U.S. officially declares genocide in Myanmar

The United States formally declared that Myanmar’s army committed genocide against the Rohingya minority, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial.

“The attack against Rohingya was widespread and systematic, which was crucial for reaching a determination of crimes against humanity,” Blinken said. “The evidence also points to a clear intent behind these mass atrocities, the intent to destroy Rohingya in whole or in part.”

"Today's determination is one step on that path – as it tells Rohingya, and victims in particular, that the United States government recognizes the gravity of the atrocities committed against them," Blinken said. "And it reaffirms Rohingyas' human rights and dignity – something the Burmese military has tried to destroy."

The U.S. government arrived at this conclusion after examining a report that surveyed 1,000 Rohingya refugees that were displaced between 2016 and 2017. 

The report found that around 740,000 Rohingya’s were forced to leave their homes to Bangladesh as part of a campaign launched by Myanmar’s military. Many other Rohingya were killed, raped, and tortured. More than 9,000 Rohingya were killed in 2017 alone. 

“More than half witnessed acts of sexual violence. One in five witnessed a mass casualty event – that is, the killing or injury of more than 100 people in a single incident,” Blinken said.

"The evidence also points to a clear intent behind these mass atrocities – the intent to destroy Rohingya, in whole or in part," added Blinken. 

In February of 2021, Myanmar’s military staged a coup, overthrowing the government led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi. 

Since the coup, the military has also targeted the opposition: 1,600 people have been killed, over 12,000 people have been detained, half a million have been displaced, and 14 million others need humanitarian assistance. 

“Credible sources have recorded the deaths of over 1,600 individuals, many engaged in peaceful protest. At least 350 of those killed died in military custody, over 21 percent of the total deaths,” said U.N. High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet.

U.S. officials and activists hope that an official recognition of the genocide by the government can help prevent further crimes against humanity and hold those responsible accountable. 

The announcement on Monday is the eighth time in the history of the U.S. that the country has determined that a genocide has occurred.