Eight years ago, Myanmar’s military began a campaign of horrific violence against the Rohingya people, marking the start of a brutal genocide. This community, native to Myanmar’s Rakhine state, saw their villages burned to the ground and their people subjected to unimaginable atrocities including mass killings and sexual violence. The plight of the Rohingya caught the world’s attention as it became one of the first genocides of such scale to be broadcasted globally. Today, as similar acts of violence unfold in other parts of the world, the haunting memories of the Rohingya genocide remain vivid, prompting reflections on the international community’s response to such crimes against humanity.
The Roots of Persecution
Long before the catastrophic events of 2017, the Rohingya faced systemic oppression. Following a military coup in 1962, Myanmar’s leadership implemented a citizenship system based on racial purity, culminating in the 1982 Citizenship Act. This law stripped the Rohingya of their citizenship, rendering them stateless on their ancestral land and restricting their access to education, employment, and freedom of movement. The military enforced these policies with violent campaigns, forcing large numbers of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh as early as 1978.
From Bad to Worse: The 2011 Shift and Its Aftermath
In 2011, Myanmar transitioned to a military-dominated civilian government, initiating what was perceived as a reformist era. However, the situation for the Rohingya continued to deteriorate. Research conducted from 2011 to 2014 highlighted ongoing restrictions and abuses, which were systematically enforced to make life untenable for the Rohingya. The military’s actions included turning villages into open-air prisons, restricting access to basic resources, and committing acts of violence such as forced labor and arbitrary arrests.
The 2017 Escalation: A Genocide Broadcasted
The international community could only watch in horror as, in August 2017, the Myanmar military launched a severe crackdown following attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. The military’s brutal response led to the mass exodus of over 740,000 Rohingya, who fled the burning of their villages and the pervasive violence to seek refuge in Bangladesh. The first month alone saw the deaths of 6,700 Rohingya, including many children. This event marked a significant point in the genocide, with the horrors experienced by the Rohingya being streamed across the world, showcasing the scale of the tragedy.
A Continuing Crisis
Today, the situation remains dire for the Rohingya both within Myanmar and in exile. Approximately 600,000 Rohingya still in Myanmar face new threats from the Arakan Army, an ethnic Buddhist nationalist group that has seized control of Rakhine state following recent political turmoil. This group has continued the pattern of abuse against the Rohingya, including extrajudicial killings and widespread arson. Meanwhile, over a million Rohingya live in refugee camps in Bangladesh, their future uncertain and their plight largely unaddressed by international powers.
Reflections on International Inaction
The ongoing suffering of the Rohingya raises critical questions about the effectiveness of international law and the global commitment to the principle of “Never Again.” Despite clear evidence of genocide, major international actors and institutions have failed to respond adequately. This failure is especially poignant given the recognition of the genocide by prominent Holocaust memorial museums and the contrasting lack of action regarding other ongoing genocides.
As we continue to witness the unfolding of similar tragedies around the world, the story of the Rohingya serves as a grim reminder of the costs of inaction and the urgent need for a committed, global response to prevent future genocides. It prompts us to reflect on what lessons, if any, we have learned from the past and how we can better protect vulnerable populations from such devastating violence and systemic abuse.
