Non-Interference Principle of Asean in The Rohingya Crisis: International Human Rights Law as Alternative Foothold

Abstract

This article examines the Rohingya human rights abuses and evaluates the effectiveness of ASEAN principles in resolving Myanmar crisis. This study also demonstrates the nature of silence of ASEAN in Myanmar crisis with its principle of non-interference. In international domain, in line with the ruling made by the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber, investigations into the crimes committed against Rohingya Muslims should have been conducted in accordance with the norms of ethics and integrity under international relations and human rights legislation. The essential ethical and moral standards found in both international relations and human rights law are emphasized in this study. The ASEAN should have been able to act in conformity with the international theory of human rights under the rules of ethics and integrity in international relations. However, Russia's political links to Myanmar were among the main factors in the ASEAN's failure to fulfill its commitments. In this tug of war between major countries, ASEAN is trapped and hiding under the pretext of non-interference. However, ASEAN's incompetence in the case of the Rohingya and Myanmar crises is comparable to the UNSC in several respects, with their weakness in taking decisive action against the Russian invasion. Russia used its veto power to prevent the UNSC from making a statement about the invasion. The concept of ethics and integrity should be upheld to execute and ensure the dignity of international relations and human rights in both cases. In this regard, the article asserts the necessity of comparing a better framework of international human rights to address problems like Rohingya in ASEAN cases and UNSC in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as any concerns that may develop in the future. Thus, there is a practical suggestion that a conflict management body needs to be established within ASEAN.