Argentina’s arrest warrants and Myanmar’s reckoning with justice

On February 13, an Argentine court issued arrest warrants for 25 Myanmar military officials and civilian leaders, including junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, for their alleged roles in the genocide against the Rohingya from 2012 to 2018.The case, filed under the principle of universal jurisdiction by a Rohingya advocacy group, Burmese Rohingya Organization UK, represents a significant step in the pursuit of accountability for the atrocities committed against the Rohingya. However, the inclusion of Myanmar’s deposed civilian leaders, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw, has sparked a contentious debate in Myanmar, exposing unresolved questions over responsibility for past human rights violations.Some welcomed the warrants unconditionally.