UM hosts tribunal to try Myanmar for crimes against humanity

KUALA LUMPUR: The Permanent People’s Tribunal on state crimes allegedly committed against minority ethnic groups in Myanmar, mainly the Rohingya, began its hearing at Universiti Malaya here yesterday.

The Rome-based tribunal was presided over by human rights, genocide and law experts while former diplomats were led by Centre For Genocide Studies of the National University of Tres de Febrero founder, Daniel Feierstein.

However, Myanmar did not send any representatives.

As the proceedings began, the prosecution team led by human rights lawyer Doreen Chen read four charges against Myanmar government that included its government departments, military, police, border security forces, National League of Democracy senior members, President Htin Kyaw and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The charges were international violence, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and human rights violation against Myanmar Muslims, Kachin and Rohingya.

Chen read 26 criminal charges against the Myanmar government — 10 on Kachin and 16 on Rohingya.

Throughout the proceedings, expert witnesses and Kachin representatives will testify while Rohingya representatives and Myanmar Muslim representatives would testify today and tomorrow, respectively. The tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict on Friday.

PIC BY HAFIZ SOHAIMI The Permanent People’s Tribunal Myanmar in session at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. The judges are (from left) Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, Shadi Sadr, Gill H. Boehringer, Daniel Feierstein, Helen Jarvis, Nello Rossi and Zulaiha Ismal.