By Mg Dagon/ MPA
The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) has warned that Myanmar’s junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, could face arrest and prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), just as former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was.
On Tuesday, Duterte was arrested by the Philippine government on an ICC warrant for crimes related to the extrajudicial killings of over 30,000 people during his administration’s controversial war on drugs. He was then transferred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, through INTERPOL.
SAC-M emphasized that Min Aung Hlaing’s turn will inevitably come, holding him accountable for crimes committed under Myanmar’s military rule.
The arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is a significant milestone in international justice, sending a strong message to ASEAN and beyond, the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) stated.
“Duterte’s arrest is a powerful statement. It reflects the commitment of a major ASEAN member state to upholding international justice through the ICC and INTERPOL. It also serves as a clear warning that Min Aung Hlaing will inevitably face the same fate,” said Marzuki Darusman, SAC-M founder.
SAC-M emphasized that Duterte’s arrest underscores the growing accountability movement in the ASEAN region, particularly concerning Myanmar.
The ICC has already taken steps in this direction.
On Nov.27, 2024, the ICC Prosecutor General applied for an arrest warrant against Myanmar’s junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, for crimes related to the mass expulsion and persecution of the Rohingya.
Additionally, in February, an Argentine court issued arrest warrants for 25 individuals, including top military and government officials in Myanmar, for genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya.
Given these developments, SAC-M expects the ICC to issue an official arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing soon. The ICC has also indicated that additional arrest warrants for other key figures involved in Myanmar’s military atrocities will follow.
SAC-M has called on INTERPOL member states to cooperate in the arrest of the 25 individuals wanted by the Argentine courts, including Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy, Soe Win. The organization has also urged the National Unity Government (NUG), ethnic armed organizations, and other revolutionary groups in Myanmar to support efforts to apprehend those under international arrest warrants.
Additionally, SAC-M has called on ASEAN to actively participate in these efforts.
“At a time when the people of Myanmar are losing faith in the UN, the international human rights system, and the promise of justice, this development brings a glimmer of hope,” said Chris Sidoti, another SAC-M founder.
Duterte’s arrest comes as the Philippines prepares to take over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2026, further reinforcing the regional implications of international justice.
Min Aung Hlaing, while serving as Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar’s Defense Services under the civilian government, oversaw military operations in August 2017 that forced over 730,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
UN investigators later described these military actions—marked by mass killings, sexual violence, and village destruction—as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”
The SAC-M statement has been welcomed by Myanmar citizens, including a 33-year-old woman who expressed her long-standing desire for justice.
“I have waited over four years for this. I want the international community to act swiftly in arresting those responsible for war crimes and ensuring justice for the victims.”
SAC-M was established following Myanmar’s military coup on Feb.1, 2021, by former senior UN officials and experts on Myanmar affairs. Its key founders include Yanghee Lee, former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Marzuki Darusman, head of the UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, and Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and former UN investigator.
