The Commander-in-Chief of the military of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing. (Image via: Rappler)

Abusing Rohingya, the U.S Punishes Myanmar Military Commander

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
International
Jul 17, 2019
1705
WASHINGTON - It is a crime against a religious group and it is detestable. In 2016-2017, the Myanmar government had been persecuting the Muslim minorities in Rohingya, Rakhine State, Myanmar, claiming the act as “ethnic cleansing”. The persecution caused about 740,000 minorities to flee to the neighboring countries, Bangladesh. The term “Ethnic cleansing” was used by the former 2017-2018 U.S Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, replacing the term “genocide”.

The United Nations (UN) revealed that the “ethnic cleansing” involved rapes, murders, & arsons, and it was conducted in genocidal intent. UN pointed out that Myanmar’s military force had violated human rights and their acts could be considered as fresh war crimes. International Criminal Court has also conducted a preliminary probe to investigate the violence.

During a major meeting at the State Department on religious freedom, The U.S Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said that the crime reflects military and governmental irresponsibility and unaccountability. The meeting was also attended by representatives of Rohingya Muslims. He also accused the Myanmar government of cooperating with the genocidal act due to their lack of response to the horrendous acts.

To bring justice for Rohingya Muslims, after a serial of investigation, the U.S finally slapped sanctions on the military Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, on Tuesday (16/7). Min Aung Hlaing, as Commander-in-Chief of the military of Myanmar, was proven guilty by ordering acquittals for 7 soldiers who commit the genocidal act against Rohingya Muslims after only several months of imprisonment, while for the 2 reporters who exposed the “ethnic cleansing”, they were jailed for 500 days.

The Inn Din massacre was unveiled by 2 Reuters journalists, Wa Lone (33) and Kyaw Soe Oo (29), who had to face more than 16 months of imprisonment for their brave efforts to reveal the act to the world. On 6 May 2019, they were acquitted.

Other military leaders of Myanmar also got the sanction such as Hlaing’s deputy, Soe Win, and 2 other commanders-in-chief and their families. The sanction forbids them to enter the U.S. The sanction was currently the harshest the U.S could give in punishment for Rohingya ethnicity crime.

The Buddhist majority of Myanmar refused to acknowledge Rohingya Muslims as part of Myanmar and also to give their basic rights. Even worse, they labeled Rohingya Muslims as “Bengali” referring to the immigrant from Bangladesh.

Source: https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/us-imposes-sanctions-myanmar-military-commander-over-rohingya-abuses

Politics , International , ASEAN , Myanmar , U.S , Genocide , Rohingya , Muslim , Sanction