By Ra Wai / MPA
Justice for Myanmar has condemned the decision to allow Min Aung Hlaing, leader of Myanmar’s military regime and an alleged war criminal, to attend the BIMSTEC summit, saying it amounts to legitimizing his rule and granting him a license to commit further international crimes.
Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok on Thursday to join the regional summit hosted by Thailand. Justice for Myanmar denounced both Thailand and BIMSTEC for extending the invitation, calling it a serious misstep.
A Yangon-based political analyst told MPA that “ASEAN member Thailand is defying the bloc’s own stance by legitimizing Min Aung Hlaing. This move is driven by pressure from China. In response, India—another major regional player—also backed the junta chief’s participation to compete with Beijing’s influence.”
In a statement released Thursday, Justice for Myanmar said BIMSTEC’s decision to welcome the 2021 Myanmar coup leader and is responsible for ongoing atrocities has seriously undermined the organization’s credibility.
The group noted that Min Aung Hlaing is under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against the Rohingya and is the subject of multiple international sanctions. A federal court in Argentina recently issued an arrest warrant for him over his role in the 2017 genocide.
Justice for Myanmar urged BIMSTEC to end all engagement with the Myanmar military regime and stop enabling its crimes.
The BIMSTEC summit is taking place in Thailand from April 2 to 4, with leaders from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Thailand in attendance, alongside Min Aung Hlaing.
