The Burmese military’s horrific violence against the Rohingya ethnic minority in Burma constitutes genocide, and should be labeled as such by Congress. The U.S. should call these acts what they are and impose appropriate sanctions against the Burmese military. It should also endeavor to ensure that Burma’s gem and jade industries aren’t used to fund the military’s genocidal acts.
The Burmese government denies that its actions against the Rohingya were genocide. The country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, a democratic icon, should be trusted to make the appropriate judgments regarding the military’s actions. Instead of condemning the Burmese government, the U.S. should work with it to stabilize the country and bridge the divides between Burma’s various ethnic groups.