Civil Society Organizations welcome US determination of genocide against Rohingya

Civil Society Organizations 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:

Signed by:

  1. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
  2. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
  3. Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
  4. Ah Nah podcast – Conversation with Myanmar
  5. All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
  6. All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU)
  7. All Burma Indigenous People Alliance
  8. All Burma Student Democratic Front – Australia Branch
  9. All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
  10. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
  11. ALTSEAN-Burma
  12. America Rohingya Justice Network
  13. American Baptist Churches USA
  14. American Rohingya Advocacy
  15. Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
  16. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMDN)
  17. Arakan Institute for Peace and Development
  18. Arizona Kachin Community
  19. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
  20. Asia Democracy Network
  21. Asia Myanmar Research Institute
  22. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
  23. Asian Dignity Initiative
  24. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  25. Association for the Advancement of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Vietnam (AAFoRB-VN)
  26. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
  27. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
  28. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
  29. Auckland Zomi Community
  30. Australia Burma Friendship Association, Northern Territory
  31. Australia Karen Organization WA Inc.
  32. Australia Myanmar Doctors, Nurses and Friends
  33. Australia Myanmar Youth Alliance (AMYA)
  34. Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
  35. Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
  36. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
  37. Bamar Community Tasmania
  38. Baptist World Alliance
  39. Blood Money Campaign
  40. Boat People SOS
  41. Burma Action Ireland
  42. Burma Campaign UK (BCUK)
  43. Burma Civil War Museum (BCM)
  44. Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
  45. Burma Interest Group
  46. Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
  47. Burma Task Force
  48. Burmese American Community Institute
  49. Burmese American Millennials
  50. Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
  51. Burmese Community in South Australia
  52. Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
  53. Burmese Democratic Forces
  54. Burmese Friendship Association
  55. Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
  56. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
  57. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
  58. Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
  59. Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
  60. California Kachin Community
  61. Campaign for a New Myanmar
  62. Canberra Karen Association
  63. Chin Community of Auckland
  64. Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
  65. Chin Community SA
  66. Chin Community Tasmania
  67. Chin Human Rights Organization
  68. Chin Leaders of Tomorrow (CLT)
  69. Chin Youth Organization
  70. Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
  71. Citizens of Burma Award (New Zealand)
  72. Clarity & Decency
  73. Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
  74. CoBA New Zealand
  75. Committee for Religious Freedom in Vietnam
  76. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
  77. CRPH Funding Ireland
  78. CRPH Support Group, Norway
  79. CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia
  80. CSO Committee for Peace in Tanintharyi
  81. Dallas Kachin Community
  82. Dallas Karen Baptist Church
  83. Danu Youth Organization
  84. Democracy for Burma
  85. Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
  86. Democracy Movement Strike Committee – Dawei
  87. Democracy Movement Strike Committee – Laung Lone
  88. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization – DPW
  89. Democratic Youth Council
  90. DFW Karen Community
  91. Dragon Dawn
  92. Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization
  93. European Karen Network (EKN)
  94. European Rohingya Council
  95. Falam Community in South Australia
  96. Federal FM Mandalay
  97. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
  98. Finland Karen Culture Association
  99. Florida Kachin Community
  100. Free Burma Action Bay/USA/Global
  101. Free Myanmar Campaign USA/BACI
  102. Free Rohingya Coalition
  103. Freedom for Burma
  104. Freedom, Justice, Equality for Myanmar
  105. Future Light Center (FLC)
  106. Future Thanlwin (FT)
  107. General Strike Committee of Nationalities – GSCN
  108. Generation Wave (GW)
  109. Georgia Kachin Community
  110. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
  111. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (GMSR)
  112. Houston Kachin Community
  113. Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
  114. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDefend), Philippines
  115. India For Myanmar
  116. Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
  117. Info Birmanie
  118. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
  119. Institute for Asian Democracy
  120. Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA-Myanmar)
  121. International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR)
  122. International Karen Organisation
  123. International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals
  124. Iowa Kachin Community
  125. Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (JACDB)
  126. Jubilee Campaign USA
  127. Justice 4 Myanmar – Hope & Development
  128. Justice For Myanmar (JFM)
  129. Kachin Alliance
  130. Kachin American Community (Portland – Vancouver)
  131. Kachin Association Australia
  132. Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
  133. Kachin Baptist Churches USA
  134. Kachin Community of Indiana
  135. Kachin Community of USA
  136. Kachin National Organization USA
  137. Kachin Vision
  138. Kansas Karenni Community, KS
  139. Karen American Association of Milwaukee, WI
  140. Karen Association of Huron, SD
  141. Karen Community in Norway
  142. Karen Community in South Australia
  143. Karen Community of Akron, OH
  144. Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
  145. Karen Community of Czech Republic
  146. Karen Community of Finland
  147. Karen Community of Hamilton
  148. Karen Community of Iowa, IA
  149. Karen Community of Ireland
  150. Karen Community of Israel
  151. Karen Community of Kansas City, KS & MO
  152. Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo
  153. Karen Community of Leamington
  154. Karen Community of Lethbridge
  155. Karen Community of London
  156. Karen Community of Minnesota, MN
  157. Karen Community of North Carolina, NC
  158. Karen Community of Ottawa
  159. Karen Community of Regina
  160. Karen Community of Saskatoon
  161. Karen Community of Thunderbay
  162. Karen Community of Toronto
  163. Karen Community of Windsor
  164. Karen Community of Winnipeg
  165. Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
  166. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
  167. Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
  168. Karen Organization of America
  169. Karen Organization of Illinois, IL
  170. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
  171. Karen Rivers Watch
  172. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
  173. Karen Thai Group
  174. Karen Women’s Organization
  175. Karen Youth Education Pathways
  176. Karen Youth Networks
  177. Karen Youth of Norway
  178. Karen Youth of Toronto
  179. Karen Youth Organization
  180. Karenni Civil Society Network
  181. Karenni Community of Arizona, AZ
  182. Karenni Community of Arkensas, AK
  183. Karenni Community of Austin, TX
  184. Karenni Community of Bowling Green, KY
  185. Karenni Community of Buffalo, NY
  186. Karenni Community of Chicago, IL
  187. Karenni Community of Colorado, CO
  188. Karenni Community of Dallas, TX
  189. Karenni Community of Des Moines, IA
  190. Karenni Community of Florida, FL
  191. Karenni Community of Fort Worth, TX
  192. Karenni Community of Georgia, GA
  193. Karenni Community of Houston, TX
  194. Karenni Community of Idaho, ID
  195. Karenni Community of Indianapolis, IN
  196. Karenni Community of Massachusetts, MA
  197. Karenni Community of Michigan, MI
  198. Karenni Community of Minnesota, MN
  199. Karenni Community of Missouri, MO
  200. Karenni Community of North Carolina, NC
  201. Karenni Community of Portland, OR
  202. Karenni Community of Rockford, IL
  203. Karenni Community of San Antonio, TX
  204. Karenni Community of Sioux Falls, SD
  205. Karenni Community of Utah, UT
  206. Karenni Community of Utica, NY
  207. Karenni Community of Washington, WA
  208. Karenni Community of Wisconsin, WI
  209. Karenni Federation of Australia
  210. Karenni Human Rights Group
  211. Karenni National Women’s Organization
  212. Karenni Society New Zealand
  213. Karenni Society of Omaha, NE
  214. Karenni/Kayah Community
  215. Karenni-American Association
  216. Kayan Women’s Organization
  217. Kayin Community Tasmania
  218. Keng Tung Youth
  219. Kentucky Kachin Community
  220. Korea Karen Organization
  221. Korea Karen Youth Organization
  222. Kyae Lak Myay Organization
  223. Kyaukse University Interim Administrative Council
  224. Kyaukse University Students’ Union
  225. La Communauté Birmane de France (France)
  226. LA Rohingya Association
  227. League for Democracy in Burma
  228. LGBT Union Mandalay (လိင်စိတ်ခံယူမှုကွဲပြားသူများသမဂ္ဂ)
  229. Loka Ahlinn – Social Development Network
  230. Louisiana Kachin Community
  231. Mandalay Regional Youth Association
  232. Maryland Kachin Community
  233. Matu Chin Community in Australia
  234. Metta Campaign Mandalay
  235. Michigan Kachin Community
  236. Milk Tea Alliance (Calendar Team)
  237. Milwaukee Myanmar Christian Church
  238. Mindat Chin Community NSW
  239. Mindat Community in Australia
  240. Minnesota Kachin Community
  241. Mizo Community in Australia
  242. Mizo Society of America
  243. Mon Families Group
  244. Mon National Council
  245. MSI – Myanmar Secrect Information
  246. Muslim Youth Network
  247. Myanmar Accountability Project
  248. Myanmar Advocacy Coalition
  249. Myanmar Buddhist Community of South Australia
  250. Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
  251. Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
  252. Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
  253. Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
  254. Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
  255. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
  256. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
  257. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
  258. Myanmar People Residing in Canberra
  259. Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
  260. Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
  261. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
  262. Nationalities Alliance of Burma USA
  263. Netherlands-Myanmar Solidarity Platform
  264. Network for Advocacy Action
  265. Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
  266. New York Kachin Community
  267. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
  268. New Zealand Karen Association
  269. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
  270. NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
  271. No Business With Genocide
  272. North Carolina Kachin Community
  273. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
  274. Olive Organization
  275. Omaha Kachin Community
  276. Oversea Karen Organization Japan
  277. Overseas Mon Association – New Zealand
  278. Pa-O Women’s Union
  279. Pa-O Youth Organization
  280. Peacock Generation Youth Empowerment Society
  281. Pennsylvania Kachin Community
  282. People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF)
  283. Perth Myanmar Youth Network
  284. Probono Lawyer Network
  285. Progressive Voice
  286. PWVB (Patriotic War Veterans of Burma)
  287. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
  288. Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
  289. Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC)
  290. Queensland Rohingya Community
  291. Red Campaign Nirvana Exhortation Group
  292. Regina Karen Community
  293. Remonya Association of WA (Mon Community)
  294. Rohingya Action Ireland
  295. Rohingya Youth Association
  296. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
  297. RW Welfare Society (RWWS)
  298. Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas (SCOEWBA)
  299. SAVE MYANMAR (San Francisco)
  300. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
  301. SEA-Junction
  302. Shan Community (New Zealand)
  303. Shan MATA
  304. Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
  305. Sisters 2 Sisters
  306. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
  307. South Carolina Kachin Community
  308. Southcare Medical Centre
  309. Southern Youth Development Organization
  310. Students for Free Burma
  311. Support for Myanmar
  312. Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (Netherlands)
  313. Support the Democracy Movement in Burma
  314. Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
  315. Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
  316. Ta’ang Legal Aid
  317. Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
  318. Tanintharyi MATA
  319. Tanintharyi Women’s Network
  320. Tennessee Kachin Community
  321. Thai Allied Committee with Desegregated Burma Foundation (TACDB)
  322. The Institution of Professional Engineers Myanmar
  323. The Sentry
  324. Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
  325. TINT KYWE
  326. Twitter Team for Revolution
  327. US. Campaign for Burma
  328. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
  329. Union of Karenni State Youth
  330. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
  331. United Myanmar Community of South Australia
  332. United States Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar (USACM)
  333. United States Chin Coalition (USCC)
  334. University Muslim Students Network- Myanmar
  335. Victorian Burmese Care Community (VBCC)
  336. Victorian Myanmar Youth
  337. Vietnam Coalition Against Torture
  338. Vietnamese Women for Human Rights
  339. Virginia Kachin Community
  340. Washington Kachin Community
  341. We Change
  342. We Pledge CDM (Australia)
  343. West Virginia Kachin Community
  344. Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network
  345. Wisdom Light Education
  346. Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
  347. Women Advocacy Coalition-Myanmar (WAC-M)
  348. Women Development Society
  349. Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
  350. Yadanar Foundation
  351. Zo Community in Australia
  352. Zomi Association Australia Inc.
  353. Zomi Community Queensland
  354. Zomi Community South Australia
  355. မုံရွာလူထုသပိတ်တိုက်ပွဲ ဦးဆောင်ကော်မတီ
  356. အမျိုးသမီးမဟာမိတ်အင်အားစု (Women Alliance Burma)
  357. ဧရာဝတီကရင်လူငယ်