Myanmar Spring Chronicle – February 18 Scene
MoeMaKa, February 19, 2025
NUG Responds to Argentina Court’s Arrest Warrants for U Htin Kyaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
An Argentine court has issued arrest warrants against 25 individuals in connection with crimes against humanity committed in northern Rakhine State, specifically in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, by the military, security forces, and police. The warrant was issued under the principle of universal jurisdiction. Among those named are current military leaders, generals, military commanders responsible for Rakhine State at the time, prison officials, police officers, as well as two top leaders of the then-government—President U Htin Kyaw and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The case was filed by a UK-based Rohingya rights group in 2019, seeking legal action against Myanmar’s military leaders for their primary responsibility in the mass killings of Rohingya people during August and early September 2017. The arrest warrants, issued in February 2025, target 25 individuals in total—23 from the military, police, and prison authorities, along with two civilian leaders from the previous government, U Htin Kyaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The inclusion of U Htin Kyaw and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a politically significant development, especially for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently imprisoned. It also affects U Htin Kyaw, who has already retired from politics. The NUG (National Unity Government) issued its response to the arrest warrants a few days after the news was made public on February 14.
NUG’s Official Response
The NUG’s statement supports efforts to hold Myanmar’s military leaders and their units accountable for their crimes against the Rohingya. It explicitly states that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his associates must bear full responsibility. The statement welcomes the legal action initiated by the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK but criticizes the inclusion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Htin Kyaw in the arrest warrants, calling it a wrongful accusation.
The NUG has urged the Argentine court to remove these two individuals from the case, emphasizing that the NLD government had taken peaceful and long-term measures for the Rohingya issue. The NUG also highlighted that it has established a policy for Rohingya rights and is actively working toward justice for the Rohingya people.
Controversy and Internal Divisions
The NUG’s statement also warns that including civilian government leaders in the case could weaken national unity and hinder the Spring Revolution’s fight against military dictatorship. It argues that such legal actions may inadvertently benefit the military junta.
However, the arrest warrants have sparked internal divisions within anti-military forces. Some activists and supporters of the Spring Revolution have criticized the Rohingya rights group for filing the case, arguing that it disrupts the movement’s unity. Others have voiced dissatisfaction with the NUG’s policy on the Rohingya issue on social media.
Critics of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have resurfaced discussions about her defense of the military at the ICJ (International Court of Justice) in 2019 and the NLD government’s role in spreading military narratives during the 2017 crisis. These debates reflect long-standing divisions over accountability, human rights policies, and political strategy within Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement.
Moving Forward
Despite these differences, those involved in the Spring Revolution—including activists, resistance groups, and political leaders—continue to search for common ground in their fight against military rule. The ongoing struggle involves balancing justice, political pragmatism, and the broader goal of dismantling the dictatorship.