Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day

By Sheikh Ramzy, Beyond Conflict Ambassador

In commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the Rohingya Genocide a few days ago, many of us continue to observe the Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day with utmost sorrow and grief, and mourn the loss of thousands of Rohingya lives during the Myanmar military campaign against them.

People around the world join the Rohingyas in condemning  the heinous crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar/Burmese military during its Ground Clearance Operation against the Rohingya.

The genocidal policy against the Rohingya ethnic minority of Burma/Myanmar by the military has been institutionalized for over 60 years. The revocation of citizenship and human right violations against Rohingya people by the military set the stage for launching the genocidal campaign of 2017. The killings, atrocities, rapes, mutilation and all other forms of crimes have been extensively used by the military.

Over past several decades, the Myanmar military launched a series of ground clearance operations to uproot the Rohingya population of Burma through highly sophisticated military operations, most notoriously known as Nagamin Operation in 1978, Galon Operation in 1992, massive surprise attacks on Rohingya population in 2012 and 2016 using local militia and thugs, and finally the “Ground Clearance Operation” in 2017.

We in the international community and the Rohingya seek justice and accountability for the acts and crimes of genocide committed by the Myanmar military at the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. The criminals and masterminds of these crimes must be brought to justice.

Justice 4 Rohingya calls on the international community to exert pressure on the military to fully comply with the tripartite agreement that Burma has signed with Bangladesh and China to repatriate the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to their original homes in Arakan and reinstate the full citizenship and basic rights of the Rohingya ethnic minority. The military junta bears full responsibility for the safety and protection of the people from its own military personnel and the surging COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond Conflict, of which I am an Ambassador, seeks to help the frontline workers in the Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, where more than 1 million Rohingya remain stranded, awaiting a return home. There is no end in sight to their suffering and the frontline workers, providing aid in the camps, as well as the refugees  themselves are suffering real trauma. Beyond Conflict is working with its local partner GDC  to deliver free mental health support to 7 NGO aid workers in the camp. This helps them to keep doing their challenging job, helping the refugees. BC has also set up a free phone helpline and a referral pathway to enable people to access mental health help when needed.

We ask for your support for getting the Rohingyas justice and helping them rebuild their lives. We ask for your support for Beyond Conflict to help them recover from the trauma they are enduring still. Donate now to help.