Jewish Rohingya Justice Network - August 25, 2021 Statement

Jewish Rohingya Justice Network Statement on August 25, 2021

The Jewish Rohingya Justice Network is the powerful consortium of Jewish NGOs advocating for the rights of the persecuted Rohingya people of Burma. JRJN’s membership includes 33 organizations and all four major branches of American Judaism that together encompass the support of millions of American Jews —all standing together against genocide.

Inspired by the Jewish commitment to justice, the Jewish Rohingya Justice Network (JRJN) works to promote a robust U.S. and international response to the Rohingya genocide through education of our communities and advocacy in Washington, DC.

To reach the Jewish Rohingya Justice Network for comment, email Hannah Weilbacher at jewishrohingyajusticenetwork@gmail.com.

To see all of our previous statements, click here.

Today, we mark four years since the Burmese military carried out a campaign of mass atrocities against the Rohingya people, all while recognizing that atrocities continue to be perpetrated. The Jewish Rohingya Justice Network stands together to say, unequivocally, the U.S. government must call these attacks what they are: a genocide.

As a government, the U.S. has the ability – and the responsibility – to publicly declare that the state of Burma has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the Rohingya people.

As Jewish organizations, leaders, and individuals, we feel the profound pain and disappointment of the U.S. taking a backseat during this ongoing genocide. The Jewish Rohingya Justice Network came together in the aftermath of the brutal escalation against the Rohingya people in 2017, and since then we have proudly advocated in solidarity with the Rohingya people and all religious and ethnic minorities in Burma. While we have welcomed many of the important steps that the U.S. government has taken to hold Burma’s military accountable - such as sanctions against some of the architects of the genocide - at this moment it’s clear: it has not been enough. By failing to call these atrocities what they are - a genocide - the same military responsible for such heinous acts has felt emboldened, as evidenced by the February 1st military coup and its devastating ramifications. That’s why 860 American Jews signed this letter to President Biden in April of this year asking for a genocide determination.

A determination of genocide against the Rohingya is even more relevant in light of the military coup in Burma. Perpetrated by the same military that planned and executed the genocide against the Rohingya people, and the persecution of other religious and ethnic minorities over decades, it’s clear that without serious accountability, the Burma military will continue to be emboldened to act with impunity.

We mark this moment with gravity: nearly seven months since the Burmese military overthrew the government and four years since the state-coordinated campaign against the Rohingya people escalated to full-scale genocide. As the unified Jewish response to this crisis, we see the clear connection between genocidal campaigns throughout history, and we understand how the persecution of ethnic minorities must be taken seriously by the U.S. in order to prevent further atrocities.

We know from our own history the importance of the international community coming together, with one voice, and calling atrocities what they are. To ignore them, or fail to call them what they are, further human rights violations are practically inevitable. We must hold those responsible for this genocide accountable. And that starts by naming what they have done with forcefulness and clarity.

Four years ago today, Rohingya villages in the Rakhine State of Burma were destroyed, families were killed, and survivors crossed rivers to find refuge. Those survivors joined Rohingya refugees of previous violent campaigns in Bangladesh and other displaced communities, where they continue to share their clear, powerful wishes for self-determination, dignity, and justice. Their stories echo the stories of our own families and ancestors, and our Jewish history compels us to act now and always.

The evidence is clear. The urgency is here. U.S. leadership must be clear, too.

The Jewish Rohingya Justice Network, encompassing 33 organizations and millions of American Jews, asks the U.S. government to #CallitGenocide on this, the four-year anniversary of the horrific 2017 campaign of violence and destruction.