Anniversary Marks Seven Years Since Rohingya Genocide Began

Anniversary Marks Seven Years Since Rohingya Genocide Began

By Suhra Nahib on August 23, 2024

August 25, 2024, marks seven years since the beginning of the Rohingya genocide, a dark milestone in a tragic story.

The Rohingya are an ethnic Muslim minority group who have lived for generations in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Despite their deep roots in the country, the government of Myanmar does not recognize them as one of the official ethnic groups and has denied them citizenship since 1982, rendering them stateless.

As Muslims in a Buddhist country, the Rohingya have long faced systemic discrimination, violence, and persecution, making them one of the most vulnerable populations in the world. Most Rohingya live in ghetto-like camps, deprived of essential services and needs, in the western coastal state of Rakhine. Rakhine is one of the poorest states in Myanmar, and Rohingya are not allowed to leave it without government permission.

Over the past seven years, the Rohingya community has endured unimaginable suffering. In 2017, the Myanmar military launched a brutal crackdown against them, unleashing widespread atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, and burning villages. These attacks forced over 960,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, where they continue to live in overcrowded refugee camps under dire conditions.

The military junta, with the support of government policies, orchestrated this violence as part of a broader, decades-long effort to erase the Rohingya population from Myanmar. Its campaign is rooted in a long history of ethnic and religious discrimination.

In response to this crisis, various organizations stepped up to address the Rohingya's immediate needs. Other countries also responded. Critically, in March 2022, the U.S. government recognized the Myanmar military's actions against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State as genocide and crimes against humanity.

Despite widespread international condemnation, the Myanmar military continues its oppressive actions against ethnic minorities, including the Rohingya. Its push to eliminate the Rohingya from Myanmar is driven by a toxic mix of nationalism, racism, and religious intolerance.

The international community is continuing to work to prevent further atrocities in Myanmar and hold those responsible accountable. Their efforts have included delivering essential aid to the Rohingya, advocating for international intervention, and supporting local initiatives to improve living conditions in refugee camps.

After brutally cracking down on the Rohingya in 2017, the Myanmar military, which had ruled the country until 2011, seized power back from the democratically elected government in 2021. Since then, it has continued to use lethal force to quell dissent and to persecute the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities.

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has launched a critical campaign targeting one of the key resources sustaining this repressive regime: jet fuel. The Jet Fuel Campaign seeks to limit the sale of jet fuel-a resource critical to military operations-to Myanmar. Restricting its availability hampers the military's ability to conduct air strikes and maintain operations. This reduces the junta's capacity to perpetuate violence against ethnic groups.

In Myanmar, jet fuel is more than just a commodity; it is a tool of war. By limiting its availability, the campaign hopes to pressure the military regime and support broader efforts to end the violence. Supporting the Jet Fuel Campaign is a concrete way to weaken the military's power and prevent further atrocities against the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar.

As we mark this somber anniversary, it is crucial to remember the Rohingya's plight and do what we can to help. Join us in this essential cause. Visit UUSC's website to donate and learn more about how you can get involved. Your action can help drive change and offer hope to those who have suffered for too long.

Image credit: MD Jamal

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