Urge Our Senator to Take Action
The persecution and suffering of the Rohingya people, an ethnic minority in Burma (Myanmar), continues to escalate. Since August 25, 2017, Burmese forces have burned entire Rohingya villages to the ground, soldiers have indiscriminately massacred Rohingya men, women and children, and more than 687,000 people have been forced to flee by foot and boats from their burned villages to refugee camps in Bangladesh, usually a trek of several weeks. As people of faith and global citizens, we cannot remain silent while senseless acts of torture and brutality continue. We must act now to ensure the survival, safety and dignity of the Rohingya people. There is legislation before the Senate that would sanction the military perpetrating this violence, provide more funding for the humanitarian crisis and start the process of accountability and justice for the Rohingya people; it must pass now. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell is critical to that effort. Your signature on the petition will demonstrate that his constituents of every tradition support this legislation and his work to prevent further violence.
Petition
Dear Sen. McConnell,
We, the undersigned faith leaders and citizens of Kentucky, are horrified by the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people, an ethnic minority in Burma (Myanmar). Last August, the Burmese military attacked Rohingya civilians, raping women and killing children, simply because of who they are. Homes, villages and entire communities were burned to the ground, and more than 687,000 Rohingya were forced to flee their own country. That's why we are urging you to support and pass the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2018, which would authorize desperately needed humanitarian assistance for refugees and impose targeted sanctions on Burmese military officials, who have played key roles in persecuting the Rohingya people.
Burma has a long history of human rights abuses that we can't ignore, especially now. Without action from the U.S. government and the international community, the persecution of the Rohingya people will continue without end. At a time when human rights abuses are close to annihilating an entire ethnic group, the United States must not abdicate its long-standing bipartisan tradition of standing up for the most vulnerable people around the world.
We share your belief that Burma must be supported to become a truly representative democracy. This legislation would move Burma in the right direction by authorizing targeted, appropriate measures against key military figures and providing clear incentives for needed reforms to professionalize the military and reduce corruption, conflict and abuses.
Marginalized groups, including the Rohingya people, have counted on the United States to stand up to authoritarian militaries and lead by supporting human rights. We urge you to support the Burma Act and incorporate related provisions into the NDAA to ensure that the Rohingya people can live with the safety, dignity and human rights they deserve. Please use your office and authority to allow this legislation to move forward. Countless lives depend on it.
