Argentina Issues International Arrest Warrants for Burmese Military Officials over Rohingya Genocide

An Argentinian court has issued international arrest warrants for 22 Burmese military officials and three civilians, citing their involvement in the genocide against the Rohingya community, Jurist News reported. Among those named are Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win, and former Western Command head Maung Maung Soe. The charges include genocide, aggravated murder, sexual abuse, and torture.

This landmark ruling stems from Argentina’s investigation into crimes against humanity in Myanmar, leveraging the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to prosecute serious international crimes regardless of where they occurred. The case was initiated by the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) in 2019, with testimonies from six female Rohingya survivors detailing the violence they faced during military operations in Rakhine State in 2017.

The Argentinian decision follows a recent request from International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan for an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing. While the warrants trigger requests for INTERPOL red notices, compliance from Myanmar’s authorities is unlikely due to the ongoing political turmoil following the February 2021 military coup.

BROUK welcomed the ruling, calling it a historic step toward justice for the Rohingya and a clear message that accountability for such crimes is imperative.