By Brittney Hodnik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
CANBERRA, Australia– Htoo Htoo Han has come forward claiming that he is responsible for hundreds of deaths in his native land of Burma. Han claims that he was commander of the so called, “death squad” during the pro-democracy uprisings in the late 1980s where about 6,000 people were killed. He now tells the Sydney Morning Herald that eight of the men in his regime are currently living in Australia.
The Australian government says that they will look into Han’s claims to determine if he is telling the truth. A spokeswoman for the Burma Campaign Australia told the news source, The Australian, “Whilst these claims are serious they should not be taken as verbatim, and a thorough investigation into the validity of these claims is required.”
Han is an Australian citizen who came from Burma as a refugee in 1996. Ironically enough, he has been involved in campaigns aimed at highlighting human rights abuses in Burma, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. He lives in Brisbane with his wife and three children. Even his wife does not believe his recent confessions. Han is aware that he may never see his children again, but he hopes that they understand.
Han claims that he wants to go to the International Criminal Court (“ICC”) because “[his story] is very complicated,” as reported by The Australian. However, the ICC can only prosecute offenses that took place after its creation in 2002.
Han admits to executing at least 24 individuals himself, and further claims that others were killed under his direct command. As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Han appears to be taking full responsibility for many of the atrocities committed 23 years ago. “Maybe they kill 100 or 150 because I order them to do that. It’s not their fault, my fault. If they didn’t kill, they get killed too,” he said.
So far, Han has not released the names of the eight other men who worked under his control. He has told authorities that two of the men are in Sydney, four are in Melbourne, one in Perth, and one is in Queensland. None of the other men have come forward publicly.
After 23 years, Han is coming forward because of his guilty conscience. “I did it, I am a war criminal,” Han said, “now I want to release what I carry inside for 20 years,” according to the Democratic Voice of Burma.
As of now, Australia is taking Han’s confession seriously and an investigation is underway.
For more information, please see:
The Australian — Burmese “Hitman” Htoo Htoo Han Seeks ICC Hearing — 20 July 2011
The Sydney Morning Herald — Death Squad Members in Australia, Refugee Says — 20 July 2011
Democratic Voice of Burma — Australia Police to Assess Burma ‘War Criminal’ — 18 July 2011
The Sydney Morning Herald — Australian Admits War Crimes in Burma — 18 July 2011
