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Tillerson’s statement puts more pressure on Myanmar’s military to halt a brutal crackdown against minority
WASHINGTON: The United States declared the ongoing violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar to be ethnic cleansing on Wednesday, putting more pressure on the country’s military to halt a brutal crackdown that has sent more than 600,000 refugees flooding over the border to Bangladesh.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson blamed Myanmar’s security forces and local vigilantes for what he called intolerable suffering by the Rohingya. Although the military has blamed Rohingya community for setting off the crisis, Tillerson said that no provocation can justify the horrendous atrocities that have ensued.
“After a careful and thorough analysis of available facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya,” Tillerson said in a statement. Those who perpetrated the atrocities must be held accountable, Tillerson said. He said that the US wanted a full investigation and would seek justice through US law, including possible targeted sanctions.
The declaration followed a lengthy review process by the Trump administration to determine whether the violence met the threshold to be considered ethnic cleansing. The United Nations came to that conclusion in September, but the US had held off, with Tillerson saying he needed more information even as he expressed deep concern about the crisis.
Rohingya from Rakhine state have been fleeing to Bangladesh, seeking refuge from what Myanmar’s military has called ‘clearance’ operations. The crisis started in August, when some people attacked Myanmar armed forces, leading to a brutal crackdown in which soldiers and Buddhist mobs have killed men, raped woman and burned homes and property to force the Rohingya to leave.
Last week, Tillerson traveled to Myanmar in the highest level visit by a US official since President Donald Trump took office. US officials dangled the possibility of an ethnic cleansing designation ahead of Tillerson’s trip, potentially giving him more leverage as he met with Myanmar officials. In the capital of Naypitaw, Tillerson met with the country’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, well as military chief Min Aung Hlaing, who is in charge of operations in Rakhine state, home to Rohingya population.
Although the ethnic cleansing label doesn’t carry specific legal requirements for the US, it is likely to intensify calls for the Trump administration and Congress to move towards new sanctions on Myanmar. Sanctions on the Southeast Asian nation were eased under former President Barack Obama as the country made steps toward transitioning to democracy.
Pressure from Congress to take punitive steps against Myanmar has been mounting. Earlier this month, the House passed a non-binding resolution condemning murderous ethnic cleansing and atrocities against civilians. It called on Trump to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses, including members of Myanmar’s military and security services.
During his visit to Myanmar, Tillerson said the US would consider targeted sanctions against individuals deemed responsible for the violence, but that he wasn’t advocating broad-based economic sanctions against the entire nation. US officials have been concerned that pushing Myanmar’s leaders too hard on the Rohingya violence could undermine the country’s ‘civilian’ government.
Already, the United States has curtailed its ties to Myanmar’s military over the violence. Earlier this year, the US restored restrictions on granting visas to members of Myanmar’s military, and the State Department has deemed units and officers involved in operations in Rakhine state illegible for the American assistance.
