Why and how the US must confront Burma's Rohingya genocide

[Banglar Bir]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi meets Tillerson, UN chief on Rohingya crisis
AFP
Published at 08:47 AM November 15, 2017

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi attends the opening session of the 31st Asean Summit in Manila, Philippines, November 13, 2017 Reuters
Washington has been cautious in its statements on the situation in Rakhine, and has avoided outright criticism of Suu Kyi
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi faced rising global pressure Tuesday to solve the crisis for her nation’s displaced Rohingya minority, meeting the UN chief and America’s top diplomat in the Philippines.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the Nobel laureate that hundreds of thousands of displaced Muslims who had fled to Bangladesh should be allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar.

“The Secretary-General highlighted that strengthened efforts to ensure humanitarian access, safe, dignified, voluntary and sustained returns, as well as true reconciliation between communities, would be essential,” a UN statement said, summarizing comments to Suu Kyi.

Guterres’ comments came hours before Suu Kyi sat down with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Manila.

Washington has been cautious in its statements on the situation in Rakhine, and has avoided outright criticism of Suu Kyi.

Supporters say she must navigate a path between outrage abroad and popular feeling in a majority Buddhist country where most people believe the Rohingya are interlopers.

At a photo opportunity at the top of her meeting with Tillerson, Suu Kyi ignored a journalist who asked if the Rohingya were citizens of Myanmar.

At a later appearance after the meeting, Tillerson — who is headed to Myanmar on Wednesday — was asked by reporters if he “had a message for Burmese leaders”.

He apparently ignored the question, replying only: “Thank you”, according to a pool report of the encounter.

A senior US State Department official later said the top diplomat would press Myanmar’s powerful army chief on Wednesday to halt the violence in Rakhine and make it safe for Rohingya to return.

The official did not comment on whether Tillerson would raise the threat of military sanctions, which US lawmakers have pushed for.

Canada’s Justin Trudeau said he had spoken to Myanmar’s de facto leader.

“I had an extended conversation with… Aung San Suu Kyi, about the plight of the refugees in Rakhine state,” he told a press conference.

“This is of tremendous concern to Canada and many, many other countries around the world.

“We are always looking at… how we can help, how we can move forward in a way that reduces violence, that emphasizes the rule of law and that ensures protection for all citizens,” he said.
‘Ethnic cleansing’
More than 600,000 Rohingya have flooded into Bangladesh since late August, and now live in the squalor of the world’s biggest refugee camp.

The crisis erupted after Rohingya rebels attacked police posts in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, triggering a military crackdown that saw hundreds of villages reduced to ashes and sparked a massive exodus.

The UN says the Myanmar military is engaged in a “coordinated and systematic” attempt to purge the region of Rohingya in what amounts to a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

The stream of desperate refugees who escape across the riverine border bring with them stories of rape, murder and the torching of villages by soldiers and Buddhist mobs.

The Burmese government insists military action in Rakhine is a proportionate response to violence by militants.

Following its first official investigation into the crisis, the army published a report this week in which it cleared itself of any abuses.

However, it heavily restricts access to the region by independent journalists and aid groups, and verification of events on the ground is virtually impossible.

Suu Kyi, a former democracy activist, has been lambasted by rights groups for failing to speak up for the Rohingya or condemn festering anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.

Musician and campaigner Bob Geldof on Monday slammed Suu Kyi as a “murderer” and a “handmaiden to genocide”, becoming the latest in a growing line of global figures to disavow the one-time darling of the human rights community.

Supporters say she does not have the power to stop the powerful military, which ruled the country for decades until her party came to power following 2015 elections.

In a summit on Monday night with leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Myanmar is a member, Guterres also voiced concern about the Rohingya.

He said the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya was a “worrying escalation in a protracted tragedy,” according to the UN statement.
He described the situation as a potential source of instability in the region, as well as radicalization.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/world/2...kyi-meets-tillerson-un-chief-rohingya-crisis/

 

[Banglar Bir]

Tillerson supports for Individual sanctions against Myanmar army
SAM Staff, November 16, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, right, attend a press conference in Naypyidaw on 15 November 2017, Photo: AFP
US Secretary of State Tillerson said the United States would consider individual sanctions against security forces found responsible for human rights abuses against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State.
More than 600,000 Rohingya are now in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing the Myanmar military’s clearance operations since August when a Rohingya militant group attacked 30 police outpost in northern Rakhine State, citing accounts of arbitrary killings, rapes and arson by the security forces.

To seek accountability from the army, the US announced sanctions against Myanmar’s military leadership last month, ceasing travel waivers for current and former senior leadership of the Burmese military while assessing authorities to consider economic options available to target individuals associated with the atrocities. The restrictions also include all units and officers involved in operations in northern Rakhine State to be ineligible to receive or participate in any US assistance programs.

Rex Tillerson was in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw on 15 November to meet with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu kyi and military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

During a joint press conference with Daw Aung San Suu kyi in the afternoon, Tillerson said all of the individual sanctions have to be evidence based.

But the Secretary of the State said he would not advise “broad-based economic sanctions” against the entire country.

“If we have credible information that we believe to be very reliable that certain individuals were responsible for certain acts that we find unacceptable, then targeted sanctions on individuals very well may be appropriate,” he said.

While reaffirming the US commitment to Myanmar’s transition and condemning the Rohingya militant attacks in August, Tillerson also called for a credible investigation into human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims committed by Myanmar’s security forces.

“We’re deeply concerned by credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by Myanmar’s security forces and by vigilantes who were unrestrained by the security forces during the recent violence in Rakhine State,” he said.

But the Myanmar Army denied the atrocities in the internal investigation released on Monday.

After the meeting, a Facebook post of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing said he explained to Tillerson the real situation on the ground in Rakhine, the reasons behind the exodus, the military’s cooperation with the government, repatriation and delivering aid.
SOURCE THE IRRAWADDY
https://southasianmonitor.com/2017/...support-individual-sanctions-security-forces/

 

[Banglar Bir]

11:39 AM, November 16, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 11:50 AM, November 16, 2017
‘Myanmar military should be brought to justice’
NHRC chief says

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Rezaul Hoque in meeting with UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh Mia Seppo in Dhaka on November 16, 2017. Photo: NHRC
Star Online Report
Myanmar military officials responsible for the atrocities on Rohingyas should be brought to justice, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Rezaul Hoque said today.
He made the call to UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh, Mia Seppo, when the latter called on the NHRC chief at his office this morning, says a press release.

Rezaul Hoque urged the UN official to uphold her support towards Bangladesh to pressure Myanmar to take back its citizens.

The UN official assured the national human rights boss that she will extend all her support from her end regarding this issue, which is now at the centre of international attention.

According to latest estimates, over 600,000 Rohingyas have fled from Myanmar and sought refuge in Bangladesh following persecution in the Rakhine state.
Related Topics
Myanmar Rohingya refugee crisis
http://www.thedailystar.net/rohingy...-nhrc-chairman-kazi-rezaul-hoque-says-1492066

Take all thirteen to the International Criminal Court as soon as possible.

+9

 

[Banglar Bir]

Human Rights Watch accuses Myanmar army
Special Correspondent
Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Myanmar security forces of committing widespread rape against women and girls as part of a campaign of ethnic cleansing during the past three months against Rohingya Muslims in the country’s Rakhine state.
The allegation in a report by the New York-based rights group echoes an accusation by Pramila Patten, the UN special envoy on sexual violence in conflict, earlier this week. Patten said sexual violence was ‘being commanded, orchestrated and perpetrated by the Armed Forces of Myanmar.’

Myanmar’s army released a report on Monday denying all allegations of rape and killings by security forces, days after replacing the general in charge of the operation that drove more than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh.

The United Nations has denounced the violence as a classic example of ethnic cleansing. The Myanmar government has denied allegations of ethnic cleansing.

Human Rights Watch spoke to 52 Rohingya women and girls who fled to Bangladesh, 29 of whom said they had been raped. All but one of the rapes were gang rapes, Human Rights Watch said.
‘Rape has been a prominent and devastating feature of the Burmese military’s campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya,’ said Skye Wheeler, women’s rights emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch and author of the report.

‘The Burmese military’s barbaric acts of violence have left countless women and girls brutally harmed and traumatized,’ she said in a statement.

Human Rights Watch called on the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar and targeted sanctions against military leaders responsible for human rights violations, including sexual violence.

The 15-member council last week urged the Myanmar government to ‘ensure no further excessive use of military force in Rakhine state.’ It asked UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres to report back in 30 days on the situation.

Myanmar has said the military clearance operation was necessary for national security after Rohingya militants attacked 30 security posts and an army base in Rakhine state on August 25.
Myanmar is refusing entry to a UN panel that was tasked with investigating allegations of abuses after a smaller military counteroffensive launched in October 2016.

Hala Sadak, a 15-year-old from village Hathi Para in Maungdaw Township, told Human Rights Watch that soldiers had stripped her naked and then about 10 men raped her.

She told Human Rights Watch: ‘When my brother and sister came to get me, I was lying there on the ground, they thought I was dead.
http://www.weeklyholiday.net/Homepage/Pages/UserHome.aspx?ID=3&date=0#Tid=15111

 

[Banglar Bir]

Tillerson is right to call for justice for the Rohingya. He’s naive to think Burma will deliver.
Editorial Board November 17
SECRETARY OF STATE Rex Tillerson too often has shown a disregard for human rights issues, especially in his public diplomacy.
So his news conference INBurma on Wednesday was a welcome departure. Standing next to the country’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mr. Tillerson spoke forcefully about “credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by [Burma’s] security forces” against the Rohingya ethnic minority.
He said the campaign, which has driven more than 600,000 people across the border to Bangladesh, “has a number of characteristics of certainly crimes against humanity.”

Mr. Tillerson repeatedly called for a “credible” and “independent” investigation, said that those guilty of abuses should be held accountable, and indicated that U.S. sanctions against involved individuals would be appropriate. He also called on the government to allow the voluntary return of the Rohingya and provide them with “a transparent and fully voluntary path to citizenship,” which most lack. “Myanmar’s response to this crisis,” he said, using the name for the country favored by the regime, “is critical to determining the success of its transition to a more democratic society.”

Mr. Tillerson’s connection of “the humanitarian scandal” of the Rohingya to Burma’s democratic transition was particularly significant. Aung San Suu Kyi, who lacks authority over the country’s military, has attempted to sidestep the crisis, offering bland statements about the need for “harmony” and establishing commissions with vague missions.

Her aides say her priority is consolidating democracy by gaining the military’s support for changes to the constitution, which now gives the generals an overwhelming role. Given the scale of the offenses, which U.N. officials have labeled “ethnic cleansing” and members of Congress have called “genocide,” that’s a blinkered view.
As Mr. Tillerson said, “the key test of a democracy is how it treats its most vulnerable and marginalized populations.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...6bc834-cb03-11e7-b0cf-7689a9f2d84e_story.html

 

[Banglar Bir]

05:40 PM, November 19, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 05:49 PM, November 19, 2017
US senators dub atrocities in Myanmar as "war crime"

Visiting US Senators Jeff Merkley and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Photo: BSS
BSS, Dhaka
Visiting US Senators today dubbed as "war crimes" the atrocities inflicted on Rohingyas by Myanmar security forces as they called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a day after visiting them in their makeshift refuge in Cox's Bazar.
"It is like war crimes," premier's press secretary Ihasnul Karim quoted the high-profile delegation's leader Jeff Merkley as telling the Prime Minister during the call on at her Gonobhaban residence.

He said the senators told Sheikh Hasina that every country should condemn the crime and ethnic cleansing and were of the opinion that the crisis deserved more international attention as it was required for its resolution and sending the forcibly displaced people back to their homeland.

Karim said the Prime Minister laid importance on implementation of the Kofi Annan report to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

She said Bangladesh extended Rohingyas the shelter on humanitarian ground remembering the horrifying memories of 1971 when millions of people of Bangladesh were forced to take refuge in India to escape the Pakistani genocide.

The premier also recalled her personal memories of taking refuge along with sister Sheikh Rehana to India following the brutal killing of Bangabandhu in 1975.

"Out of sense we have taken decision to give shelter to these oppressed people of Myanmar and share our food with them if necessary," the premier said.

But, Sheikh Hasina said, Bangladesh wanted next-door Myanmar to take back their nationals with "full security" while under an identification system over five lakh of them were provided identity cards by now.

The premier also pointed out her government's success in resolving the over two decade-long crisis in southeastern hills when Bangladesh returned 60,000 Bangladeshi nationals who took refuge to India.

"Bangladesh brought back the refugees and rehabilitated them with necessary support," she said referring to the landmark 1996 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Agreement.

The US senators call on the premier came a day after the visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar's Kutupalang.

The senators, Karim said, appreciated the premier for her generous response to the challenge of bracing the Rohingyas and said the US was ready to provide all assistance to resolve the crisis.

They said the Rohingyas said they were very much pleased with Bangladesh government for giving them the shelter as they interacted with the ethnic minority people.

Merkley said they gathered firsthand information from the persecuted people in the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar while the description of persecution was "horrifying".

The premier's press secretary the US senate team also praised Bangladesh's economic growth calling it the "testimony of hard work of the people of Bangladesh".

They hailed as well the state of women empowerment in Bangladesh and discussed the issues of climate change and appreciated Bangladesh's fore- frontal position on the global issue.

US Senator Richard Durbin, Congresswomen Betty McCollum and Jan Schakowsky and Congressman David N. Cicilline were among others included in the delegation accompanied by US ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat.

PM's advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi and Principal Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury were present on the occasion.
http://www.thedailystar.net/rohingy...ub-atrocities-in-myanmar-as-war-crime-1493461

 

[Zabaniyah]

Pray tell where are these mythical civilised Burmese subhumans?

These Neanderthals should be offered no benifit of doubt and treated solely on the basis of their deeds.

Totally agree there. The genocide and ethnic cleansing has mass support with the Barmans.

Almost all are the supporter of violence. Buddhists are peace-loving peoples that are a very big lie today.

Exactly, these are jinnoth we are dealing with.

First of all gentlemen, I apologize for the super late reply. I hope the tardiness doesn't hold against my credibility.

Well, there's Dr. Muang Zarni. You can look him up. There are others like him. They maybe small, but we need Burmans and Rohingyas to support our interests. We need locals no matter how bad the situation maybe.

I have seen and heard the Rohingyas. Mainly on Facebook. They look South Asian, and yet they sound Burmese. I found them to be a very fascinating people. I was thinking about inviting Dr. Zarni over here, along with other Burmese activists and Rohingyas. But I am not certain if that would be beneficial.

Let's start off with three points. First is the issue of targeted sanctions. Then, the nature of Burma's neighboring powers supporting her, and the reasons for doing so. And lastly, justice.

First of all, let me tell you that there isn't that much support for targeted sanctions in the US Congress. This even in light of American lawmakers strongly suggesting so. In fact, they haven't even drafted the laws to implement this. Secretary Tillerson's opinions are his own opinions. The man has principles, I'll give him that. Though he isn't very effective, but what can he do? His tour of Asia showed just how much American power had diminished in South East Asia. Had it not been for their failure in Vietnam, this may not have had happened.

As for the EU, it's not good news.
http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/125545

The recent deal between Bangladesh and Burma was a bizarre form of diplomacy. But it is at least a start. I say it's giving the dog a bone. See where the dog goes to. The risk here is that people will conveniently forget about the horrors in Rakhine and go about business as usual. It'll take time. What Bangladesh can do to mitigate this risk is to gather more and more evidence that genocide did indeed happen. These must be documented should the path to justice be spearheaded.

Secondly, their neighbors. Namely India and China. Now this is very important.

We know that Burma's economy is not very developed. And by being under developed with no trade links with major economies whatsoever, it certainly doesn't bode well for their neighbors. There's the restive North Eastern states of India (which is a bit ironic considering their transgressions in Bangladesh with collaboration of their AL allies). Then, there's China's South West provinces which aren't as developed as their North Eastern ones. Dissent is growing in that country and that poses a threat to the CPC's rule, especially considering that Premier Xi wants to use his newfound power to the full potential. Censorship is heavy in that country. Notice that all those areas border Burma.

Now, even if they were 'illegal immigrants' from Bangladesh, no-one uses helicopter gunships to obliterate them unless they really, really wanted them out and fast. Does anyone understand how much it costs to run a military operation? Few understand that a military operation is like a fire that burns itself out. That's a lot of trouble for a bunch of illegals. We had disputes with Burma regarding the Bay of Bengal, which were settled some years back; peacefully and lawfully of-course. They must have found something there, namely oil reserves. The shortest path for an oil pipeline to China's South West runs through Rakhine. Otherwise, why go through all that trouble? Why not allow fact-finding missions? It is likely that they are hiding something, or someone.

Now it should all add up. Whichever the case may be, the whole situation leads to China.

How many Rohingyas exist? One million? Two million? Not that many. Why sacrifice the prosperity of one's own peoples who number millions or even billions for a few million poor Muslims? That is calculation on part of both the Indians and the Chinese.

What can we as Bangladeshis say in return? Yes, prosperity is important. But not at the expense of others just because of their religion/ethnicity along with their security. There must be a correct balance of security and economic development. One cannot sacrifice one for another. It's ironic looking back on how the Imperial Japanese cut the Chinese to size during WWII and how the Indians boast about freeing us from the tyranny of the Punjabi-dominated administration of Pakistan. Maybe they are stupid(?)

And lastly, justice.

It's a fancy word.

You all know that some Serb hotshot got sentenced by the ICC for crimes against Bosnian during the Balkan Wars of the 90's. And they were Muslim as well (weird). Had the USSR existed now, that justice would not have come to light. With the collapse of the USSR, NATO had been able to squarely level Serb forces to dust without anyone opposing them.

China's power had grown in South East Asia since 9/11. You should see how the ASEAN members interacted with one another. Given Philippines chairmanship of ASEAN for the year 2017, their interactions among one another were odd. They didn't even remotely discuss the Rohingya matter. Only Malaysia and Indonesia brought up the subject on the sidelines. Someone obviously wants to silence the Rohingya matter, and is working hard on it.

See, Duterte had been receiving honey from China, mainly in the form of support and even free weapons to quell an insurgency in the South of the country (and very Muslim). This was done to quell any risk in the South China Sea. They are using his strained relations with the US as an advantage. I'm not saying he's corrupt, but his decisions certainly threaten our security.

So you see, to bring justice against their military commanders is not easy. We couldn't do so against the Pakistanis back then. The thing is justice doesn't always win, and sometimes the Wild West style of justice is all there is left and is what the world sorely need at times. Another way is to ensure the total collapse and the extinction of the CPC. There's a lot of inequality among the Chinese and their opinions are weak.

I know you gentlemen are angry and even emotional. You have right to be angry. And we need to learn to convert that passion to power. And that requires focus and dedication.

Lol, Every time members of the world call for "U.S intervention" and after U.S does intervene they critisize it and put the blame for the situation on the U.S.
I say the neighboring countries should take the action and stop shift everything on the U.S

I agree with you in principle. But unfortunately, it isn't that simple. Please read my post.

I apologize if some of my countrymen had been a bit aggressive due to your nationality. I hope our two countries can get to know one another better. We are both small countries facing a myriad of threats. I'm sure we can both get along remarkably.

 

[DarkPrince]

Lol
Rohingyas are not going anywhere count on that.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Another way is to ensure the total collapse and the extinction of the CPC.

You want to "ensure the total collapse and the extinction of the CPC"?

You know both the superpowers (USA and USSR) tried their best to destroy the CPC during the Cold War, now look at how it turned out?

@ChineseTiger1986 brother check this out.

 

[UKBengali]

You want to "ensure the total collapse and the extinction of the CPC"?

You know both the superpowers (USA and USSR) tried their best to destroy the CPC during the Cold War, now look at how it turned out?

@ChineseTiger1986 brother check this out.

Do not take much heed to my fellow countryman as he seems to be anti-Chinese for some reason.

 

[Species]

Do not take much heed to my fellow countryman as he seems to be anti-Chinese for some reason.

Not anti-China, most likely a pro-West, must be educated in the US => soft power.

 

[Sliver]

what is BD' reaction to Chinese and Russian moves in UNSC siding with MM? what are the immediate actions taken by BD to convince or at least put some pressure on the Chinese and the Russians?

 

[ChineseTiger1986]

You want to "ensure the total collapse and the extinction of the CPC"?

You know both the superpowers (USA and USSR) tried their best to destroy the CPC during the Cold War, now look at how it turned out?

@ChineseTiger1986 brother check this out.

Some IDs could be the disguised trolls underneath.

 

[UKBengali]

Some IDs could be the disguised trolls underneath.

@Chinese-Dragon

Unfortunately that poster is BD'shi. He is the only one here who is totally against China for some unknown reason.
He is very well educated and so can see that BD and China can both benefit from having a good relationship but still anti-China.

 

[Nilgiri]

You want to "ensure the total collapse and the extinction of the CPC"?

You know both the superpowers (USA and USSR) tried their best to destroy the CPC during the Cold War, now look at how it turned out?

@ChineseTiger1986 brother check this out.

I don't think he was calling for it himself (but maybe he can clarify if he wants), just hypothetical way for some hypothetical justice notion. Problem with justice discussions is what do we count as requiring justice? You can make it as narrow and broad as one wants to advance some viewpoint. It falls prey to that old adage by Stalin (supposedly), death of 1 is a tragedy, death of a million is a statistic etc.

Honestly too much good in China would be destroyed for targeting of the perceived "Bad" if CPC is made the bogeyman....given CPC is well entrenched in the Chinese fabric/ethos and largely on nationalist lines rather than theoretic communist lines (which in my contention would have weakened China overall). Its too powerful/important to fail now given what would result in China and world at large. A strong China (with all its various faults one perceives) is best for the world....because it hedges nicely for multi-polar world for me (given China's size). We all saw how the world was when China was weak and exploited, I for one don't want that ever again. People simply have not read enough into what China was like for about 100 years (and the larger impact on the region and world) before CPC prevailed.