Rights Group Applauds House Action Calling for Protection of Rohingya Ethnic Muslim Minority in Burma

For Immediate Release

Contact: Erik Leaver

240-535-8725 | eleaver@endgenocide.org

Rights Group Applauds House Action Calling for Protection of Rohingya Ethnic Muslim Minority in Burma

Growing attacks, 100’s killed, withdrawal of life-saving medical care as Burma’s Government 

Pushes Racist Policies and Fails to Protect Rohingya Facing High Risk of Genocide

With thousands of lives at stake in Burma, United to End Genocide applauds the passage of a Resolution demanding greater U.S. pressure on the Government of Burma to end all forms of persecution and discrimination of the Rohingya people.

The passage of the resolution, H.Res. 418, sponsored by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), is the result of pressure and action taken by thousands of activists who have contacted their Members of Congress and the White House.

Commenting on the ground in Burma where he is following up a visit last month to the Rohingya camps that humanitarian aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, were expelled from, Former U.S. Congressman and United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews said today,

“It is high time for the United States to take a firm and unequivocal stand against the march to genocide in Burma and to hold the government of Burma fully accountable.

We applaud the U.S. House of Representatives for speaking up for the Rohingya ethnic Muslim minority of Burma by passing H.Res. 418, “Urging the Government of Burma to end the persecution of the Rohingya people and respect internationally recognized human rights for all ethnic and religious minority groups within Burma.” 

This step must be followed by action within the Senate and ultimately by a change in U.S. policy towards the government of Burma. The Obama administration needs to heed the message of the House stand up for the Rohingya minority of Burma and up to a government that continues to systematically abuse them.”

The Resolution is an important victory in the growing efforts to push the U.S. government to take action to pressure the Government of Burma to prioritize protection of Rohingya and other vulnerable ethnic minorities and to prevent further and larger scale atrocities.

For more information about current conditions in Burma, read United to End Genocide’s report, “Marching to Genocide in Burma” at: http://endgenocide.org/marching-to-genocide-in-burma

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The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network are now United to End Genocide. United to End Genocide is the largest activist organization in America supported by hundreds of thousands of community activists, faith leaders, students, artists, investors and genocide survivors dedicated to preventing and ending genocide and mass atrocities worldwide.