Media Release from Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK):

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 3, 2026

Genocide General Min Aung Hlaing’s Presidency Demands New International Approach to Rohingya Crisis

The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK) today warned that General Min Aung Hlaing’s move towards the presidency, alongside ongoing human rights violations by the Arakan Army against the Rohingya, leaves any meaningful solution to the Rohingya crisis out of reach. The international community must drastically shift its approach, including by significantly speeding up international justice processes.

The Burmese military and Min Aung Hlaing face multiple international legal actions for genocide and crimes against humanity, including the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with a ruling expected by the end of the year. The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor has sought arrest warrants against senior military officials, and courts in Argentina have issued arrest warrants under universal jurisdiction, including against Min Aung Hlaing himself.

“Min Aung Hlaing is a wanted criminal evading an arrest warrant in Argentina for his role in genocide against the Rohingya,” said Tun Khin, President of BROUK.

“Just months ago, his military was forced to defend itself at the International Court of Justice. Any government that believes he can bring reform or change to Burma is deluding itself.”

This move towards the presidency is not a surprise and does not represent any real political transition- only a continuation of military rule.

Since seizing power in the 2021 coup, the Burmese military continues to control all key state institutions, including the executive, legislature and judiciary. Changing titles or positions does not alter this reality or the daily experience of people across Burma. The military has a long history of using political processes to maintain its grip on power, repeatedly attempting to rebrand its rule while continuing widespread attacks on civilians.

“The lack of legitimacy is already clear -that is not the news here,” said Tun Khin. “The real headline is the failure of the international community to act. There have been no new sanctions for more than a year, no enforcement of arrest warrants for General Min Aung Hlaing, and no sustained pressure on the military or the Arakan Army.”

Across Burma, civilians continue to face widespread and systematic attacks by the military, including airstrikes, killings, arbitrary arrests and displacement, with no meaningful international action to stop these abuses.

In Rakhine State, the genocide against the Rohingya continues, with grave abuses by both the Burmese military and the Arakan Army. Rohingya civilians face violence from multiple actors, as the international community continues to fail to act. Recent UNHCR reporting shows that tens of thousands of Rohingya have been forced to flee to Bangladesh in recent months.

BROUK calls for immediate and coordinated action by the international community:

• Enforce international arrest warrants and advance cases at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold perpetrators accountable for genocide and other serious crimes.
• Impose targeted sanctions against the Burmese military and its sources of revenue to restrict its ability to carry out attacks against civilians.
• Increase diplomatic pressure to end abuses by all actors, including the Arakan Army, and ensure accountability for violations against the Rohingya.
• Cut the military’s access to arms, aviation fuel and foreign revenue, which continue to fund attacks on civilians.

The UK, as penholder on Burma at the UN Security Council, must urgently lead efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and protect the Rohingya.

“Under the last sham reform process from 2010 to 2021, the international community stood by and failed to act on the genocide against the Rohingya for the so-called greater good of reforms,” said Tun Khin.

“The question Rohingya are asking is this: if the genocide general releases more political prisoners and introduces superficial reforms, will the international community once again look the other way as the death toll rises?”

ENDS

For media inquiries:
Please contact Tun Khin on +44 (0)7888 714866 or email info@brouk.org.uk