29 March 2022
Civil Society Organisations welcome US determination of genocide against Rohingya
Myanmar military leadership must be prosecuted
Though it comes far too late, the decision of the US government to finally formally determine that the violence perpetrated by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya in 2017 in Rakhine State amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity is welcomed by 357 Myanmar CSOs and regional and international partners.
This announcement comes after over four years of tireless repeated efforts by Rohingya, supported by human rights groups within Myanmar and across the world in solidarity with their cause. They have continued to seek justice and accountability, the recognition of their rights, including the restoration of their citizenship, equal rights, freedom of movement, and for safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya to their homes in Rakhine State.
As the long-awaited recognition of the atrocity crimes being determined by the US government is here, urgent actions must be taken towards criminal prosecution for these crimes and to ensure the protection of the remaining Rohingya in Rakhine State whose situation continues to be dire. Otherwise, this determination will languish as rhetoric and only serve to further embolden the Myanmar military that not only continues to implement its policies of genocide and persecute the remaining 600,000 Rohingya in Rakhine State, but is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the people across the country.
The same military that committed genocide against the Rohingya are committing massacres, airstrikes, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary mass arrests, sexual and gender-based violence, violence against children and mass displacement following its attempted coup – an attempt that failed, largely due to courageous and united resistance from the people of Myanmar in defense of their democracy.
At the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that systematic abuses by the military junta may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including deliberately targeting civilians with airstrikes and burning people alive. The impunity enjoyed by the Myanmar military must end and this can only be achieved through swift and rigorous justice and accountability.
We call on the United States Government to:
- Recommend the UN Security Council adopt a resolution referring the situation in Myanmar to the ICC;
- Recommend the International Criminal Court to accept the declaration lodged by the Myanmar government, the National Unity Government, under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute accepting the Court’s jurisdiction with respect to international crimes committed in Myanmar territory since 1 July 2002;
- Formally support the ongoing case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice brought forward by The Gambia, including financial and legal assistance;
- Call on the Congress to Pass the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021 (BURMA Act 2021);
- Impose further targeted sanctions against the military and its leadership, military businesses including specifically targeting Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), military-linked business partners and network of arms dealers;
- Increase aid to Rohingya genocide survivors in Bangladesh and other countries, and advocate for Bangladesh to adopt sustainable policies for hosting Rohingya refugees, including immediate access to education for all Rohingya children.
- Direct USAID to coordinate emergency humanitarian aid provision efforts, including through cross-border channels, for the aid to reach to most vulnerable populations of more than 889,000 IDPs resulted from the military violence and airstrikes, and combat COVID-19, by providing resources and working in equal and meaningful partnership and collaboration with ethnic and community-based humanitarian and civil society organizations;
- Coordinate to impose a global arms embargo on the Myanmar military; and,
- Sanction the supply of jet fuel to the Myanmar military to end airstrikes.
For further information, please contact:
- Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, [email protected]
- Razia Sultana, RW Welfare Society (RWWS), [email protected]
- Naw Hser Hser, Women’s League of Burma, [email protected]
Signed by:
- 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
- Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
- Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
- Ah Nah podcast – Conversation with Myanmar
- All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
- All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU)
- All Burma Indigenous People Alliance
- All Burma Student Democratic Front – Australia Branch
- All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
- Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
- ALTSEAN-Burma
- America Rohingya Justice Network
- American Baptist Churches USA
- American Rohingya Advocacy
- Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
- Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMDN)
- Arakan Institute for Peace and Development
- Arizona Kachin Community
- ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
- Asia Democracy Network
- Asia Myanmar Research Institute
- Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
- Asian Dignity Initiative
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
- Association for the Advancement of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Vietnam (AAFoRB-VN)
- Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
- Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
- Auckland Kachin Community NZ
- Auckland Zomi Community
- Australia Burma Friendship Association, Northern Territory
- Australia Karen Organization WA Inc.
- Australia Myanmar Doctors, Nurses and Friends
- Australia Myanmar Youth Alliance (AMYA)
- Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
- Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
- Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
- Bamar Community Tasmania
- Baptist World Alliance
- Blood Money Campaign
- Boat People SOS
- Burma Action Ireland
- Burma Campaign UK (BCUK)
- Burma Civil War Museum (BCM)
- Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
- Burma Interest Group
- Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
- Burma Task Force
- Burmese American Community Institute
- Burmese American Millennials
- Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
- Burmese Community in South Australia
- Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
- Burmese Democratic Forces
- Burmese Friendship Association
- Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
- Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
- Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
- Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
- Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
- California Kachin Community
- Campaign for a New Myanmar
- Canberra Karen Association
- Chin Community of Auckland
- Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
- Chin Community SA
- Chin Community Tasmania
- Chin Human Rights Organization
- Chin Leaders of Tomorrow (CLT)
- Chin Youth Organization
- Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
- Citizens of Burma Award (New Zealand)
- Clarity & Decency
- Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
- CoBA New Zealand
- Committee for Religious Freedom in Vietnam
- CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
- CRPH Funding Ireland
- CRPH Support Group, Norway
- CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia
- CSO Committee for Peace in Tanintharyi
- Dallas Kachin Community
- Dallas Karen Baptist Church
- Danu Youth Organization
- Democracy for Burma
- Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
- Democracy Movement Strike Committee – Dawei
- Democracy Movement Strike Committee – Laung Lone
- Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization – DPW
- Democratic Youth Council
- DFW Karen Community
- Dragon Dawn
- Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization
- European Karen Network (EKN)
- European Rohingya Council
- Falam Community in South Australia
- Federal FM Mandalay
- Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
- Finland Karen Culture Association
- Florida Kachin Community
- Free Burma Action Bay/USA/Global
- Free Myanmar Campaign USA/BACI
- Free Rohingya Coalition
- Freedom for Burma
- Freedom, Justice, Equality for Myanmar
- Future Light Center (FLC)
- Future Thanlwin (FT)
- General Strike Committee of Nationalities – GSCN
- Generation Wave (GW)
- Georgia Kachin Community
- Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
- Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (GMSR)
- Houston Kachin Community
- Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
- In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDefend), Philippines
- India For Myanmar
- Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
- Info Birmanie
- Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
- Institute for Asian Democracy
- Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA-Myanmar)
- International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR)
- International Karen Organisation
- International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals
- Iowa Kachin Community
- Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (JACDB)
- Jubilee Campaign USA
- Justice 4 Myanmar – Hope & Development
- Justice For Myanmar (JFM)
- Kachin Alliance
- Kachin American Community (Portland – Vancouver)
- Kachin Association Australia
- Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
- Kachin Baptist Churches USA
- Kachin Community of Indiana
- Kachin Community of USA
- Kachin National Organization USA
- Kachin Vision
- Kansas Karenni Community, KS
- Karen American Association of Milwaukee, WI
- Karen Association of Huron, SD
- Karen Community in Norway
- Karen Community in South Australia
- Karen Community of Akron, OH
- Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
- Karen Community of Czech Republic
- Karen Community of Finland
- Karen Community of Hamilton
- Karen Community of Iowa, IA
- Karen Community of Ireland
- Karen Community of Israel
- Karen Community of Kansas City, KS & MO
- Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo
- Karen Community of Leamington
- Karen Community of Lethbridge
- Karen Community of London
- Karen Community of Minnesota, MN
- Karen Community of North Carolina, NC
- Karen Community of Ottawa
- Karen Community of Regina
- Karen Community of Saskatoon
- Karen Community of Thunderbay
- Karen Community of Toronto
- Karen Community of Windsor
- Karen Community of Winnipeg
- Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
- Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
- Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
- Karen Organization of America
- Karen Organization of Illinois, IL
- Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
- Karen Rivers Watch
- Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
- Karen Thai Group
- Karen Women’s Organization
- Karen Youth Education Pathways
- Karen Youth Networks
- Karen Youth of Norway
- Karen Youth of Toronto
- Karen Youth Organization
- Karenni Civil Society Network
- Karenni Community of Arizona, AZ
- Karenni Community of Arkensas, AK
- Karenni Community of Austin, TX
- Karenni Community of Bowling Green, KY
- Karenni Community of Buffalo, NY
- Karenni Community of Chicago, IL
- Karenni Community of Colorado, CO
- Karenni Community of Dallas, TX
- Karenni Community of Des Moines, IA
- Karenni Community of Florida, FL
- Karenni Community of Fort Worth, TX
- Karenni Community of Georgia, GA
- Karenni Community of Houston, TX
- Karenni Community of Idaho, ID
- Karenni Community of Indianapolis, IN
- Karenni Community of Massachusetts, MA
- Karenni Community of Michigan, MI
- Karenni Community of Minnesota, MN
- Karenni Community of Missouri, MO
- Karenni Community of North Carolina, NC
- Karenni Community of Portland, OR
- Karenni Community of Rockford, IL
- Karenni Community of San Antonio, TX
- Karenni Community of Sioux Falls, SD
- Karenni Community of Utah, UT
- Karenni Community of Utica, NY
- Karenni Community of Washington, WA
- Karenni Community of Wisconsin, WI
- Karenni Federation of Australia
- Karenni Human Rights Group
- Karenni National Women’s Organization
- Karenni Society New Zealand
- Karenni Society of Omaha, NE
- Karenni/Kayah Community
- Karenni-American Association
- Kayan Women’s Organization
- Kayin Community Tasmania
- Keng Tung Youth
- Kentucky Kachin Community
- Korea Karen Organization
- Korea Karen Youth Organization
- Kyae Lak Myay Organization
- Kyaukse University Interim Administrative Council
- Kyaukse University Students’ Union
- La Communauté Birmane de France (France)
- LA Rohingya Association
- League for Democracy in Burma
- LGBT Union Mandalay (လိင်စိတ်ခံယူမှုကွဲပြားသူများသမဂ္ဂ)
- Loka Ahlinn – Social Development Network
- Louisiana Kachin Community
- Mandalay Regional Youth Association
- Maryland Kachin Community
- Matu Chin Community in Australia
- Metta Campaign Mandalay
- Michigan Kachin Community
- Milk Tea Alliance (Calendar Team)
- Milwaukee Myanmar Christian Church
- Mindat Chin Community NSW
- Mindat Community in Australia
- Minnesota Kachin Community
- Mizo Community in Australia
- Mizo Society of America
- Mon Families Group
- Mon National Council
- MSI – Myanmar Secrect Information
- Muslim Youth Network
- Myanmar Accountability Project
- Myanmar Advocacy Coalition
- Myanmar Buddhist Community of South Australia
- Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
- Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
- Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
- Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
- Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
- Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
- Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
- Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
- Myanmar People Residing in Canberra
- Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
- Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
- Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
- Nationalities Alliance of Burma USA
- Netherlands-Myanmar Solidarity Platform
- Network for Advocacy Action
- Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
- New York Kachin Community
- New Zealand Doctors for NUG
- New Zealand Karen Association
- New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
- NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
- No Business With Genocide
- North Carolina Kachin Community
- Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
- Olive Organization
- Omaha Kachin Community
- Oversea Karen Organization Japan
- Overseas Mon Association – New Zealand
- Pa-O Women’s Union
- Pa-O Youth Organization
- Peacock Generation Youth Empowerment Society
- Pennsylvania Kachin Community
- People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF)
- Perth Myanmar Youth Network
- Probono Lawyer Network
- Progressive Voice
- PWVB (Patriotic War Veterans of Burma)
- Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
- Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
- Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC)
- Queensland Rohingya Community
- Red Campaign Nirvana Exhortation Group
- Regina Karen Community
- Remonya Association of WA (Mon Community)
- Rohingya Action Ireland
- Rohingya Youth Association
- Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
- RW Welfare Society (RWWS)
- Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas (SCOEWBA)
- SAVE MYANMAR (San Francisco)
- Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
- SEA-Junction
- Shan Community (New Zealand)
- Shan MATA
- Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
- Sisters 2 Sisters
- Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
- South Carolina Kachin Community
- Southcare Medical Centre
- Southern Youth Development Organization
- Students for Free Burma
- Support for Myanmar
- Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (Netherlands)
- Support the Democracy Movement in Burma
- Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
- Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
- Ta’ang Legal Aid
- Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
- Tanintharyi MATA
- Tanintharyi Women’s Network
- Tennessee Kachin Community
- Thai Allied Committee with Desegregated Burma Foundation (TACDB)
- The Institution of Professional Engineers Myanmar
- The Sentry
- Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
- TINT KYWE
- Twitter Team for Revolution
- S. Campaign for Burma
- Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
- Union of Karenni State Youth
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
- United Myanmar Community of South Australia
- United States Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar (USACM)
- United States Chin Coalition (USCC)
- University Muslim Students Network- Myanmar
- Victorian Burmese Care Community (VBCC)
- Victorian Myanmar Youth
- Vietnam Coalition Against Torture
- Vietnamese Women for Human Rights
- Virginia Kachin Community
- Washington Kachin Community
- We Change
- We Pledge CDM (Australia)
- West Virginia Kachin Community
- Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network
- Wisdom Light Education
- Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
- Women Advocacy Coalition-Myanmar (WAC-M)
- Women Development Society
- Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
- Yadanar Foundation
- Zo Community in Australia
- Zomi Association Australia Inc.
- Zomi Community Queensland
- Zomi Community South Australia
- မုံရွာလူထုသပိတ်တိုက်ပွဲ ဦးဆောင်ကော်မတီ
- အမျိုးသမီးမဟာမိတ်အင်အားစု (Women Alliance Burma)
- ဧရာဝတီကရင်လူငယ်
**
For a PDF version of this statement, please click here.
