‘This crisis is made by the Myanmar military for the cause of religion’  

Visiting US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback Thursday said the Myanmar military and other authorities must be held accountable for the horrific and organized violence against Rohingyas. Speaking at a press conference at the American Center in Dhaka, he said the United States will take additional action against Myanmar as their investigations into the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya religious minority are moving forward. The US diplomat further said their country would continue to focus on the issue with great importance. "We're also in discussion about what additional action should take place... The investigation is moving forward, and I think you'll find additional actions in the days to come." Brownback arrived in Bangladesh on Wednesday on a two-day official visit, and met with a group of Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar. He held discussions on religious freedom with government officials, civil society representatives and other stakeholders. "Talking to the Rohingyas gives me an impression that what has happened to them is tragic, horrific and it's wrong, and it should not be allowed to continue," he told journalists. Brownback said the perpetrators of such level of atrocities should not get away. "The Burmese military and other authorities must be held accountable for the horrific, terrible and organized violence against Rohingyas." Narrating his meetings with some of the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, the US diplomat said everybody to whom he talked about their plights witnessed their close family members being either stabbed or killed. "Every one of them were randomly selected. This is a crisis made by the Myanmar military for the cause of religion." "One child said she saw both of her grandparents shot and dead. It's a horrible form of violence," he observed. Brownback said the US is deeply concerned over the Rohingya crisis, as their secretary of state had already described the persecution of Rohingyas by Myanmar as ethnic cleansing. About the reason behind his visit, the US ambassador-at-large said the Rohingya problem is a significant crisis to America, as the country believes strongly in human rights and religious freedom. "The ethnic cleansing of a religious minority is taking place in Myanmar. We think what is happening is really wrong. People should not be leaving their country in such large numbers unless something severely wrong is happening." Replying to a question on whether he thinks religion is a major reason behind the persecution of the Rohingyas, Brownback said that during his conversation with the victims, all but one person said they were pushed out of the country because they are Muslims. Asked whether he thinks Myanmar deserves sanctions by the US, he said their Congress and administration may discuss such measures after assessing the information they have gathered about the matter. The US envoy also said Myanmar should release the journalists they have arrested, and ensure the freedom of press so that journalists can travel in the country and collect information about the incident. Meanwhile, responding to a question about the return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar as per a repatriation deal signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat said the repatriation of Rohingyas must take place under safe, dignified and voluntary conditions. "The voluntariness has to be well informed." "We need to ask whether the condition is conducive for the return of Rohingyas," she added. Bernicat also questioned whether the Rohingyas would remain safe in Myanmar after repatriation. She urged the Myanmar authorities to allow aid workers and journalists to visit Rakhine State, so that they could know whether the condition is conducive for the return of Rohingyas. "The US will continue to press for openness and cooperation so that we and the Rohingyas themselves can verify whether the condition is right for their return."