'Crimes in Burma'

Earlier this year, Harvard's International Human Rights Clinic at the Harvard Law School released a report on human rights and humanitarian law violations in Burma. Although a wide body of documentation of such violations exists, this report narrowed its focus specifically to those acts documented by the UN, and even with this narrowing, an immense supply of examples exists.

Because Myanmar is not a signatory to the ICC, it cannot be referred to the court without a resolution from the UN Security Council. This report suggests that a sufficient body of evidence exists for the UNSC to to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate and report on crimes against humanity and war crimes in Burma.

From the report:
"In light of the seriousness of allegations concerning the destruction or displacement of more than 3,000 villages (more than the number relocated in Darfur), this report set out to review UN documentation of reports of human rights and humanitarian law violations in Burma. Specifically, the report sought to evaluate the extent to which UN institutions have knowledge of reported abuses occurring in the country that may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country. The report finds that UN bodies have indeed consistently acknowledged abuses and used legal terms associated with these international crimes, including for example that violations have been widespread, systematic, or part of a state policy. This finding necessitates more concerted UN action. In particular, despite the recognition of the existence of these violations by many UN organs, to date, the Security Council has failed to act to ensure accountability and justice. In light of more than fifteen years of condemnation from UN bodies for human rights abuses in Burma, the Security Council should institute a Commission of Inquiry to investigate grave crimes that have been committed in the country. "

I highly recommend taking a few moments to review the report:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/hrp/documents/Crimes-in-Burma.pdf

Its stunning that as an international community we are repeatedly willing to ignore such gross violations, time after time, around the globe, even after documenting their existence. This report is the beginning of a larger call to stop ignoring the current crimes in Burma. Unfortunately, a UNSC resolution depends upon China foregoing its veto, which it is unlikely to do when the charges involve mistreating ethnic minorities, for fear it will be held to account for its own crimes.

These are my friends and coworkers, who have fled their homes as their villages are set alight, and whose siblings and spouses are maimed by landmines. I see their way of life and space to live melting away, and yet I still have trouble grasping the kind of systematic policy that enjeopardizes the daily existence of entire peoples - so I understand that halfway around the world, its hard to prioritize their plight. I don't know what the answer is. But if you will do me this favor, of thinking for just a few minutes about their desire to fulfill their right to live a quiet simple life, a few minutes of solidarity with people facing systematic destruction, maybe thats a place to begin.