Kantarawaddy Times
The German court has dismissed a case filed under the principle of Universal Jurisdiction concerning the massacre near Mo So village in Hpruso Township, Karenni State, where over 40 civilians, including two staff members of Save the Children, were burned alive by the Myanmar military, according to U Banya, the Deputy Secretary-2 of the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC).
Universal Jurisdiction is a legal principle allowing individuals to be sued for serious crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, regardless of where the crimes were committed.
“Various cases, including the Mo So massacre, were part of the submission in Germany. However, due to the complexity and high numbers of the filed evidence, the court found it difficult to proceed, so it dismissed the case,” U Banya explained.
The Karenni Human Rights Organization (KHRO) and other human rights groups in Myanmar collaborated on the submission, which highlighted crimes such as the Mo So massacre and other mass killings in Myanmar, including one in Yae Yoe village near Loikaw. Despite these efforts, Germany’s dismissal adds to the challenges of seeking justice for such crimes.
Furthermore, U Banya revealed that the Karenni State Police (KSP) and the National Unity Government (NUG) jointly filed the Mo So case in Australia. However, there has been no response from Australian authorities so far.
“To be honest, none of the cases submitted by the NUG in collaboration with international partners have progressed significantly. The case filed in Australia is still processing under the Universal Jurisdiction,” U Banya said.
It has been 3 years since the Mo So massacre occurred on December 24, 2021. Families of the victims continue to commemorate annually at the site of the incident.
Daw Esther, a 50-year-old mother who lost a son and a daughter in the massacre, expressed her determination to seek justice despite the international dismissal.
“I want this case to go further. I cannot accept this outcome. Justice must be served. The international community must not forget us; we need their support to move forward. I have no access to responsible officials to ask why the case was dismissed or what we should do next,” she said.
Although three years have passed since the massacre, Daw Esther claimed that she would not rest until justice is achieved for her children and others who were killed.
“How precious is a person’s life, I have raised my children with so much hardship. I want them to be educated. How precious are my children? They were my most valuable treasures, and the military destroyed them without a second thought,” Daw Esther added.
Through the reports from media organizations in Myanmar, we can see human rights violations committed by the military junta, such as airstrikes and mass killings, continue to occur in conflict areas, including Karenni, Sagaing, Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, Shan, and Karen States.
The NUG’s Deputy Minister for Human Rights, Khun Bwe Htun, emphasized the importance of international advocacy and reparations for the victims. He stated that justice must be achieved to uphold the dignity of those affected by these crimes in the interview with Kantarawaddy Times.
Despite the dismissal of the case, U Banya assured that efforts would continue to prosecute the Myanmar military under international law.
The Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) also stated its commitment to collaborating with all relevant organizations to ensure accountability for the war crimes committed in Karenni State and to pursue justice at international courts.
