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9 July 2020 – Amnesty Alleges Air Raids in Myanmar Constitute War Crimes, and UN Claims Militant Attacks in DR Congo May Amount to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

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Amnesty Alleges Air Raids in Myanmar Constitute War Crimes, Urges Security Council Investigation: Amnesty International published a report alleging that Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, committed war crimes by killing civilians, including children, in air raids in Chin and Rakhine states. Amnesty alleges that the Myanmar military carried out indiscriminate attacks in its offensive against the Arakan Army, an armed group operating in the region. The report also alleges wide-scale burning of villages, as well as arbitrary detention and torture of individuals.

Photo: rfa.org via Bing.
Photo: rfa.org via Bing.

The conflict escalated in January 2019 after the Arakan Army attacked police posts, and increased after Myanmar officially designated the group a terrorist organisation in March. Amnesty has called on the UN Security Council to investigate and refer the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Judicial proceedings regarding Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya minority are already underway at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), pursuant to the 1948 Genocide Convention. In January, the ICJ ordered the Myanmar government to take immediate steps to prevent genocide against the Rohingya. Separately, last November Pre-Trial Chamber III of the ICC authorised the Prosecutor to open an investigation for crimes committed against the Rohingya. Though Myanmar is not a party to the Rome Statute, PTC III determined that the Court may exercise jurisdiction since Bangladesh is party to the Rome Statute, and there is reason to believe crimes occurred on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. (Amnesty International) (Al Jazeera)

UN Claims Militant Attacks in DR Congo May Amount to Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes: According to the UN, systemic attacks in eastern Congo by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed Islamist group from Uganda, may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. A report by the UN Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) contends that ADF attacks have left more than 1,000 civilians dead since the start of 2019. The UNJHRO noted that, in most of the attacks, there was a “clear intention to leave no survivors”, and stated that the ADF have ambushed soldiers, burned villages, destroyed health centres and schools, and abducted civilians.

The ADF has been present in North Kivu province in DR Congo for decades. However, violent attacks by the group have increased since the start of last year, when President Felix Tshisekedi sent 22,000 troops to drive out the group. The ADF fled into other areas of the country, particularly into Ituri province, and continued to carry out attacks. UNJHRO stated that DR Congo security forces have also committed serious human rights violations, including killing 14 civilians and injuring 49 others.  (Reuters)

 

Post by: Ryan Corbett

 

The post 9 July 2020 – Amnesty Alleges Air Raids in Myanmar Constitute War Crimes, and UN Claims Militant Attacks in DR Congo May Amount to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity appeared first on ICL Media Review.


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