Himal Interview: Radhika Coomaraswamy on Myanmar

On 18 September 2018, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar released its full findings detailing evidence of Myanmar army’s crimes against humanity. Building on its report of 27 August, detailing the Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military’s involvement in crimes against humanity, the UN report has called for investigation into the crimes that could amount to genocide, and the removal of the military from political and civilian life, and said that democratic transition in Myanmar is at a standstill. The report calls for the investigation and prosecution of Myanmar's army chief, adding that “the Tatmadaw is the greatest impediment to Myanmar’s development as a modern democratic nation.” Ahead of the release of the 400-page report, our editor Aunohita Mojumdar spoke with Radhika Coomaraswamy, one of the three members of the fact-finding mission. Coomaraswamy spoke about the difficulty of investigating without access to the area, the challenges on the road to prosecution, and the disappointment over the spectacular failure of an inspiring movement for democracy. More on the podcast page: himalmag.com/himal-interviews-a…ed-entry-to-india/ Go to www.himalmag.com for more on politics and culture in Southasia. ---------------------------------------------------- Intro and outro music derived from 'Ways of Rahjan' by Ask Again from Free Music Archive.