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AJC STATEMENT MARKING 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROME STATUTE
On 5 July, Asia Justice Coalition released a statement marking the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. While the Court has done much to expand its reach, there are only a handful of ratifications to the Rome Statute from the Asia-Pacific region. The Coalition called for independent and thorough investigations as well as comprehensive case-building strategies in all situations.
AJC UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION CONVENING SERIES: AVENUES TO ACCOUNTABILITY: UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION & ASIA
On 4 July, Asia Justice Coalition released the Convening Note of the Third Universal Jurisdiction Convening held from 26 - 28 April 2022. The convening included context-specific case studies including practice in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Australia, and South Korea, as well as deliberations on cooperation within ASEAN, the on-going universal jurisdiction matter regarding crimes against the Rohingya in Argentina, and lessons learned from ASEAN norm diffusion regarding human trafficking.
ICJ REJECTS MYANMAR’S PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS
On 22 July, the International Court of Justice rejected (by majority) all four preliminary objections raised by Myanmar and paved the way for the merits proceedings in the case concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (
The Gambia v.
Myanmar). The Court has fixed 24 April 2023 as the time limit for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by Myanmar. AJC members HRW, GCR2P, Fortify Rights, and BROUK welcomed the judgment.
AI: ‘MILITARY’S USE OF BANNED LANDMINES IN KAYAH STATE AMOUNTS TO WAR CRIMES’
On 20 July, Amnesty International based on its on-the-ground investigation concluded that the Myanmar military is committing war crimes by laying internationally banned antipersonnel landmines on a massive scale in and around villages in Kayah (Karenni) State. Amnesty called on the Myanmar military to immediately end its use of landmines.
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AJC MEMBERS CONDEMN MYANMAR MILITARY’S EXECUTION
On 25 July, the Myanmar military carried execution of four nationals including former MP Phyo Zayar Thaw and veteran democracy activist Ko Jimmy. AJC secretariat and its members Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Burmese Human Rights Network, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, Asia Justice and Rights, and International Commission of Jurists condemned the executions in violation of the international human rights law.
HRW: ‘MYANMAR MILITARY ATROCITIES LAID BARE IN GRUESOME FOOTAGE’
On 4 July, Human Rights Watch called on the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo and refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court following the release of footage on social media documenting the brutal killings allegedly by the military junta in the Sagaing Region. The footage shows at least 5 people killed and includes a discussion between three soldiers on the number of people they have killed.
BHRN: ‘VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF IN MYANMAR DURING ANTI-COUP REVOLUTION’
On 5 July, Burma Human Rights Network Executive Director Kyaw Win spoke at the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief and released a brief on the human rights situation of Myanmar’s minority religious and ethno-religious groups, particularly the Rohingya, since the illegal coup. AJC member Tun Khin (BROUK) also participated in the Conference.
HRW: ‘JUSTICE MATTERS CHECKLIST’
On 15 July, Human Rights Watch released a five-point “Justice Matters Checklist” to mark International Criminal Justice Day and called on governments to deliver on their commitments toward accountability globally. The five-point include - supporting courts tackling grave international crimes; expanding ICC membership; criminalizing and prosecuting grave international crimes domestically; giving all victims of grave international crimes equal access to justice; and restraining the UN Security Council veto.
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GJC & HRW ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH THE ICC DEPUTY PROSECUTOR
On 13 July, Nazhat S. Khan, the Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court organised a roundtable discussion with the civil society organisations and victims groups including AJC members Human Rights Watch and Global Justice Center. The discussion addressed policy and situation-specific matters.
HRW:‘TOTALENERGIES WITHDRAWS; JUNTA GAINS’
Ahead of TotalEnergies withdrawal from Myanmar on 20 July, Human Rights Watch called on the US and other governments to follow the EU’s lead by urgently imposing measures that will cut the junta off from its millions in gas revenue. According to HRW, “Total’s transfer of ownership shares to a military-controlled company will further enrich the junta at the expense of human rights.”
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AJC SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES
On 23 July, Asia Justice Coalition secretariat head Dr. Priya Pillai spoke with BBC (minutes 18:30 – 22.55) on the Myanmar military defectors and the ongoing international judicial proceedings at the ICJ, ICC along with the role of IIMM. The secretariat head wrote two blog posts on OpinioJuris, first on the ICJ preliminary objections judgment in The Gambia v. Myanmar and the second on the two ongoing Genocide Convention cases at the ICJ (The Gambia v. Myanmar and Ukraine v. Russian Federation). On 28 March, the secretariat head also participated in a panel discussion on ‘Understanding The International Treaty Making Process and International Law relating to Conflict-related Sexual Violence’ hosted by the Mukwege Foundation. The video of the session is available now here.
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BBC: ‘‘I CAN’T FORGET HER'- MYANMAR’S SOLDIERS ADMIT ATROCITIES’
On 22 July, BBC released its report documenting detailed accounts of widespread human rights atrocities in Myanmar based on exclusive interviews with six military junta members and their victims. The soldiers have admitted to indiscriminate killing, torturing and raping civilians and torching houses across villages.
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS EXECUTIONS BY MYANMAR MILITARY AGAINST POLITICAL ACTIVISTS
On 25 July, the United Nations Secretary-General strongly condemned the executions carried out by the Myanmar military against four political activists in Myanmar. The Secretary-General opposes the imposition of death penalty in all circumstances. Similarly, UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet, UN Special Rapporteurs Tom Andrews and Morris Tidball-Binz, and ASEAN Chair condemned the execution.
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UNSC STATEMENT ON MYANMAR MILITARY’S EXECUTION
On 27 July, the United Nations Security Council released a press statement condemning the military’s execution of opposition activists and called for the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
BANGLADESH FOREIGN SECRETARY SEEKS ASEAN CHAIR HELP FOR ROHINGYA
On July 18, Khmer Times reported that Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh met his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn in his capacity as the ASEAN Chair and sought his assistance to find a sustainable solution to their speedy, safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya refugees.
OCHA: OVER 1.2 MILLION DISPLACED IN MYANMAR
On 31 July, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released its 20th Myanmar Humanitarian Update and observed that the number of displaced men, women, and children in Myanmar remains above 1.2 million. This includes nearly 866,400 people displaced by the conflict and insecurity since the military takeover in February last year.
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