U.S. Continues to Push for Action Two Years after Rohingya Ethnic Cleansing
MORGAN Ortagus, Spokesperson for US Department
Of State, says in a statement “Two years ago, Burma’s security forces engaged
in a brutal attack against hundreds of thousands of unarmed men, women, and
children in a grossly disproportionate response to attacks by militants on
security posts in northern Rakhine State. The Burmese military’s horrific
atrocities against Rohingya villagers caused an exodus of more than 740,000
Rohingya to Bangladesh in actions that constituted ethnic cleansing. Rakhine
State is not the only place in Burma where the military has committed
violations of human rights against the Burmese people over the past seventy
years. The lack of accountability and civilian oversight of the military
means that military abuses continue today in Rakhine State, as well as Kachin
and Shan States and elsewhere in Burma. We call upon all those involved
to respect human rights, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and engage in
political dialogue to pursue peace. We appreciate the Government of
Bangladesh’s ongoing generosity in hosting these refugees. The United
States is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the
Rohingya crisis, providing nearly $542 million since the outbreak of violence
in August 2017. We continue to call on others to join us in contributing
to this humanitarian response. Our thoughts are with the victims of these
abuses and the more than one million refugees who have been forced to find
refuge in Bangladesh. Justice and accountability are essential for
Burma’s efforts to build a strong, peaceful, secure, and prosperous democracy.
We continue to call on others to support efforts to promote justice and
facilitate conditions for voluntary return. As August also marks the two years
since the release of the Kofi Annan-led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State’s
report and recommendations, many of which concern the institutional
discrimination against Rohingya that continues to this day. We continue
to encourage the Burmese government to implement the Advisory Commission’s
recommendations, which offer the best path forward for Burma and all the people
of Rakhine State, as well as all those who fled. We continue to work with
international organizations to encourage Burma to create the conditions that
would allow for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees
to their places of origin or other places of their choosing”.