U.S. Formally Declares That Myanmar’s Army Committed Genocide Against Rohingya Minority

On March 21st, the United States government formally declared that Myanmar’s military forces committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya minority group. Five years ago, in Rakhine State, Myanmar’s army underwent a violent campaign against the Rohingya. As a result, thousands of Rohingyans were systematically killed, and upwards of 745,000 Muslim ethnic minorities were displaced or forced to flee to Bangladesh.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked last Monday, “I’ve determined that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya.” His decision to formally recognize the atrocities as genocide was formed after “reviewing a factual assessment and legal analysis prepared by the State Department” and that this evidence “points to a clear intent behind these mass atrocities: The intent to destroy Rohingya in whole or in part.”

The decision to declare genocide was undoubtedly influenced by the military coup in February 2021, just days after President Joe Biden was elected. A group of Myanmarian generals, led by Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing, seized power after claiming election fraud in November 2020, but no evidence of mass fraud was uncovered. Various uprisings against the military coup were met with intense violence, resulting in the death of more than 1,600 people and 10,000 arrests. Blinken remarked on the coup in his speech, saying, “For those who did not realize it before the coup, the brutal violence unleashed by the military since February 2021 has made clear that no one in Burma will be safe from atrocities so long as it is in power.”

The response from Myanmar government officials has been defensive. The country’s state-run TV news station reported that their foreign ministry rejected and aggressively condemned Blinken’s declaration. Myanmar officials claim his judgment was based on false information and was a mere attempt to interfere in their country’s domestic affairs.

The decision to formally declare that Myanmar’s military forces committed genocide was undoubtedly sound and arguably late. Rohingya activist Tun Khin, head of the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK and attendee of Blinken’s address, remarks, “There is no doubt that being allowed to get away with genocide of the Rohingya encouraged the military to think it could get away with holding a coup as well.” Indeed, demanding accountability could prevent further atrocities committed by Myanmar’s military. However, as many activists contest, there must also be concrete actions that drive this change. For instance, imposing stricter sanctions on the junta could provide more incentive for sustained change.

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