An Argentine prosecutor has formally petitioned the Argentinian Court to issue twenty-five arrest warrants for genocide and crimes against humanity related to the Rohingya crisis. These warrants are sought under Article 294 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Argentina. The case was brought forward by the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
The request for arrest warrants targets several prominent Burmese military officials, including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win, among others. The recent petition by the Argentine prosecutor follows BROUK’s initial request for warrants made in December 2023. BROUK noted that they had been informed of the petition earlier this week.
Tun Khin, President of BROUK, expressed satisfaction with this development, stating, “Today we are one more step closer to finally seeing the first-ever arrest warrants for Min Aung Hlaing and senior members of the Burmese military.” He further noted that the decision sends a clear message that the Burmese military will be held accountable for their actions.
The targeted individuals are accused of orchestrating genocide against the Rohingya and committing other severe crimes against humanity since the military coup in February 2021. BROUK emphasized that the prosecutor’s request extends beyond their initial complaint, including calls for arrest warrants for other individuals like Aung San Suu Kyi and Htin Kyaw.
BROUK first filed the complaint in 2019, and the case officially opened in 2021, marking the first universal jurisdiction case worldwide concerning the Rohingya genocide. This recent development comes nearly five years after the International Court of Justice ordered provisional measures to protect the Rohingya. Despite these measures, the Rohingya community continues to face significant human rights abuses and displacement.