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The US human rights body on Thursday decided to set up a team to gather evidence of alleged crimes committed in Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims and others since 2011, information that could one day be used to prosecute crimes. alleged perpetrators.
The 47-member Human Rights Council voted 35 to 3 to create an "independent mechanism" – essentially an accountability body – to complete a mission.
Unlike the fact-finding mission, the main purpose of the mechanism is to gather evidence that can be used to prosecute criminal charges.
The resolution establishing the new team was presented jointly by the European Union, led by Austria, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, led by Pakistan. China, Burundi and the Philippines opposed the measure. Seven countries abstained in the vote.
The work of the accountability body, which could begin in the coming months, should cover a wave of security crackdown that began in August 2017. A human rights group has killed at least 10,000 people and hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh.
Myanmar's ambassador to Geneva, Kyaw Moe Tun, criticized the resolution, saying it was based on a report released last month by the fact-finding mission that was "full of unverified information."
Thursday's decision paves the way for millions of dollars in US funds to collect evidence of alleged wrongdoing in Myanmar, which investigators say could constitute genocide and other war crimes.
The adoption of the resolution may put pressure on military leaders and others who may be under investigation for alleged war crimes.
Although the Human Rights Council's decision increases the level of control faced by security forces and other perpetrators, its potential effect on prosecutions for war crimes is uncertain. The International Criminal Court could be the scene of such cases, although some experts consider that this is unlikely because it would require the support of the US Security Council, where China has a veto.
Other options could be an "ad hoc" international tribunal or national tribunal that could claim "universal jurisdiction" to prosecute international crimes.
Human rights groups applauded the resolution.
"Today's resolution is an important step in the fight for accountability in Myanmar, making justice possible for Rohingya and other ethnic minorities victims of atrocities committed by the country's security forces." ", said Tirana Hassan, director of the response. for Amnesty International. "This sends a clear message of solidarity to the victims and survivors, as well as a brutal warning to the Myanmar military that their crimes will be punished."
Hassan blamed the Chinese government for its opposition, saying it "comes at a time when China is committing serious human rights violations against Uighurs and other Muslim minorities."
R. Iniyan Ilango, head of the United Nations advocacy program at Forum-Asia, noted that the resolution called on the United Nations to get involved in Myanmar since 2011. The fact-finding mission last month said diplomacy "on human rights.
"The silence of US Secretary General Antonio Guterres on this sighting is deafening," said Ilango.
