An Argentine court has issued arrest warrants for 23 Myanmar military officials, including junta leaders Min Aung Hlaing and Soe Win, for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the genocide of the Rohingya, according to a statement released today by the UK-based Burmese Rohingya Organisation (BROUK).
The court in Buenos Aires issued the warrants on February 13, citing evidence of the military’s role in the systematic persecution and atrocities committed against the Rohingya minority. BROUK Chairperson Tun Khin stated, “This marks a historic step toward justice, not only for the Rohingya but also for all Myanmar citizens who have suffered under the military’s rule. For decades, the Rohingya have endured genocidal acts that destroyed families and culture. This decision brings a ray of hope and stands as a victory for international justice in a time when crimes against humanity are increasing globally. The bravery of the Argentine judiciary underscores that no one, including Min Aung Hlaing, is above the law.”
The case was filed in 2019 by Tun Khin and BROUK in collaboration with Tomás Ojea Quintana, a former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. The UN’s Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) provided evidence to support the court’s investigation.
The arrest warrants target top military officials, including Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win, as well as other senior officers. This development follows an earlier request on November 27, 2024, by Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to issue an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing.
While the ICC has yet to decide on Khan’s request, the Argentine court’s ruling strengthens the call for Min Aung Hlaing’s prosecution. The warrants could be forwarded to INTERPOL, potentially leading to a “Red Notice” applicable in all 196 member countries, enabling the arrest and extradition of the accused to face trial in Argentina.
