In a strongly worded emergency resolution adopted on September 13, 2018, the European Parliament (EP) condemned “the widespread and systematic attacks against Rohingya people committed in Rakhine State by the Tatmadaw and other Myanmar security forces, which according to the IIFFMM amount to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes – the most serious of human rights abuses and violations” and calls on the ICC to open a preliminary investigation, on the UNSC to refer the situation in Myanmar to the ICC promptly and for the military generals responsible to be investigated and prosecuted.
FIDH and its member organisations ALTSEAN-Burma and Odhikar shared the findings of their report, released on September 19, entitled “No stone unturned - Q&A on accountability for crimes in Myanmar” which answers the most pressing questions on accountability for crimes in Myanmar and explains the international justice mechanisms and how they can be applied in Myanmar. The resolution calls on the EU to take the lead in the UNSC to refer the situation to the ICC and to impose a global comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar. Echoing FIDH’s recommendations, it also calls on the Commission to consider an investigation under the Everything But Arms agreement to review the trade preferences that benefit Myanmar.
The EP also specifically condemns the arbitrary arrest and sentencing of journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, calling for their immediate release and all charges to be dropped, as those of all persons arbitrarily detained, including political prisoners, human rights defenders, journalists and media workers for exercising their rights and freedoms and calls on Myanmar to repeal, review or amend all laws, including the 1923 Official Secrets Act, which criminalise and violate the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.