\n
The Geneva-based body was briefed by Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), who presented its latest report.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Mechanism was established by the Council to collect and preserve evidence of the most serious international crimes in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lack of accountability\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Mr. Koumjian began by pointing out that it has been five years since the August 2017 military clearance operations in Rakhine State that forced most of the Rohingya population to flee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost all remain in neighbouring countries awaiting the day when conditions will allow their safe and dignified return home. \u00a0The end of impunity for those who inflicted the violence<\/strong> would do much to create such conditions,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\nHe reported that since the coup, there is growing evidence of the most serious international crimes<\/strong> including murder, torture, deportation and forcible transfer, persecution, imprisonment, and targeting of civilians.<\/p>\n\u201cThe people of Myanmar continue to suffer because of the lack of accountability for those who believe they answer to no law<\/strong>,\u201d he stated.\u00a0<\/p>\nPrioritizing women and children\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Mr. Koumjian said the Mechanism prioritizes gathering evidence of sexual and gender-based violence and crimes against children.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although women and children are at particular risk in conflicts, crimes against them are typically under-reported and under-prosecuted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have gathered reports of children in Myanmar having been tortured and arbitrarily detained<\/strong>, sometimes to target their parents. There is also increasing evidence of sexual and gender-based crimes against both women and men,\u201d he said.<\/p>\nDue process lacking\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The report also addresses the\u00a0 execution of four pro-democracy activists in July. \u00a0While capital punishment is not itself an international crime, Mr. Koumjian said that \u201cimposing the death sentence on the basis of proceedings that do not satisfy the basic requirements of a fair trial can amount to a crime against humanity<\/strong>\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\nHe said that there are \u201cstrong indications\u201d the executions were without due process, adding \u201cproceedings lacked transparency and virtually no information is available as to the charges and evidence\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Progress and challenges\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Mr. Koumjian said the Mechanism faces many challenges, given that staff are denied access to crime scenes and witnesses in Myanmar despite making a dozen requests to the authorities. Despite this, notable progress has occurred.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMany brave individuals, NGOs and other entities have shared valuable evidence with us,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have conducted numerous screenings and interviews from persons who have provided vital first-hand information about crimes perpetrated inside the country.\u202f Ensuring protection and support for those who provide us with information is an issue of increasing concern\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Collecting evidence of crimes\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The Mechanism has prepared 67 evidential and analytical packages <\/strong>to share with judicial authorities, including for proceedings at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.\u00a0<\/p>\nAlmost three million \u201cinformation items\u201d from more than 200 sources have so far been collected and processed.<\/p>\n
They include interview statements, documentation, videos, photographs, geospatial imagery, and social media material. Mr. Koumjian said his team now faces the challenging task of analysing them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, Facebook has shared with the Mechanism millions of items from networks of accounts that were taken down by the company because they misrepresented their identity \u2013 the accounts were actually controlled by the Myanmar military,<\/strong>\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\nFalse reports on social media\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The team has identified posts inciting fear and hatred of Rohingya that appeared on these military-controlled networks. He gave the example of a post that appeared on 10 different pages within one such network just prior to the start of the August 2017 clearance operations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe post contained false reports of Rohingya arming en masse<\/em> and threatening Myanmar\u2019s Buddhists, and a photo of a cow with its stomach slit and disembowelled \u2013 an image offensive to Myanmar Buddhists,\u201d he said.\u202f\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\nSearch for justice\u00a0<\/h2>\n
In expressing gratitude to the Human Rights Council, Mr. Koumjian called on all countries \u201ccommitted to ending the worst violence in Myanmar\u201d to support the Mechanism\u2019s work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPerpetrators of the most serious international crimes committed in Myanmar must know that we are united in our efforts to break the cycle of impunity and to ensure that those responsible for such crimes will face justice,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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