Tribunal to hear issue on Rohingya at Universiti Malaya on Sept 18-22

KUALA LUMPUR: A tribunal on the situation of the Rohingya, Kachin and other minorities in Myanmar will be held at Universiti Malaya’s law faculty from Sept 18 to Sept 22.

The tribunal which is open to the public will be organised by Just International (Just), Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and the International Forum on Buddhist-Muslim relations.

Just president Dr Chandra Muzaffar said the tribunal would present witnesses of crimes against humanity and atrocities on the two ethnic groups which faced oppression in Myanmar.

He said this was the second session of the tribunal that would hear crimes against humanity that were carried out by the government forces in Myanmar on the ethnic minority.

He said the first session of the tribunal was held in London, United Kingdom in March.

“The results of the hearing will be delivered to international bodies especially the United Nations (UN) so that action can be taken against Myanmar and at the same time, end violence.

He said hopefully, the tribunal would encourage the public to voice out against the oppression of Rohingya, Kachin and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar.

Chandra said the session in London called for the UN and Asean to take a stand to stop oppression against Rohingya and Kachin.

“The killing has to stop, Myanmar has to give back the ethnic minorities their rights,” he said, while referring to the continuous violence against Rohingya that saw 123,000 Rohingyas fleeing to Bangladesh since Aug 25.

The tribunal, under the Permanent People’s Tribunal, which is based in Rome, Italy, hears crimes against humanity, committed by the former junta-led state against minority groups, especially the Rohingya.