By: Camp Correspondent
February 14, 2025
An Argentine court has issued international arrest warrants for several Myanmar officials accused of perpetrating genocide against the Rohingya. The warrants, issued by the Buenos Aires Federal Court, target top military figures—including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win—as well as former government leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and U Htin Kyaw.
Initially, the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) had requested that only military officials be indicted. However, during proceedings in June 2023, the court expanded its scope to include Aung San Suu Kyi and U Htin Kyaw, holding them partly responsible for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya between March and August 2024. These arrest warrants may be circulated to INTERPOL, potentially leading to a Red Notice and the eventual transfer of the accused to Argentina for trial.
Rohingya voices welcomed the decision. Mohammed Anowar, a Rohingya youth, said,
“For years, we have waited for justice. This decision gives us hope that those responsible for the genocide will be held accountable. The world must ensure these warrants lead to real action.”
BROUK’s Chairman, Tun Khin, described the move as historic for the Rohingya community and a crucial step toward ending impunity. Meanwhile, respected elder Kader Hossain lamented,
“We lost our homes, our families, and our future because of these leaders. If there is justice in this world, they must face punishment for what they did to us.”
The legal case, filed in 2019 by BROUK, alleges that Myanmar’s military and affiliated leaders were directly involved in the 2017 atrocities, including killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement of Rohingya civilians. Testimonies from survivors were presented during hearings, which led Argentina’s Prosecutor General to recommend extending legal action beyond military figures.
While the Myanmar military junta has yet to respond to the warrants, international bodies such as the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice are also investigating crimes against the Rohingya. As the global community watches, Rohingya advocates call for swift action to ensure that justice prevails for those who have suffered decades of oppression and violence.
