Rohingya refugees mark genocide anniversary with calls for accountability

Thousands of Rohingya refugees gathered in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps in Bangladesh on Sunday to mark the seventh anniversary of the Myanmar military’s large-scale “clearance operations” against them on August 25, 2017. The violent crackdown, described by the United Nations as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, included numerous extrajudicial killings and the burning of homes and villages. More than 700,000 Rohingyas were forced to flee from northern Rakhine State to Bangladesh, which now hosts over one million Rohingyas in the world’s largest refugee camps.For the Rohingyas, August 25 is Genocide Remembrance Day. In Cox’s Bazar, it is observed with large protests and calls to end the ongoing violence against their community.This year, in addition to urging the international community to hold the Myanmar military accountable, there was also a denunciation of the Arakan Army (AA), which has been accused of targeting Rohingya civilians in its struggle for control of Rakhine State.The event, which included prayers and a moment of silence, saw Rohingyas demanding justice and a safe return to their homeland with full rights and citizenship. ‘Second wave’“We expect tangible actions from the United Nations, the United States, and other relevant actors to ensure sustainable repatriation to Arakan, Myanmar,” said Sayed Ullah, organiser of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals, a Rohingya human rights group based in Bangladesh. Speaking to Myanmar Now on the sidelines of the event, Ullah said the Rohingya do not wish to continue living as stateless people in refugee camps. “The suffering endured by our people cannot be ignored any longer,” he added. He also described the current situation in northern Rakhine State, where many Rohingyas are caught between the Myanmar military and the AA, as a “second wave” of the genocide that began seven years ago. Eighteen-year-old Sadek Huson also shared his frustration. “I was studying in Grade 6 when I had to flee to Bangladesh,” he said, lamenting his inability to access formal education since then. “I am here to join others because this day marks the genocide committed against my Rohingya community,” he said. Noting the lack of education, healthcare, and freedom of movement in the camps, he expressed hope to return to his country soon to continue his studies and contribute to his community. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh hold a banner at an protest held to mark Rohingya Genocide Day on August 25 (Mohammed Zonaid / Myanmar Now) Seven years after their ordeal, more than one million Rohingya refugees continue to live in inadequate conditions in camps made of tarpaulin and bamboo, often affected by deadly monsoon storms and heavy rainfall. Min Ara, a 34-year-old working in the education sector and women’s empowerment, voiced frustration at the world’s neglect of the Rohingya plight.“We observe this day to remember the relentless suffering we have endured in Rakhine State simply for being Rohingyas,” she told Myanmar Now.Ara described the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military in 2017 as genocide. “They killed our people, raped our women, burned our homes, and forced us to flee to Bangladesh,” she said.“We mark this day not to despair, but to raise our voices and bring our plight to the attention of the international community.”Ara also highlighted a recent incident that left hundreds of Rohingyas dead as they tried to escape the fighting in Rakhine State. The victims were killed in a drone attack allegedly carried out by the AA, although the group has denied the charges. Slow justice Questioning the lack of progress in achieving justice over the past seven years, she asked, “Is it because we are Rohingya? Or is justice simply absent in the world?” Days before the anniversary, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar, established by the UN in 2018 to collect evidence of atrocities against the Rohingya, released a statement calling for an end to the “cycle of impunity” related to these crimes.Nicholas Koumjian, who heads the body, acknowledged that the pace of its efforts has left many people feeling dissatisfied. “International justice is often slow, which can be frustrating for victims who rightfully seek justice,” he said, adding: “We are working towards presenting evidence in a court of law, where perpetrators will have to answer for their actions.” “I demand answers. I demand justice,” said Ara. “I call on the world to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes,” she added.

Rohingya refugees mark genocide anniversary with calls for accountability

Seven years after facing a massive campaign of violence by Myanmar’s military, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh say they are now under attack from the Arakan Army

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