Timor-Leste, the newest ASEAN member, has initiated legal proceedings to sue Myanmar's military government leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity, revealing a potential new precedent for a region that has long upheld a non-interference framework.
On 4 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Myanmar Now reported that the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) filed a lawsuit about two weeks ago at a court in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, accusing Myanmar's military government and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief, of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
As the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Timor-Leste's legal action marks the first time an ASEAN member country has sued another member state. Meanwhile, Myanmar's military government has issued a protest letter to Timor-Leste, accusing it of interfering in internal affairs and violating ASEAN's non-interference principle.
Sources said Timor-Leste's justice authorities have appointed a senior prosecutor to examine the petition. The CHRO has called for an official investigation under the principle of "universal jurisdiction," which allows states to prosecute serious crimes regardless of where they occur.
The petition accuses Myanmar's military of severe human rights violations in Chin State, including the rape of a seven-month pregnant woman in front of her husband, the massacre of 10 civilians—including journalists and a 13-year-old boy—the targeting of Christian leaders, bombing of hospitals resulting in medical staff and patient deaths, and destruction of churches and numerous civilian infrastructures.
Salai Sa Uk, executive director of CHRO, said Timor-Leste's history of fighting for independence has fostered a sense of solidarity with the people of Myanmar, who continue to face violence from the military government.
Human rights experts and legal specialists view Timor-Leste's decision to pursue legal proceedings as potentially establishing a new precedent for ASEAN, which has historically adhered strictly to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.
Source: Myanmar Now