US announces “violent repression of Muslims” in Myanmar a genocide

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have welcomed an announcement by United States that it considers the violent repression of their largely Muslim ethnic group in Myanmar a genocide.

As news of the announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spread across the sprawling camps in Cox’s Bazar district that are now home to about a million Rohingya, many residents expressed their enthusiasm.

60-year-old Sala Uddin, who lives at Kutupalong camp said are very happy about the declaration of the genocide.

Uddin said it has been 60 years starting from 1962 that Myanmar government has been torturing them and many other communities including Rohingya.

She said a path to take action by international community against Myanmar has opened up because of the declaration.”

Imtiaz Ahmed, director of Centre for Genocide Studies at University of Dhaka, said the declaration was “a positive step”, but it would be important to see what actions and “concrete steps” follow.