The National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar has officially welcomed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant for military junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, citing it as a long-overdue step toward justice for victims of ethnic persecution and genocide.
In a statement released on 6 July, the NUG expressed full support for the ICC’s decision, which stems from allegations of crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities during the military’s brutal campaigns in Rakhine and other conflict-ridden regions. The NUG also praised the recent unanimous adoption of a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which condemned ongoing atrocities in Myanmar and underscored the urgent need for international accountability.
“The ICC’s action marks a significant milestone for all victims of the junta’s reign of terror. Justice for the Rohingya must not be delayed any longer,” the NUG declared, reiterating its commitment to dismantling structural discrimination in Myanmar.
In a significant policy pledge, the NUG stated its intent to abolish apartheid-era citizenship laws and restore full legal recognition and rights to the Rohingya community—long denied by successive military regimes. The NUG also called on all stakeholders to attend the High-Level Conference on the Situation of the Rohingya and Other Minorities, slated for September 2025, as a platform for inclusive dialogue and transitional justice.
The statement further urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) to intensify their investigations into war crimes and human rights violations by the Tatmadaw, including airstrikes on civilian areas, sexual violence, forced displacement, and systemic obstruction of humanitarian aid.
“The military continues to weaponize aid denial, deliberately targeting humanitarian workers through arrests, killings, and seizure of relief supplies,” the NUG said. “This is not only a violation of international law—it is a moral crime.”
The NUG’s remarks follow increased international pressure on the Myanmar military, especially after the Arakan Army (AA) seized control of large swathes of Rakhine State. On 10 June, U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar Jonathan Shrier emphasized the need for inclusive negotiations, particularly involving the AA, in order to establish sustainable pathways for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh.
Human rights organizations have welcomed the ICC's move and the NUG’s statement, while calling on the UN General Assembly to adopt a stronger, enforceable resolution on Myanmar’s deteriorating human rights situation.
As diplomatic channels mobilize and legal efforts accelerate, pressure mounts on ASEAN, neighboring countries, and the global community to ensure that Myanmar’s most marginalized are no longer ignored or sacrificed for political expediency.
“Justice for the Rohingya is not only possible—it is imperative,” a spokesperson from the Free Rohingya Coalition stated.
BOB Post
