Nicholas Koumjian, Head of the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), announced on Sunday that the Mechanism will investigate allegations of abuse against Rohingyas, including those involving the Arakan Army.
“We are mandated to investigate abuses committed by any group or force in Myanmar, whether it’s the Arakan Army, the Myanmar military, or any other entity,” Koumjian stated during a press briefing following his meeting with Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh.
The meeting also addressed recent developments in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Koumjian expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for its unwavering support of the Mechanism’s work and highlighted its role in ensuring accountability for international crimes committed in Myanmar.
Koumjian emphasized the Mechanism’s commitment to investigating abuses against Rohingyas and other minorities. He stated that evidence is being collected through modern technology, social media platforms, and victim interviews, despite challenges posed by the lack of physical access to Myanmar.
“As accountability actors, we are eager to play a constructive role in the upcoming high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar,” Koumjian noted.
The Foreign Adviser commended the IIMM’s efforts to ensure justice for victims of international crimes in Myanmar. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s ongoing challenges in hosting the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) and criticized the international community’s failure to pressure Myanmar for their safe repatriation.
Koumjian, who has over 35 years of experience as a prosecutor, including nearly 20 years in international criminal justice, reaffirmed the IIMM’s dedication to holding perpetrators accountable. He acknowledged the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and reiterated the importance of continued evidence collection despite the obstacles.
The IIMM was established by the UN Human Rights Council on September 27, 2018, and welcomed by the General Assembly on December 22, 2018. Koumjian, appointed in April 2019 by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, serves as the Mechanism’s first Head.
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