Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing need not fear possible ICC warrant, observers say

General unlikely to be detained if he visits neighbors and key partners

Observers believe that Myanmar's Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing should not be concerned about request by the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor for an arrest warrant against him in connection with alleged offenses against the Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority. © Getty Images

DOMINIC FAULDER, Nikkei Asia associate editor and HTET PHYOE, Contributing writer

December 5, 2024 14:43 JST

BANGKOK/CHIANG MAI -- The head of Myanmar's military government has little to fear from a request by the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor for judges to issue an arrest warrant against, according to observers.

Karim Asad Ahmad Khan, a British barrister and the ICC's chief prosecutor, announced last week he had asked ICC judges to issue a warrant against Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's military leader since 2011 who seized power in February 2021, for alleged crimes against the country's Muslim Rohingya minority in 2016 and 2017.