Dear Secretary Pompeo,
We write to urge the U.S. Department of State to publicly determine that the state of Myanmar has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya people. The evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity is clear and convincing and has been amply documented. In making such a determination, the United States would help lead the world in holding the state of Myanmar accountable for grave abuses and in preventing further atrocities.
Beyond enhancing international accountability efforts, a U.S. government determination of genocide and crimes against humanity would subject Myanmar and its military to much needed international scrutiny at a time when the military continues to target Rohingya and other civilians in Myanmar. In the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic that is the predominant focus of governments around the world, a determination would also help to ensure continued international attention on the plight of the Rohingya, while enabling the United States to mobilize additional diplomatic and economic pressure on Myanmar to shift its behavior. This attention could offer a measure of protection for the Rohingya and others in Myanmar. It would also represent an expression of solidarity with the governments of Bangladesh and other refugee hosting countries, signaling the United States is committed both to accountability and supporting conditions for safe and voluntary return when conditions so permit.
Such a determination would be wholly consistent with findings of the Department of State, which concluded that the attacks on the Rohingya were “well-planned and coordinated” and that they were "extreme, large-scale, widespread, and seemingly geared toward both terrorizing the population and driving out the Rohingya residents." The law group engaged by the State Department to investigate atrocities against the Rohingya conducted its own legal analysis and found reasonable grounds to believe that genocide was committed. A UN Independent FactFinding Mission similarly found “a pattern of conduct that infers genocidal intent on the part of the State to destroy the Rohingya, in whole or in part, as a group.” The Fact Finding Mission has further warned, “The State of Myanmar continues to harbour genocidal intent and the Rohingya remain under serious risk of genocide.”
Now is the time to use the words that fit the crimes. U.S. leadership matters. We call upon you to demonstrate the moral leadership and courage necessary to push global action in the face of genocide.
21Wilberforce
Action Corps
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma
(ALTSEAN-Burma)
Americans for Rohingya
Arakan Rohingya National Organization
Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and
Human Rights
Bethany Christian Service
Burma Campaign UK
Burma Human Rights Network
Burma Rohingya Organization UK
Burma Task Force
Burma Rohingya Association of North
America
Burmese Rohingya Association of Japan
Burmese Rohingya Community in
Denmark
Canadian Burmese Rohingya
Organization
Canadian Rohingya Development
Initiative
Christian Reformed Church Office of
Social Justice
Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Eastern Pennsylvania Karen Community
European Rohingya Council
Fortify Rights
Global Centre for the Responsibility to
Protect
Global Witness
HIAS
Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust
Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity
Prevention at Binghamton University
International Campaign for the Rohingya
International Interfaith Peace Corps
International State Crime Initiative,
Queen Mary University of London
Jewish World Watch
Justice4Rohingya UK
Justice for All
Kaladan Press Network
Karen Community of Akron, Inc.
Karen Organization of America
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Never Again Coalition
Partners Relief and Development
Progressive Voice
Queensland Rohingya Community Inc.
Refugees International
Restless Beings
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
Rohingya Action Ireland
Rohingya Human Rights Monitoring
Network
Rohingya Human Rights Network
RohingyaKhobor
Rohingya Post
Rohingya Refugee Network
Rohingya Student Network
Rohingya Student Union
Rohingya Women Education Initiative
Rohingya Youth for Legal Action
STAND: The student-led movement to
end mass atrocities
Step Ahead
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
US Campaign for Burma
WITNESS