29 March 2022

Civil Society Organizations welcome US determination of genocide against Rohingya
Myanmar military leadership must be prosecuted

Though it comes far too late, the decision of the US government to finally formally determine that the violence perpetrated by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya in 2017 in Rakhine State amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity is welcomed by 357 Myanmar CSOs and regional and international partners.

This announcement comes after over four years of tireless repeated efforts by Rohingya, supported by human rights groups within Myanmar and across the world in solidarity with their cause. They have continued to seek justice and accountability, the recognition of their rights, including the restoration of their citizenship, equal rights, freedom of movement, and for safe, voluntary and dignified return of Rohingya to their homes in Rakhine State.

As the long-awaited recognition of the atrocity crimes being determined by the US government is here, urgent actions must be taken towards criminal prosecution for these crimes and to ensure the protection of the remaining Rohingya in Rakhine State whose situation continues to be dire. Otherwise, this determination will languish as rhetoric and only serve to further embolden the Myanmar military that not only continues to implement its policies of genocide and persecute the remaining 600,000 Rohingya in Rakhine State, but is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the people across the country.

The same military that committed genocide against the Rohingya are committing massacres, airstrikes, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary mass arrests, sexual and gender-based violence, violence against children and mass displacement following its attempted coup – an attempt that failed, largely due to courageous and united resistance from the people of Myanmar in defense of their democracy.

At the 49th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that systematic abuses by the military junta may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including deliberately targeting civilians with airstrikes and burning people alive. The impunity enjoyed by the Myanmar military must end and this can only be achieved through swift and rigorous justice and accountability.

We call on the United States Government to:

• Recommend the UN Security Council adopt a resolution referring the situation in Myanmar to the ICC;
• Recommend the International Criminal Court to accept the declaration lodged by the Myanmar government, the National Unity Government, under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute accepting the Court’s jurisdiction with respect to international crimes committed in Myanmar territory since 1 July 2002;
• Formally support the ongoing case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice brought forward by The Gambia, including financial and legal assistance;
• Call on the Congress to Pass the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021 (BURMA Act 2021);
• Impose further targeted sanctions against the military and its leadership, military businesses including specifically targeting Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), military-linked business partners and network of arms dealers;
• Increase aid to Rohingya genocide survivors in Bangladesh and other countries, and advocate for Bangladesh to adopt sustainable policies for hosting Rohingya refugees, including immediate access to education for all Rohingya children.
• Direct USAID to coordinate emergency humanitarian aid provision efforts, including through cross-border channels, for the aid to reach to most vulnerable populations of more than 889,000 IDPs resulted from the military violence and airstrikes, and combat COVID-19, by providing resources and working in equal and meaningful partnership and collaboration with ethnic and community-based humanitarian and civil society organizations;
• Coordinate to impose a global arms embargo on the Myanmar military; and,
• Sanction the supply of jet fuel to the Myanmar military to end airstrikes.

For further information, please contact:

• Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, [email protected]
• Razia Sultana, RW Welfare Society (RWWS), [email protected]
• Naw Hser Hser, Women’s League of Burma, [email protected]

Signed by:

1. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
2. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
3. Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
4. Ah Nah podcast – Conversation with Myanmar
5. All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
6. All Burma Federation of Trade Unions (ABFTU)
7. All Burma Indigenous People Alliance
8. All Burma Student Democratic Front – Australia Branch
9. All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
10. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
11. ALTSEAN-Burma
12. America Rohingya Justice Network
13. American Baptist Churches USA
14. American Rohingya Advocacy
15. Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
16. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMDN)
17. Arakan Institute for Peace and Development
18. Arizona Kachin Community
19. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
20. Asia Democracy Network
21. Asia Myanmar Research Institute
22. Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
23. Asian Dignity Initiative
24. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
25. Association for the Advancement of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Vietnam (AAFoRB-VN)
26. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
27. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
28. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
29. Auckland Zomi Community
30. Australia Burma Friendship Association, Northern Territory
31. Australia Karen Organization WA Inc.
32. Australia Myanmar Doctors, Nurses and Friends
33. Australia Myanmar Youth Alliance (AMYA)
34. Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
35. Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
36. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
37. Bamar Community Tasmania
38. Baptist World Alliance
39. Blood Money Campaign
40. Boat People SOS
41. Burma Action Ireland
42. Burma Campaign UK (BCUK)
43. Burma Civil War Museum (BCM)
44. Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
45. Burma Interest Group
46. Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
47. Burma Task Force
48. Burmese American Community Institute
49. Burmese American Millennials
50. Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
51. Burmese Community in South Australia
52. Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
53. Burmese Democratic Forces
54. Burmese Friendship Association
55. Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
56. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
57. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
58. Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
59. Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
60. California Kachin Community
61. Campaign for a New Myanmar
62. Canberra Karen Association
63. Chin Community of Auckland
64. Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
65. Chin Community SA
66. Chin Community Tasmania
67. Chin Human Rights Organization
68. Chin Leaders of Tomorrow (CLT)
69. Chin Youth Organization
70. Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
71. Citizens of Burma Award (New Zealand)
72. Clarity & Decency
73. Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
74. CoBA New Zealand
75. Committee for Religious Freedom in Vietnam
76. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
77. CRPH Funding Ireland
78. CRPH Support Group, Norway
79. CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia
80. CSO Committee for Peace in Tanintharyi
81. Dallas Kachin Community
82. Dallas Karen Baptist Church
83. Danu Youth Organization
84. Democracy for Burma
85. Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
86. Democracy Movement Strike Committee – Dawei
87. Democracy Movement Strike Committee – Laung Lone
88. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization – DPW
89. Democratic Youth Council
90. DFW Karen Community
91. Dragon Dawn
92. Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization
93. European Karen Network (EKN)
94. European Rohingya Council
95. Falam Community in South Australia
96. Federal FM Mandalay
97. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
98. Finland Karen Culture Association
99. Florida Kachin Community
100. Free Burma Action Bay/USA/Global
101. Free Myanmar Campaign USA/BACI
102. Free Rohingya Coalition
103. Freedom for Burma
104. Freedom, Justice, Equality for Myanmar
105. Future Light Center (FLC)
106. Future Thanlwin (FT)
107. General Strike Committee of Nationalities – GSCN
108. Generation Wave (GW)
109. Georgia Kachin Community
110. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
111. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (GMSR)
112. Houston Kachin Community
113. Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
114. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDefend), Philippines
115. India For Myanmar
116. Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
117. Info Birmanie
118. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
119. Institute for Asian Democracy
120. Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA-Myanmar)
121. International Campaign for the Rohingya (ICR)
122. International Karen Organisation
123. International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals
124. Iowa Kachin Community
125. Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (JACDB)
126. Jubilee Campaign USA
127. Justice 4 Myanmar – Hope & Development
128. Justice For Myanmar (JFM)
129. Kachin Alliance
130. Kachin American Community (Portland – Vancouver)
131. Kachin Association Australia
132. Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
133. Kachin Baptist Churches USA
134. Kachin Community of Indiana
135. Kachin Community of USA
136. Kachin National Organization USA
137. Kachin Vision
138. Kansas Karenni Community, KS
139. Karen American Association of Milwaukee, WI
140. Karen Association of Huron, SD
141. Karen Community in Norway
142. Karen Community in South Australia
143. Karen Community of Akron, OH
144. Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
145. Karen Community of Czech Republic
146. Karen Community of Finland
147. Karen Community of Hamilton
148. Karen Community of Iowa, IA
149. Karen Community of Ireland
150. Karen Community of Israel
151. Karen Community of Kansas City, KS & MO
152. Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo
153. Karen Community of Leamington
154. Karen Community of Lethbridge
155. Karen Community of London
156. Karen Community of Minnesota, MN
157. Karen Community of North Carolina, NC
158. Karen Community of Ottawa
159. Karen Community of Regina
160. Karen Community of Saskatoon
161. Karen Community of Thunderbay
162. Karen Community of Toronto
163. Karen Community of Windsor
164. Karen Community of Winnipeg
165. Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
166. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN)
167. Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
168. Karen Organization of America
169. Karen Organization of Illinois, IL
170. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
171. Karen Rivers Watch
172. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
173. Karen Thai Group
174. Karen Women’s Organization
175. Karen Youth Education Pathways
176. Karen Youth Networks
177. Karen Youth of Norway
178. Karen Youth of Toronto
179. Karen Youth Organization
180. Karenni Civil Society Network
181. Karenni Community of Arizona, AZ
182. Karenni Community of Arkensas, AK
183. Karenni Community of Austin, TX
184. Karenni Community of Bowling Green, KY
185. Karenni Community of Buffalo, NY
186. Karenni Community of Chicago, IL
187. Karenni Community of Colorado, CO
188. Karenni Community of Dallas, TX
189. Karenni Community of Des Moines, IA
190. Karenni Community of Florida, FL
191. Karenni Community of Fort Worth, TX
192. Karenni Community of Georgia, GA
193. Karenni Community of Houston, TX
194. Karenni Community of Idaho, ID
195. Karenni Community of Indianapolis, IN
196. Karenni Community of Massachusetts, MA
197. Karenni Community of Michigan, MI
198. Karenni Community of Minnesota, MN
199. Karenni Community of Missouri, MO
200. Karenni Community of North Carolina, NC
201. Karenni Community of Portland, OR
202. Karenni Community of Rockford, IL
203. Karenni Community of San Antonio, TX
204. Karenni Community of Sioux Falls, SD
205. Karenni Community of Utah, UT
206. Karenni Community of Utica, NY
207. Karenni Community of Washington, WA
208. Karenni Community of Wisconsin, WI
209. Karenni Federation of Australia
210. Karenni Human Rights Group
211. Karenni National Women’s Organization
212. Karenni Society New Zealand
213. Karenni Society of Omaha, NE
214. Karenni/Kayah Community
215. Karenni-American Association
216. Kayan Women’s Organization
217. Kayin Community Tasmania
218. Keng Tung Youth
219. Kentucky Kachin Community
220. Korea Karen Organization
221. Korea Karen Youth Organization
222. Kyae Lak Myay Organization
223. Kyaukse University Interim Administrative Council
224. Kyaukse University Students’ Union
225. La Communauté Birmane de France (France)
226. LA Rohingya Association
227. League for Democracy in Burma
228. LGBT Union Mandalay (လိင်စိတ်ခံယူမှုကွဲပြားသူများသမဂ္ဂ)
229. Loka Ahlinn – Social Development Network
230. Louisiana Kachin Community
231. Mandalay Regional Youth Association
232. Maryland Kachin Community
233. Matu Chin Community in Australia
234. Metta Campaign Mandalay
235. Michigan Kachin Community
236. Milk Tea Alliance (Calendar Team)
237. Milwaukee Myanmar Christian Church
238. Mindat Chin Community NSW
239. Mindat Community in Australia
240. Minnesota Kachin Community
241. Mizo Community in Australia
242. Mizo Society of America
243. Mon Families Group
244. Mon National Council
245. MSI – Myanmar Secrect Information
246. Muslim Youth Network
247. Myanmar Accountability Project
248. Myanmar Advocacy Coalition
249. Myanmar Buddhist Community of South Australia
250. Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
251. Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
252. Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
253. Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
254. Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
255. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
256. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
257. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
258. Myanmar People Residing in Canberra
259. Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
260. Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
261. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
262. Nationalities Alliance of Burma USA
263. Netherlands-Myanmar Solidarity Platform
264. Network for Advocacy Action
265. Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
266. New York Kachin Community
267. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
268. New Zealand Karen Association
269. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
270. NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
271. No Business With Genocide
272. North Carolina Kachin Community
273. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
274. Olive Organization
275. Omaha Kachin Community
276. Oversea Karen Organization Japan
277. Overseas Mon Association – New Zealand
278. Pa-O Women’s Union
279. Pa-O Youth Organization
280. Peacock Generation Youth Empowerment Society
281. Pennsylvania Kachin Community
282. People’s Empowerment Foundation (PEF)
283. Perth Myanmar Youth Network
284. Probono Lawyer Network
285. Progressive Voice
286. PWVB (Patriotic War Veterans of Burma)
287. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
288. Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
289. Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC)
290. Queensland Rohingya Community
291. Red Campaign Nirvana Exhortation Group
292. Regina Karen Community
293. Remonya Association of WA (Mon Community)
294. Rohingya Action Ireland
295. Rohingya Youth Association
296. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
297. RW Welfare Society (RWWS)
298. Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas (SCOEWBA)
299. SAVE MYANMAR (San Francisco)
300. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
301. SEA-Junction
302. Shan Community (New Zealand)
303. Shan MATA
304. Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
305. Sisters 2 Sisters
306. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
307. South Carolina Kachin Community
308. Southcare Medical Centre
309. Southern Youth Development Organization
310. Students for Free Burma
311. Support for Myanmar
312. Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (Netherlands)
313. Support the Democracy Movement in Burma
314. Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
315. Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
316. Ta’ang Legal Aid
317. Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
318. Tanintharyi MATA
319. Tanintharyi Women’s Network
320. Tennessee Kachin Community
321. Thai Allied Committee with Desegregated Burma Foundation (TACDB)
322. The Institution of Professional Engineers Myanmar
323. The Sentry
324. Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
325. TINT KYWE
326. Twitter Team for Revolution
327. U.S. Campaign for Burma
328. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
329. Union of Karenni State Youth
330. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
331. United Myanmar Community of South Australia
332. United States Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar (USACM)
333. United States Chin Coalition (USCC)
334. University Muslim Students Network- Myanmar
335. Victorian Burmese Care Community (VBCC)
336. Victorian Myanmar Youth
337. Vietnam Coalition Against Torture
338. Vietnamese Women for Human Rights
339. Virginia Kachin Community
340. Washington Kachin Community
341. We Change
342. We Pledge CDM (Australia)
343. West Virginia Kachin Community
344. Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network
345. Wisdom Light Education
346. Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
347. Women Advocacy Coalition-Myanmar (WAC-M)
348. Women Development Society
349. Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
350. Yadanar Foundation
351. Zo Community in Australia
352. Zomi Association Australia Inc.
353. Zomi Community Queensland
354. Zomi Community South Australia
355. မုံရွာလူထုသပိတ်တိုက်ပွဲ ဦးဆောင်ကော်မတီ
356. အမျိုးသမီးမဟာမိတ်အင်အားစု (Women Alliance Burma)
357. ဧရာဝတီကရင်လူငယ်

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