People’s Tribunal on Myanmar Declares Rohingya Face Genocide

People’s Tribunal on Myanmar Declares Rohingya Face Genocide

September 22 – Seven judges of the Rome based Permanent People’s Tribunal on Myanmar have unanimously declared Myanmar guilty of genocide against Rohingyas and crime against humanity against other ethnic minorities.

Since September 18, 2017 the Permanent People’s Tribunal on Burma has been in session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to listen to testimonies regarding the Myanmar government’s responsibility for crimes against humanity against both Rohingya and Kachin minorities. This important process fills a near-void in accountability for the Myanmar government, with seven judges of international stature ruling on the specific nature of policies of exclusion, apartheid, atrocities and even genocide in Burma.

On September 22, 2017, these judges determined that both crimes against humanity and genocide standards had been met, stating “The State of Myanmar is fully responsible for genocide against the Rohingya people, and is further responsible not only for genocidal intent against the Kachin and the Muslim minority, but also and more specifically for crimes of war against the Kachin and crimes against humanity against the Kachin and the Muslim groups.” The statement went on to deplore the total impunity of the Myanmar government due to an absence of independent justice system or checks and balances on the Myanmar military.

The Tribunal was the result of many months of planning, research and effort by a number of organizations including the Chicago based Burma Task Force. Witnesses have included Dr Maung Zarni, expert witness and former Suu Kyi colleague in the Democracy movement, Gregory Stanton, Research Professor of Genocide Studies at the School of Conflict Analysis at George Mason University; Bangladesh Commissioner of Human Rights Kazi Reazul Hoque, and Razia Sultana, a Rohingya lawyer who practices law in Bangladesh. Witnesses described the terrible impact on children and families.

“Both the President of France and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh are calling this crisis a “Genocide,” stated Imam Malik Mujahid, Chair of Burma Task Force attending and assisting the Tribunal throughout its planning process. “The Tribunal’s verdict further strengthens the conclusion that this crisis is a genocide, an emergency that absolutely requires intervention at the United Nations and by its members states, including the United States. ASEAN nations also have a particular ability to stop the mass killing and displacement, if leaders find the will to act.”

Based in downtown Chicago, Burma Task Force is a coalition of 19 American and Canadian Muslim organizations dedicated to ending the suffering of Myanmar’s Rohingya.

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