Myanmar Asked To Repeal Or Amend Presidential Immunity Law
Amnesty International called on the government of Myanmar to either repeal or amend a law that could grant former presidents immunity from prosecution for human rights violations and crimes under international law. “This law has been rushed through parliament with minimal debate before the new government takes office, raising concerns that the outgoing government is determined to protect its ranks from any form of prosecution”, said Champa Patel, Amnesty International Interim Director South East Asia and Pacific Office.
The law was also labelled as a threat to families and rights to justice, truth and reparations and could violate Myanmar’s obligation to prosecute crimes under international law. Moreover, Myanmar is a state where state officials and members of the security forces commit human rights violations and the situation needs to be rectified in order to provide justice to victims and their family members.
In recent years, Myanmar authorities have faced accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the context of internal armed conflicts, and have continued the state-sponsored persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Amnesty International has also documented a range of human rights violations, including torture and other ill-treatment, extra-judicial executions, and arbitrary detentions, several of which constitute crimes under international law.
