Myanmar Military Demands Return of Two Soldiers Who Confessed to Rohingya Atrocities

A spokesman for the Myanmar military said two army privates who were taken to The Hague_ the Netherlands_ after allegedly confessing to committing atrocities against Rohingya civilians should be returned to Myanmar. Last week_ confessions made by the two soldiers while they were in the custody of the Arakan Army (AA)_ in which they reportedly admitted to involvement in atrocities against Rohingya during the military s 2017  clearance operations in northern Rakhine State in western Myanmar_ were made public by rights group Fortify Rights. The group also said the two soldiers were now in The Hague_ where they were believed to be in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The two were filmed separately making the confessions in July by the Arakan Army. As long as Myanmar s civilian and military courts are functioning normally_ taking two soldiers to face trial or serve as witnesses at the ICC is an  intervention in the national judicial process_ said Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun.  The two soldiers were arrested and have been sent there_ therefore they should be returned to Myanmar and to the military. He said the military s court of inquiry into the alleged Rakhine atrocities had already begun_ and he urged anyone with evidence of human rights violations to send them to the military (or Tatmadaw) via email_ telephone or post. The spokesman said the government and Tatmadaw are taking steps to ensure accountability_ including opening courts-martial to prosecute those involved in atrocities against Rohingya_ as recommended by the government-backed Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE). In a report issued early this year the ICOE said government security forces clearance operations in Rakhine didn t have  genocidal intent _ contradicting the findings of UN investigators. But it admitted that  war crimes_ serious human rights violations_ and violations of domestic law took place against the Rohingya. The two former soldiers_ Myo Win Tun_ 33_ from Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 565_ and Zaw Naing Tun_ 30_ from LIB 353_ confessed in the videos shot by the AA to taking part in atrocities committed by the Myanmar army against Rohingya people in 2017. The soldiers were recorded as saying they were involved in killing more than 180 Rohingya men_ women and children in Taung Buzar and surrounding villages in Buthidaung and five villages in Maungdaw during military operations in late 2017. Myo Win Tun from LIB 565 also admitted to committing rape in Taung Buzar Village. Myanmar is currently fighting a lawsuit filed by Gambia at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague alleging genocide against the Rohingya. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi defended the country against the charge in December. As the ICJ s rulings are not binding_ rights groups are pursuing an alternative approach by attempting to bring military generals to the ICC in order to seek justice for the victims of human rights violations. -Source: The Irrawaddy