The Argentina court has forwarded an arrest warrant for military council leader Min Aung Hlaing to Interpol for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Rohingya people, according to U Tun Khin from the Burmese Rohingya Organization-UK. The warrant, issued on April 1st, requests Interpol member countries to arrest Min Aung Hlaing if found within their territories. Currently, Min Aung Hlaing is attending the BIMSTEC conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
U Tun Khin emphasized that BIMSTEC member countries should not sit with a war criminal like Min Aung Hlaing nor give him official recognition. Instead, they should respect the international arrest warrant and detain him. He stated that the people of Myanmar are suffering tremendously under Min Aung Hlaing’s violent rule. Despite Thailand being an Interpol member country, Thai authorities appear unlikely to arrest Min Aung Hlaing during his visit to Bangkok for the BIMSTEC meeting.
A Myanmar national in Thailand reported that rather than arresting Min Aung Hlaing, Thai police and security forces are providing extensive security protection at the Shangri-La Hotel where the conference is being held. Protesters are not even allowed near the hotel premises. The source explained that this special treatment is likely due to business interests between Min Aung Hlaing and the current Thai Prime Minister, who is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, who had maintained close ties with Min Aung Hlaing.
BIMSTEC member countries include India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand, and the organization focuses on regional economic cooperation. However, there has been criticism of member countries engaging in discussions with an individual who faces international arrest warrants for human rights violations and war crimes. The situation highlights the complex dynamics between regional economic cooperation and international justice, as well as the challenges in enforcing international arrest warrants when political and economic interests are involved.
