Min Aung Hlaing
Indonesia has taken an unusual step by accepting a criminal complaint against Myanmar’s president, Min Aung Hlaing, over alleged atrocities against the Rohingya minority.
This move reflects Indonesia’s growing role in regional affairs and exposes the uncomfortable reality of China’s continued backing of Myanmar’s military leadership.
The criminal complaint
The complaint, submitted to Indonesia’s Attorney General, accuses Min Aung Hlaing of genocide linked to the 2017 military operations in Rakhine State. Those operations forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, with widespread reports of killings, mass rape, and village burnings.
Myanmar’s leadership continues to deny any genocide took place, despite mounting international evidence and ongoing legal challenges at global courts. Indonesia’s updated penal code allows for universal jurisdiction, meaning crimes like genocide can be prosecuted regardless of where they occurred. Indonesian prosecutors have formally accepted the case, marking a rare move in Southeast Asia.
Rohingya refugees and regional responsibility
Indonesia has seen strong public and institutional sympathy for the Rohingya. Organizations like Muhammadiyah have long framed the crisis as both a humanitarian and moral issue.
But this is not just about solidarity. Rohingya refugees have repeatedly arrived on Indonesian shores, particularly in Aceh, turning a distant conflict into a domestic concern. Managing refugee flows, preventing instability, and responding to public pressure all push Jakarta to act.
At the same time, Indonesia is trying to position itself as a serious regional leader. ASEAN has struggled to respond effectively to Myanmar’s crisis, largely due to its principle of non-interference. Indonesia, by contrast, is signaling that it is willing to move beyond rhetoric. Supporting legal accountability allows Jakarta to take a firm stance.
China’s support of Myanmar’s military leadership
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s military has consolidated power, suppressing opposition and plunging the country into civil conflict. Elections that elevated Min Aung Hlaing to the presidency were widely dismissed by Western governments as lacking legitimacy.
China has consistently shielded Myanmar’s military leadership from stronger international action. This support is driven by hard interests: Myanmar offers China a strategic corridor to the Indian Ocean, reducing reliance on contested maritime routes. Infrastructure projects and energy pipelines depend on a stable partner in Naypyidaw, and supporting the junta ensures those interests remain protected.
Shielding Myanmar’s leadership also aligns with China’s broader pattern of backing centralized, authoritarian governments that can guarantee continuity. Stability is prioritized over accountability.
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