Press Release

Rohingya Boat Sinking is a Direct Result of Global Failure

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) expresses its profound grief and outrage over the sinking of a refugee boat in the Andaman Sea carrying approximately 250–280 people, mainly Rohingya refugees. The boat had departed from Teknaf in Bangladesh and was bound for Malaysia before capsizing after days at sea in overcrowded conditions. These were genocide survivors, including women and children. The majority are now feared missing.

This tragedy has devastated Rohingya communities already enduring years of persecution and displacement. Entire families have been lost, and others left separated across the region as loved ones wait in anguish for news. These journeys are undertaken despite the known risk of death, not out of choice, but out of desperation. This is also not an isolated incident. Deadly maritime journeys involving Rohingya refugees are increasing, with hundreds killed in similar incidents in 2024 and 2025 alone. They are also not accidental. They are the direct result of ongoing genocide and persecution in Myanmar, protracted statelessness, and the continued failure of the international community to act.

Without sustained and meaningful pressure, more Rohingya will be forced onto these journeys, and more lives will be lost. The impunity of Myanmar’s military leadership, including Min Aung Hlaing, has allowed crimes against the Rohingya to continue without consequence. At the same time, Rohingya communities in Rakhine State face ongoing violence and atrocity crimes, including under the control of the Arakan Army, making safe return impossible.

Conditions for Rohingya refugees in camps in Bangladesh are intolerable. Severe restrictions on livelihoods and the inability to work have left families with no viable future. Cuts to humanitarian aid, including food rations, have deepened hardship, while prolonged uncertainty has driven widespread despair. Increasing numbers of Rohingya continue to arrive, fleeing violence against Rohingya by the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. These conditions are forcing families to leave, not by choice, but because they have no other option.

Human trafficking networks are exploiting this desperation. Rohingya refugees are lured onto boats with false promises of employment and safety abroad, including in Malaysia, only to face inhumane conditions at sea. These networks operate across the region in a well-established system of exploitation, sustained by the absence of protection and accountability. According to our credible sources, from whom we have collected information over several years, human traffickers gather victims in Thamee Hla village, located in Rathedaung Township of Rakhine State, under the supervision of the Arakan Army. This human-trafficking hub must be dismantled by any means necessary to prevent further tragedies.

The continued loss of Rohingya lives at sea is the direct consequence of a failure to protect them. The international community has not upheld its commitments, has not applied sufficient pressure on Myanmar and other responsible actors, and has allowed this crisis to continue. This is a profound betrayal of the Rohingya people.

The ARNC calls on the international community, including the United Nations and ASEAN, to take immediate and concrete action to:

• Dismantle and prosecute human trafficking networks;
• Restore and increase humanitarian funding for Rohingya refugees;
• Strengthen international protection mechanisms;
• Ensure accountability for perpetrators of crimes against the Rohingya; and
• Exert sustained pressure to create conditions for safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation with full citizenship rights and guarantees of protection.

The ARNC remains committed to advocating for justice, protection, and the full restoration of the rights of the Rohingya people.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

Press Release

ARNC Condemns Illegitimate Presidency of Min Aung Hlaing

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) unequivocally condemns the appointment of Min Aung Hlaing as President of Myanmar by a military-dominated parliament produced through a so-called election that has been widely condemned by the United Nations, democratic governments, and independent observers as a sham designed to legitimize continued military rule. This is not a democratic transition, but a deliberate attempt to entrench military rule under the guise of civilian governance.

The parliamentary process that elevated Min Aung Hlaing to the presidency was fundamentally illegitimate. It was conducted within a system structurally controlled by the military, where 25% of seats are unelected and reserved for serving officers. Opposition parties were banned or boycotted, and the outcome was predetermined by military in favor of their own actors and cronies. The overwhelming victory secured by Min Aung Hlaing makes the so-called election a subject of ridicule for both national and international communities, reflecting not the will of the people but the consolidation of power by force.

Min Aung Hlaing’s elevation to the presidency comes despite overwhelming evidence of his responsibility for some of the gravest crimes of the 21st century. Under his command, Myanmar military with support from extremist elements within the Rakhine community carried out the 2016/2017 campaign against the Rohingya people which has resulted in mass killings, systematic sexual violence, the burning of hundreds of villages, and the forced displacement of over one million Rohingya into Bangladesh and tens of thousands in other neighboring countries.

Today, he stands not as a legitimate head of state, but as an alleged perpetrator of genocide and crimes against humanity. He faces the risk of arrest should he set foot in a democratic country, because on February 13, 2025, a federal court in Buenos Aires, Argentina issued international arrest warrants against him and other senior officials under the principle of universal jurisdiction for genocide and crimes against humanity.

In November 2024, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court filed an application for an arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing for crimes against humanity, including deportation and persecution of the Rohingya.

These legal actions affirm what victims have long known as there is no legitimacy in impunity.

Furthermore, Min Aung Hlaing’s presidency follows five years of devastating civil war triggered by his illegal coup in 2021. Thousands of innocents have been killed, millions displaced.  Myanmar today stands as a nation in collapse under military tyranny.

The ARNC rejects unequivocally the legitimacy of the 2026 election, the authority of the military-controlled parliament to appoint Min Aung Hlaing as president of the country. We reaffirm that any political structure built upon violence, exclusion, and impunity cannot represent the people of Myanmar.

We stand in solidarity with all oppressed people across Myanmar, including pro-democracy forces, in their struggle to dismantle military dictatorship and establish a genuine federal democratic union grounded in justice, accountability, and human rights.

The fact that Min Aung Hlaing has been emboldened to assume the presidency despite his record of grave crimes is a direct consequence of the international community’s silence and failure to take meaningful action. This continued inaction has enabled impunity and prolonged suffering across Myanmar.

Today, much of Arakan State is effectively under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), which has been persecuting Rohingya survivors of genocide even with more brutality. These actions appear driven by a deliberate intent to expel and eradicate the remaining Rohingya population from their ancestral land, in pursuit of an Arakan State devoid of Rohingya presence.

We reiterate that bringing Min Aung Hlaing and other perpetrators to justice is of paramount importance and must not be delayed if there is any genuine commitment to preventing Myanmar from becoming a failed state and to stopping the erasure of Rohingya from Arakan State.

Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) calls upon the international community to:

• Refuse recognition of Min Aung Hlaing’s presidency
• Support ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice concerning genocide against Rohingya community.
• Ensure enforcement of international arrest warrants, including those issued by Argentine courts
• Increase coordinated pressure, including sanctions and accountability mechanisms, against the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA).
• Urgent call for an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Myanmar. Both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army are failing to comply with the provisional measures to prevent genocide ordered by the International Court of Justice.

Justice for the Rohingya and all victims in Myanmar cannot be delayed, denied, or negotiated away.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

Press Release

ARNC Congratulates BNP on Electoral Victory and Calls for a Permanent Political Solution to the Rohingya Crisis

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) extends its sincere congratulations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on its electoral success, and to Mr. Tarique Rahman as he stands as the hopeful Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh have once again demonstrated their democratic will. We commend this important political milestone and recognize the responsibility that accompanies renewed leadership at a time of regional and humanitarian complexity.

Bangladesh has carried an extraordinary humanitarian responsibility by hosting 1.2 million Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide. The generosity of the Bangladeshi people remains deeply respected and remembered by the Rohingya community worldwide. At this critical juncture, ARNC looks forward to constructive engagement with your leadership and your government to pursue a comprehensive and durable solution to the Rohingya crisis. The time has come to move beyond temporary arrangements toward a permanent framework that ensures:

1. Safe, voluntary, and dignified return to our ancestral homeland
2. Ethnic & citizenship rights, security guarantees and international monitoring
3. Binding safeguards to prevent repetition of atrocities and exodus

The Rohingya issue is not merely a humanitarian crisis, it is fundamentally a political issue that directly concerns Bangladesh and extends beyond its borders. While humanitarian assistance remains essential, lasting solutions cannot be achieved without addressing the root political causes. The crisis has clear implications for regional stability, security, and international law, making it a matter of shared political responsibility for Bangladesh and the broader international community.

We recall the leadership of the late President Ziaur Rahman, whose firm diplomatic engagement during the 1978 refugee crisis contributed to the repatriation process following mass displacement. While subsequent influxes revealed the limitations of repatriation without structural guarantees, that period demonstrated how principled and decisive leadership can influence regional outcomes.

Today, renewed diplomatic initiative, regional coordination, and firm commitment to international law will be essential. A sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis is not only a humanitarian imperative but also vital for Bangladesh and long-term regional security and stability.

ARNC stands ready to work in partnership with your government to advance meaningful dialogue, accountability, and a permanent political solution, one that restores dignity, protects rights, and ensures that history does not repeat itself.

We look forward to constructive cooperation and your guidance with regard to a permanent solution to the problem faced by both Rohingya and Bangladesh.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

Press Release

ARNC Extends Gratitude to The Gambia and Legal Team as International Court of Justice Concludes Genocide Hearings Against Myanmar

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) sincerely welcomes the conclusion of the hearings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the historic case brought by the Republic of The Gambia, with the support of eleven other States, against the Republic of the Union of Myanmar concerning violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

ARNC expresses its deepest gratitude to the International Court of Justice, its esteemed Judges, officers, and staff for their professionalism, integrity, and commitment to upholding international law and justice.

We convey our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Foley Hoag LLP, the legal team representing The Gambia, for their steadfast and principled advocacy for justice for the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice. Their professional commitment to international law and accountability continues to give hope to a persecuted people of Myanmar and strengthen the global fight against genocide and impunity.

We also extend our profound appreciation to the Government and people of The Gambia for their moral courage and principled leadership in bringing this case on behalf of the Rohingya people, as well as to the eleven supporting States for standing in defense of accountability and human dignity. ARNC acknowledges and appreciates the support of the people of Myanmar for standing with us in this historic pursuit of justice.

ARNC is confident that the Court will render its decision based on the extensive and compelling evidence presented, including eyewitness accounts, survivor testimonies, and expert analyses. The evidence clearly demonstrates that Myanmar’s security forces, with the support of extremist elements from the Rakhine community, have committed acts that violate all the provisions of the Genocide Convention against the Rohingya people of Arakan.

We trust that the Court will uphold its mandate by determining responsibility in accordance with international law and by ordering appropriate remedies, including reparations and compensation, as provided for under the Genocide Convention. Justice delayed is justice denied, and we respectfully urge the Court to deliver its decision at the earliest possible opportunity.

Furthermore, ARNC calls upon the International Court of Justice to order Myanmar’s leadership to immediately and completely cease all ongoing oppression, persecution, and discriminatory practices against the remaining Rohingya population in Myanmar, and to comply fully with its obligations under international law.

Rohingya are an indigenous people of Arakan who have lived in the region for thousands of years, with deep historical, cultural, and social roots in the land. As such, they possess an inherent and inalienable right to their homeland. ARNC firmly asserts that all Rohingya who were forcibly displaced must be allowed to return voluntarily, safely, with full dignity, equal citizenship rights, security guarantees, and access to justice. Any durable solution must recognize the Rohingya as a native people of Arakan and ensure their fundamental rights in accordance with international law.

The Rohingya people have endured decades of systematic violence, displacement, and denial of their fundamental rights. This ICJ case represents not only a pursuit of justice for past crimes, but also a critical step toward preventing further atrocities and ensuring accountability for the future.

The suffering of the Rohingya and that of other communities and ethnicities across Myanmar stem from the same root cause: unaccountable military rule. Justice for one does not diminish justice for others—it strengthens protection for all. ARNC is confident that justice delivered to Rohingya people will ultimately benefit and serve all the people of Myanmar.

ARNC remains steadfast in its belief that international justice can and must prevail.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989

Press Release

Rohingya Sea Tragedy Is a Result of Genocidal Persecution in Arakan

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) expresses its deepest sorrow and strongest condemnation following the tragic sinking of a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and other migrants off the coast of Malaysia, near the Thailand–Malaysia maritime boundary. According to Malaysian maritime authorities, one body has been recovered and “dozens” remain missing after an overloaded vessel believed to be carrying about 90 people capsized near the area of Tarutao Island, Thailand, drifting toward Langkawi Island, Malaysia.

The incident reportedly involved migrants who initially boarded a larger vessel in Myanmar’s Arakan State carrying 300 Rohingya from Buthidaung Township and then transferred to smaller boats to avoid detection when it came closer to the Malaysian coast.

This horrific event must not be seen as a mere accident. It is another consequence of the ongoing genocidal persecution and campaign of erasure against the Rohingya people in their ancestral land of Arakan State, Myanmar. ARNC has repeatedly warned that the Arakan Army (AA) has undertaken a systematic campaign to render Arakan Rohingya-free through killings, forced displacement, arbitrary arrests, force recruitment, destruction of Rohingya villages and policies of siege. These brutal tactics have left thousands of Rohingya civilians trapped without food, security or hope, pushing many into deadly sea crossings out of desperation.

This tragedy is not simply an unfortunate occurrence; it is the direct result of the Arakan Army’s atrocities and the sustained persecution that continue to drive Rohingya families into the sea, where countless lives are being lost.

ARNC strongly condemns these inhuman acts and issues an urgent call for international intervention to end the suffering of the Rohingya people.

ARNC hereby appeals to:

• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fulfil its humanitarian obligations and establish a regional protection mechanism for Rohingya refugees and migrants at sea and onshore and to establish a joint task force to investigate human trafficking gangs and hold them to account.
• The United Kingdom to immediately convene a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the crisis in Arakan State, including violations of international law by the Burmese military and Arakan Army, breaches of the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, starvation in Rakhine State, the crisis for Rohingya refugees impacted by aid cuts, and human trafficking.
• The European Union (EU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United States (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK) to sanction the Arakan Army and its leaders for their role in violations of international law.
• Regional governments, especially Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, to ensure safe disembarkation, thorough search-and-rescue operations, and humane treatment for all survivors regardless of legal status.
• The international community must not remain indifferent while an entire people are being driven from their homeland, and many are forced to risk death at sea. The Rohingya are facing a renewed wave of genocide under the guise of conflict in Arakan, and global silence only emboldens the perpetrators.

ARNC reiterates its unwavering demand for justice, accountability, and the full restoration of Rohingya indigenous rights in their homeland in Arakan State.

For more information, please contact:

• Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
• Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
• Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989