Statement by Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (30 January 2025) [EN/MY]

Four years since the military takeover in Myanmar: no justice for brutal atrocities

Geneva, 30 January 2025 – Four years ago, Myanmar’s elected government was overthrown by the military. Since then, according to substantial evidence collected and analysed by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, serious international crimes have been committed across the country.

Protests against the military regime were suppressed with often lethal violence. Thousands of perceived opponents have been unlawfully imprisoned, where many have suffered torture, sexual violence and other abuses. Increasingly frequent and indiscriminate air strikes, artillery and drone attacks have killed civilians, driven survivors from their homes, and destroyed hospitals, schools and places of worship.

While most of the evidence the Mechanism has collected concerns crimes committed by the Myanmar military, we are also investigating disturbing reports of atrocities committed by other armed groups, including rape, killings and torture. The Mechanism is collecting evidence of serious international crimes committed throughout Myanmar, regardless of the ethnicity, religion, or politics of the perpetrators or victims.

The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested an arrest warrant for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, for crimes committed against the Rohingya during the clearance operations in 2016 and 2017. However, there are currently no judicial proceedings for any serious international crimes committed since the military takeover. We believe that impunity for crimes emboldens perpetrators to commit more violence, and ending this impunity is necessary for Myanmar to build a peaceful future for all its people.

The Mechanism stands ready to assist authorities who are willing and able to investigate and prosecute these cases. Until the perpetrators are brought to justice, violence will continue to spiral, and the suffering of Myanmar’s people will only increase.

The Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM or Mechanism) was created by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018 to collect and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and other violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. It aims to facilitate justice and accountability by preserving and organizing this evidence and preparing case files that can be used by authorities to prosecute individuals in national, regional and international courts.

For more information visit iimm.un.orgor contact iimm@un.org