The United States has temporarily suspended travel for American officials to parts of Burma's Rakhine state, the US embassy said on Thursday, citing concerns over potential protests after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused the country of carrying out the “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims in the state.
Tillerson threatened penalties for military officials engaged in a brutal crackdown that has sent more than 620,000 refugees flooding over the border to Bangladesh.
The US Secretary of State blamed Burma's security forces and “local vigilantes” for what he called “intolerable suffering” by the Rohingya. Although the military has accused Rohingya insurgents of triggering the crisis, Tillerson said “no provocation can justify the horrendous atrocities that have ensued.”
“After a careful and thorough analysis of available facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya,” Tillerson said in a statement.
Although the designation carries no legal obligations for the US to act, Tillerson said those who perpetrated the atrocities “must be held accountable.” He added that the US wanted a full investigation and was considering “targeted sanctions” against those responsible - but not broader sanctions against the nation.
Rohingya from Burma's Rakhine state have been fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh, seeking refuge from what Burma's military has called “clearance operations.” The crisis started in August, when Rohingya insurgents attacked Burmese security forces, leading to a brutal crackdown in which soldiers and Buddhist mobs have killed men, raped women and girls and burned homes and property to force the Rohingya to leave.
The declaration followed a lengthy review process by President Donald Trump'sadministration to determine whether the violence met the threshold to be considered ethnic cleansing. The United Nations (UN) came to that conclusion in September, but the US had held off, with Tillerson saying he needed more information even as he expressed deep concern about the crisis.
Last week, Tillerson travelled to Burma in the highest level visit by a US official since Trump took office. US officials dangled the possibility of an “ethnic cleansing” designation ahead of Tillerson's trip, potentially giving him more leverage as he met with officials in Burma. In the capital of Naypitaw, Tillerson met with the country's civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as Burma's powerful military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, who is in charge of operations in Rakhine state, home to Burma's Rohingya population.
The leader of a group that works to improve conditions for the Rohingya said on Thursday he hopes the declaration will strengthen the call for accountability. Arakan Project director Chris Lewa said he thought Tillerson's visit had been relatively appreciated and he hoped it would prove constructive.
