The United Council of Rohingya (UCR) has urged the United Nations to independently investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya civilians by the Arakan Army (AA), calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

The demand was raised during a meeting between UCR representatives and Nicholas Koumjian, head of the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), at the organization's office in Cox’s Bazar on Friday morning.

According to Rohingya Khobor, members of the UCR President Panel and Executive Committee met Koumjian and members of his delegation to discuss international efforts to secure justice for Rohingya victims and document alleged abuses in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

UCR representatives expressed concern over reported violations against Rohingya communities and stressed the need for credible allegations to be examined through an independent process. They said accountability must extend to all perpetrators, regardless of their identity, position, or affiliation.

The IIMM delegation briefed the Rohingya representatives on its work to collect, preserve, and analyze evidence of serious international crimes committed in Myanmar, according to UCR’s account of the meeting.

Established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018, the mechanism prepares evidence that could be used in criminal proceedings before national, regional or international courts. It does not have the authority to arrest or prosecute suspects or conduct trials.

The discussion also covered legal proceedings concerning alleged crimes against the Rohingya, including the International Criminal Court’s work, the genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice and legal action in Argentina.

UCR said justice for Rohingya survivors should go beyond documenting past abuses and include establishing the truth, ensuring accountability, and preventing further violence against civilians.

The organization also linked justice to the prospects of repatriation for Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh. It maintained that any return to their homeland must be voluntary, safe and dignified, backed by guarantees of security, citizenship, and fundamental rights.

The meeting comes as concerns over the treatment of Rohingya communities in Rakhine State continue to draw attention from rights groups and international bodies. UCR’s call seeks to ensure that allegations against the Arakan Army receive independent scrutiny alongside investigations into crimes attributed to Myanmar’s military.

However, the information released about Friday’s meeting did not indicate that the IIMM had announced a new investigation specifically into the allegations against the Arakan Army or made any fresh commitment on the matter.

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