US Recognition of Genocide Raises Global Pressure on Myanmar’s Military Government
The United States has officially recognized Myanmar’s brutal campaign against the Rohingya Muslim population as a “genocide.” This declaration, made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, marks the eighth genocide determination by the US government.
Blinken’s statement compared the military’s actions to other historical atrocities such as the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide. He highlighted the systematic and widespread nature of the Myanmar military’s violence, pointing to the intent to destroy the Rohingya either in whole or in part.
The determination is based on extensive interviews with over 1,000 Rohingya refugees who fled to Bangladesh following violent attacks in 2016 and 2017. According to Blinken, the majority of refugees recounted witnessing killings, sexual violence, and mass casualty events.
Although the US designation may increase international pressure on Myanmar’s military-led government, it does not impose immediate new economic sanctions or actions. This move comes as Myanmar faces ongoing accusations in the International Court of Justice for its treatment of the Rohingya people.
