘Enabling Atrocities: UN Member States’ Arms Transfers to the Myanmar Military’ to the UN Human Rights Council that identifies States, including two permanent members of the Security Council, who have supplied weapons used against civilians since Myanmar’s military coup. He urged to convene an emergency Security Council session to debate and vote on a resolution to, at minimum, ban those arms transfers that the Myanmar military  is known to use to attack and kill Myanmar civilians.

REUTERS: ‘MYANMAR SHADOW GOVERNMENT DROPS OBJECTIONS TO ICJ'S ROHINGYA GENOCIDE CASE’

On 2 February, Reuters reported that the National Unity Government (NUG) has withdrawn all preliminary objections to the genocide case (The Gambia v Myanmar) before the International Court of Justice.

REUTERS: ‘MYANMAR TO SKIP ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING, CAMBODIA SAYS’

On 15 February, Reuters reported that Myanmar had confirmed its absence from the Ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Four out of the 10-member regional bloc (Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia) had pushed for Myanmar’s exclusion due to its failure to meet the commitments under the Five-Point Consensus adopted in 2021.

UNSC PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN MYANMAR

On 2 February, the UN Security Council released its press statement expressing deep concern at the continuing state of emergency imposed in Myanmar by the military on 1 February 2021 and its grave impact.  They reiterated their calls for the release of all those who remain arbitrarily detained, immediate cessation of all forms of violence throughout the country, the need for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need, and for the full protection, safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel.  

AL JAZEERA: ‘MYANMAR’S AUNG SAN SUU KYI FACES NEW CHARGE AMID FRESH VIOLENCE’

On 4 February, Al Jazeera reported that the Myanmar military has filed an eleventh corruption charge against Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly receiving $550,000 as a donation for a charity foundation named after her mother.