Mizzima-Feb 25
The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar on 23 February praised Timor-Leste for leading ASEAN in exploring legal action against Myanmar’s military junta, urging regional support and cooperation with international justice to hold junta leader Min Aung Hlaing accountable. Excerpts from statement: In early February, Timor-Leste appointed a prosecutor to explore potential proceedings against the Myanmar military junta, including junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to the Myanmar Accountability Project, it is the first time an ASEAN member has initiated such action against a fellow member, marking a turning point for the bloc. Last month, the International Court of Justice held public hearings and heard oral arguments in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar under the Genocide Convention. Predictably, the junta’s reprisals against Timor-Leste have been swift and petty. It has ejected Timor-Leste’s chargé d’affaires from the country, complaining that Timor-Leste breached ASEAN’s principle of non-interference in each other’s affairs. But the military junta’s flagrant atrocities and the regional crisis it has triggered deeply impacts in all ASEAN members, individually and collectively. When the ICC – as widely expected – issues an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing (assuming it has not already done so on a “Secret” basis), the Philippines (as the new ASEAN chair) should publicly confirm that it will cooperate with the Court in securing his arrest and transfer to The Hague. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2026/02/25/31581
