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International reactions to the Rohingya genocide
By WIKIPEDIA
Since October 2016, thousands of Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar due to persecution in the Rakhine State. The exodus has become a humanitarian crisis. The persecution was preceded by crackdowns in 1978, 1991–1992, 2012 and 2015. The United Nations believes that Myanmar wants to expel its entire
Rohingya population. The events have been termed a genocide by international observers. On 25 August 2017, the Tatmadaw (the Myanmar armed forces) launched a military operation (Clearance Operation) against the Rohingya civilian population in response to attacks by Rohingya militants on 30 police posts and an army base. The Myanmar military—with help from mobs of local Rakhine people— is alleged to have burned Rohingya villages, carried out summary executions and beheadings of Rohingyas (including children), raped Rohingya women; and planted landmines. Between 400 and 3,000 people were killed between 25 August and 11 September 2017. On 22 September 2017, satellite images indicated that Rohingya villages were still being burned. An estimated 655,500 refugees had fled into Bangladesh since 25 August 2017 (a larger weekly outflow of refugees than during the Rwandan genocide), out of a pre-violence Rohingya population of about one million in Rakhine State.
In August 2018, study estimated that more than 24,000+ Rohingya people were killed by the Myanmar military and the local Buddhists since the ”clearance operations” started on 25 August 2017. The study also estimated that 18,000+ the Rohingya Muslim women and girls were raped, 116,000 Rohingya were beaten, 36,000 Rohingya were thrown into fire Mass graves have been discovered in several parts of Rakhine State. Evidence of atrocities emerged with reports of the Gu Dar Pyin massacre and Tula Toli massacre. Footage obtained by Reuters showed the summary execution of 10 Rohingya men. Two Myanma journalists who obtained the information for Reuters have since been arrested. Amnesty International has described Rakhine State as a ”crime scene”. There have been calls for the prosecution of members of Myanmar’s military.
Despite centuries of settlement in the Arakan region (now Rakhine State), the Rohingya population are denied citizenship and other basic rights under several controversial Myanmar laws (particularly the 1982 Myanmar nationality law). Myanmar has been accused of genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya. International reaction has focused on pressuring Aung San Suu Kyi to condemn the atrocities and address human-rights issues. Suu Kyi’s power is restricted under the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, which places key ministries like home, border affairs and defense under military control and reserves 25 per of seats in the Myanmar parliament for serving military officers. Military chief Min Aung Hlaing is regarded as the most powerful person in the country. The persecutions of ethnic Rohingyas in Myanmar continued up to 2018, and is viewed to continue until a lasting resolution is made between the Government of Myanmar (which has internal political disputes on the matter), the Government of Bangladesh, representatives from the Rohingya people, and states in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Since 25 August 2017, Bangladesh has received at least 655,500 refugees. As of 11 January 2018, 971,627 refugees were registered in Bangladesh. The Parliament of Bangladesh adopted a unanimous resolution urging the international community to pressure Myanmar to provide citizenship and safe return for the Rohingya. The President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid suggested that a United Nations-administered humanitarian corridor be established in Myanmar for the Rohingya. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, ”They (Myanmar) should stop the violence. The Myanmar government should have handled this situation patiently and not allowed the army to attack the common people. What are the crimes of the women, children, the innocent people? They are not responsible”. Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali said that Myanmar’s actions were being described as genocide.
National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque alluded to the prospect of international prosecution of Myanmar forces: ”The way the genocide has been carried out in Myanmar, the way the people were killed in arson attacks, we are thinking about pressing for a trial against Myanmar, and against the Myanmar army at an international tribunal”. The Bangladeshi foreign ministry summoned the Myanmar envoy several times since the crisis began, protesting the refugee influx and alleged intrusions by Myanmar aircraft into Bangladeshi airspace. Major General Abul Hussain, a border force commander, promised a ”befitting reply” to any ”untoward situation” on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Muhammad Yunus, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, made a seven-point proposal which included implementation of the Kofi Annan Commission report and UN-administered camps in Myanmar. In a rare moment of political unity, the BNP (Bangladesh’s largest opposition party) supported Prime Minister Hasina’s visit to refugee camps. Another opposition party, the Jatiya Party, demanded sanctions against Myanmar. The Bangladesh Armed Forces were reportedly placed on high alert. [According to a Bangladeshi official, the government was focused on finding a peaceful resolution of the crisis and stated that ”our goal is to ensure a stable, peaceful and safe environment in the Rakhine State so that people of all religion, color and community can live there in harmony, and we are holding discussions at various places to this end”. On 21 September 2017 Prime Minister Hasina addressed the United Nations General Assembly. She criticized Myanmar for ethnic cleansing, demanded implementation of the Kofi Annan Commission report and proposed a five-point plan for restoring stability in Rakhine State which included Unmonitored ”safe zones”.
