🧵on #accountability & the work of #IIMM. Many have criticized the #UN in the last 4 months for only issuing statements & expressing 'grave concern.' But behind the scenes people are actively working towards a mechanism that will ensure accountability. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
1. Already in September 2018, the @UN_HRC has established an "ongoing independent mechanism to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in #Myanmar since 2011 iimm.un.org
2. The #IIMM will "facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with international law standards, in national, regional or international courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes", eg ICJ and ICC
3. A team of foreign and Myanmar experts work on building cases that will be used as evidence in court proceedings. The group has been working for quite a while now behind the scenes and under high security, but since the #militarycoup on Feb 1st, they began to speak up.
4. This is not related to #advocacy as the group is paid by the #UN and works under an official mandate. The fact that #IIMM is turning to the press now relates to the fact that they want the Generals to know that their time is limited and that they will be prosecuted.
5. Here is an interview with the head of the #IIMM who explains how the group is working. TRIGGER WARNING: the video contains grave violence (footage from #Myanmar). The title is also misleading, but what Nicholas Koumjian says here, is really important. bbc.com/news/av/world-…
6. Check out the website of #IIMM (iimm.un.org) for more information, resources & the group's media work. There is also an official FB-page facebook.com/MyanmarMechani… If you believe you have information that could be useful to the Myanmar Mechanism, here's the contact⬇️
7. Contact them at +41 76 691 12 08 via Signal or at iimm@un.org by email to discuss how information relating to individual criminal responsibility for the most serious international crimes or violations of international law committed in Myanmar from 2011-now can be shared
8. " The Mechanism also has a number of other encrypted means of communication for receiving information, which can be provided as needed. Your safety and security, and of all others with whom we interact, are very important to us" see more Q and A here: iimm.un.org/qa/
9. The "Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar" is a novel instrument within the #UN - there's only a Impartial Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM) and a UN Accountability Team for Da’esh (UNITAD) that is similar, but that's it, really. iimm.un.org/myanmar-mechan…
10. I thought I'd share this information with everyone interested as it is not widely known so far. The #UN is thus doing more than issuing statements. They are collecting evidence that will eventually be put to use in national and international courts. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
11. I previously posted about the possibility of nat. Govs to also prosecute the Generals. See link below under this thread in the discussion with @RealMALxoxo ⬇️
12. There’s also the possibility of int. tribunals - as currently happening in the case of the “Uyghur tribunal” against China. Led by lawyer G. Nice, who also led the UN prosecution for war crimes of the late former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. news.yahoo.com/news/uyghur-tr…
13. This tribunal, that begins its official work today, has no legal force but collects evidence that can then be used by others who do have legal power. In all cases, states will be required to act upon that evidence in order for there to be real effects #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
