Press Conference at the Presidential Palace
January–February 2026
The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)’s efforts to pursue accountability for atrocity crimes committed in Chin State have received widespread coverage across national, regional, and international media.
The attention followed CHRO’s submission of a criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Dili, Timor-Leste on 12 January 2026, requesting an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military against civilians in Chin State. The case was filed under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to investigate and prosecute grave international crimes regardless of where they were committed.
The complaint, submitted by CHRO with support from the Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP), presents documented evidence of serious violations, including mass killings, sexual violence, targeted attacks on Christian religious leaders and churches, and indiscriminate airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.
The criminal file names ten senior members of Myanmar’s military leadership, including Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in connection with alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Following the submission of the complaint, judicial authorities in Timor-Leste assigned a prosecutor to review the case. The matter has since drawn international attention and diplomatic repercussions, including the expulsion of Timor-Leste’s senior diplomat from Yangon by Myanmar’s military authorities, a move widely reported as retaliation for the accountability effort.
The case has also been acknowledged at the highest political levels in Timor-Leste. In a statement issued by the Presidency following a meeting with CHRO on 14 January 2026, President José Ramos-Horta noted that discussions covered accountability efforts, including legal processes in Timor-Leste concerning alleged crimes against humanity in Myanmar, while emphasizing that judicial processes must follow their normal course, free from political interference.
The case has been described by commentators as a significant development in regional justice efforts, marking one of the first attempts within Southeast Asia to pursue accountability for Myanmar military atrocities through universal jurisdiction.
Media Coverage Highlights
CHRO’s initiative received extensive international coverage, including reporting and commentary by
- Reuters
- Associated Press
- The Washington Post
- BBC
- ABC Australia
- Channel News Asia
- South China Morning Post
- The Diplomat
- Human Rights Watch
- Myanmar Now
- DVB
- Christian Today
- Mizzima
- The Irrawaddy
- Numerous Chin-language and regional media outlets
These reports highlighted both the legal significance of the case and the documented atrocities committed against civilians in Chin State since the 2021 military coup.
Compilation of Media Reports
A compiled list of media coverage related to this development is available below in Pdf format: