COUNTDOWN to Annihilation: Genocide in Myanmar, a report by the International State Crime Initiative (ISCI), Queen Mary University of London, has identified that Rohingyas in Myanmar are being subjected to genocide. The conventional definition of genocide usually involves mass killing committed by the state. However, ISCI investigation shows that the persecution of Rohingyas has developed into genocidal practice based on the historic and current conditions. In other words, the genocide is underway in Myanmar. This claim of genocide was supported by the Human Rights Clinic at Yale Law School which found that there was strong evidence of state crimes committed against Rohingyas.
Most Rohingyas live in the state of Rakhine (formerly Arakan) in the northwestern part of Myanmar. Rakhine is the second poorest state in Myanmar. Rohingyas are often referred to as "illegal Bengali immigrants" who came from Bangladesh.
In the book, Genocide as Social Practice: Reorganising Society under the Nazis and Argentina's Military Juntas, Daniel Feierstein outlines six stages of genocide. ISCI identified that the first four stages have been and are still occurring to the Rohingyas. The four stages are 1) stigmatisation and dehumanisation; 2) harassment, violence and terror; 3) isolation and segregation; and 4) the systematic weakening of the target group. ISCI claimed that the Rohingyas potentially face the final two stages of genocide which are 5) mass annihilation and eventually 6) erasure of the group from Myanmar's history.
There are countless records and witnesses to prove the genocidal process. These include organised massacre in 2012 and systematic discriminatory policies. For example, Rohingyas need approval to leave their camps to get medical treatment and they need to pay a large amount of money to get approval from the authorities to get married. Due to the oppressive livelihoods, many Rohingyas flee their "home country".
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