AJC PUBLISHED A PRIMER ON NON-REFOULEMENT

AJC's fifth publication in our series of primers for international accountability in Asia addresses the principle of non-refoulement. This primer serves as a brief but concise explainer on what constitutes the principle of non-refoulement in international law, to whom this principle applies, who must uphold the principle, the legal nature of the principle in international law?

BROUK: REPORT ON ‘SLOW DEATH’: TEN YEARS CONFINED TO CAMPS FOR 130,000 ROHINGYA IN MYANMAR

On 22 May, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) published a new report documenting how 'the genocidal act known as ‘slow death’ continues to be perpetrated against the Rohingya by the military regime' despite the 2020 ICJ provisional measures order. On 23 May, the report was launched in a panel discussion with AJC members Tun Khin (BROUK), Akila Radhakrishnan (GJC), Tomas Quintana (Former UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar), Zoya Phan (Burma Campaign UK), and Naomi Kikoler (Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide).

HRW: JAPAN MUST SUSPEND ITS MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH MYANMAR JUNTA

On 22 May, in the light of a Myanmar air force lieutenant colonel who received military training in Japan being deployed with forces that have been implicated in serious abuses in Myanmar, Human Rights Watch called on the Japanese government to immediately halt its training program and investigate whether program participants are involved in operations involving laws-of-war violations.

FORTIFY RIGHTS CALL ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PASS UNSC RESOLUTION ON MYANMAR

On 12 May, Fortify Rights called on the United States government in the backdrop of the US-ASEAN Special Summit to convene a UN Security Council open session on Myanmar and pass a binding resolution on the situation in the country, refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, impose a global arms embargo and targeted sanctions.

HRW & FORTIFY RIGHTS: BANGLADESH POLICE BEATING ROHINGYA REFUGEES

On 7 May, Human Rights Watch called on donors funding the refugee response, including the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, to urge Bangladesh to reverse the harsh travel, work, and study restrictions at the Rohingya refugee camps. On 26 May, Fortify Rights called on the Bangladesh government to investigate and hold accountable police involved in beating and committing other abuses against Rohingya refugees, including children, in the Cox’s Bazar District refugee camps.

AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES

On 19 May, Asia Justice Coalition secretariat head Dr. Priya Pillai participated in a panel discussion on ‘Is Universal Jurisdiction Becoming more Universal? Taking Stock of Contemporary Practices’, hosted by the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies, Leiden University, Asser Institute, Coalition for the ICC, and IBA ICC Moot Court. The secretariat head also wrote a post for the Lowy Institute on justice and accountability issues in the Philippines post-elections - the war on drugs and human rights situation. Senior Legal Fellow Jennifer Keen-McCann presented the secretariat’s Toolkit on Justice Avenues for International Crimes at FIDH’s three-day training for civil society across Asia. This training follows from joint AJC Secretariat-FIDH training in 2020. 

CPJ–ICJ WEBINAR SERIES: SESSION 10 – ‘JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY’

On 19 May, the Refugee Studies Unit at the Centre of Peace and Justice (CPJ-BRAC) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) held the tenth session of its webinar series. The session supported by the Asia Justice Coalition was addressed by Sarah McIntosh (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) on ‘justice and accountability’. The recording of the event with Rohingya translation is available here.

FORTIFY RIGHTS CALL ON THE THAI GOVT TO RESPECT NON-REFOULEMENT

On 3 May, Fortify Rights called on the Government of Thailand to investigate the recent destruction by its soldiers of a makeshift cross-border footbridge used by refugees fleeing deadly attacks in eastern Myanmar.

HRW & AMNESTY CALLS ON ASEAN LEADERS TO HOLD MYANMAR’S MILITARY ACCOUNTABLE

On 10 May, Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to President Biden and called on him to inform the regional bloc of the failure of its Five-Point Consensus to achieve progress in addressing the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar since the February 2021 military coup. On 12 May, Amnesty International called on the regional-bloc leaders to concede that the human rights violations in Myanmar have now become a regional concern and demand non-refoulement of refugees fleeing violence, facilitation of humanitarian needs to Myanmar, and support towards the imposition of a global arms embargo.

CHINA AND RUSSIA BLOCK UNSC STATEMENT ON MYANMAR

On 27 May, the UN Security Council held a private meeting on Myanmar, with the briefings from UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer and ASEAN’s Myanmar Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn. No consensus was reached on the UK-backed press statement with the active objections from China and Russia.

UN SPECIAL ENVOY STATEMENT ON ASEAN HUMANITARIAN CONSULTATIONS

On 3 May, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer released a statement on the ASEAN Humanitarian Consultations and strongly urged ASEAN leaders and donors to prioritise principled engagement with diverse local humanitarian networks to effectively deliver aid to all communities in need.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS AUNG SAN SUU KYI’S APPEAL

On 4 May, the Reuters reported that the Supreme Court of Myanmar summarily rejected Aung San Suu Kyi’s appeal against the 5-year jail term awarded to her on the corruption charges.

U.S.-ASEAN SPECIAL SUMMIT 2022

The two-day US-ASEAN Special Summit took place in Washington DC on 12 – 13 May. The Myanmar military was excluded from the deliberations. The joint statement is available here.

ICC PROSECUTOR ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY

On 13 May, the ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced a new initiative to strengthen engagement with civil society. The measures include two thematic roundtables with non-governmental organisations each year, the development and publication of guidance materials for CSOs etc.

UNCHR SHOCKED AT ROHINGYA DEATHS IN BOAT TRAGEDY OFF MYANMAR COAST

On 23 May, UNHCR expressed its shock and dismay at the reports of the death of more than 17 Rohingya – including children at sea off the coast of Myanmar.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI’S RELATIVES FILED COMPLAINT WITH THE UN WORKING GROUP

On 25 May, the Hindu reported that the relatives of Aung San Suu Kyi filed a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention against her detention since the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar.