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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 22 March 2022
U.S. says Myanmar repression of Muslim Rohingya is genocide

By BEN FOX ministration, given poten-
Associated Press tial legal ramifications of
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vio- such a finding. The delay
lent repression of the large- in the determination had
ly Muslim Rohingya popula- drawn criticism from both
tion in Myanmar amounts inside and outside the gov-
to genocide, U.S. Secretary ernment.
of State Antony Blinken said “While this determination
Monday, a declaration in- is long overdue, it is nev-
tended to both generate ertheless a powerful and
international pressure and critically important step in
lay the groundwork for po- holding this brutal regime
tential legal action. to account,” said Oregon
Authorities made the de- Sen. Jeff Merkley.
termination based on con- Human rights groups also
firmed accounts of mass welcomed the determina-
atrocities on civilians by tion, which is similar to find-
Myanmar’s military in a ings already made by other
widespread and system- countries, including Cana-
atic campaign against the da, France and Turkey.“The
ethnic minority, Blinken said U.S. determination of the
in a speech at the U.S. Ho- crime of genocide against
locaust Memorial Museum. us is a momentous moment
It is the eighth time since Secretary of State Antony Blinken tours the “Burma’s Path To Genocide” exhibit at the United and must lead to concrete
the Holocaust that the U.S. States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Monday, March 21, 2022 in Washington. Associated Press action to hold the Burmese
has concluded a genocide military accountable for
has occurred. The secre- of civilians throughout the strive to put the country of the Buddhist majority for their crimes,” said Tun Khin,
tary of state noted the im- country have been killed back on the path to de- decades under both the president of the Burmese
portance of calling atten- and imprisoned as part of mocracy,” Blinken said. military junta that ruled Rohingya Organisation UK.
tion to inhumanity even as ongoing repression of any- White House press secre- the nation for decades as Human Rights Watch said
horrific attacks occur else- one opposed to the ruling tary Jen Psaki said Blinken’s well as the democratically- the U.S. and other govern-
where in the world, includ- junta. announcement “empha- elected government. ments should seek justice
ing Ukraine. The determination that a sizes, especially to victims More than 700,000 Rohing- for crimes carried out by
“Yes, we stand with the genocide has occurred and survivors, that the Unit- ya have fled from Buddhist- the military and impose
people of Ukraine,” he could lead other nations ed States recognizes the majority Myanmar to refu- stronger sanctions against
said. “And we must also to increase pressure on the gravity of these crimes.” gee camps in Bangladesh its leadership.
stand with people who are government, which is al- “Our view is that shining a since August 2017, when “The U.S. government
suffering atrocities in other ready facing accusations light on the crimes of Bur- the military launched an should couple its condem-
places.” of genocide at the Inter- ma’s military will increase operation aimed at clear- nations of Myanmar’s mili-
The government of Myan- national Court of Justice in international pressure, ing them from the country tary with action,” said John
mar, also known as Bur- The Hague. make it harder for them to following attacks by a rebel Sifton, the group’s Asia ad-
ma, is already under mul- “As we lay the foundation commit further abuses,” group. vocacy director. “For too
tiple layers of U.S. sanc- for future accountabil- she said. The status of the plight of long, the U.S. and other
tions since a military coup ity, we’re also working to Rohingya, from Muslim the Rohingya had been countries have allowed
ousted the democratically stop the military’s ongoing Myanmar’s western Rakh- under extended review by Myanmar’s generals to
elected government in atrocities, and support the ine state, faced systematic U.S. government legal ex- commit atrocities with few
February 2021. Thousands people of Burma as they persecution at the hands perts since the Trump ad- real consequences.”q

Workers go on strike at California

refinery owned by Chevron

RICHMOND, California (AP) union said. Chevron said in Chevron failed to address
— More than 500 workers at a statement Sunday night worker fatigue and a lack
a Chevron Corp. refinery in that it has negotiated with of staffing.
the San Francisco Bay Area the union for months and “If we had more people
went on strike early Mon- believes a contract offered and could get a better pay
day over safety concerns by the company was fair rate, maybe our members
and to demand a salary and addressed union con- wouldn’t feel obligated to
increase to keep up with in- cerns. come in and work as many
flation and the area’s high The union said it had ne- as 70 hours a week to make
cost of living. gotiated a national agree- ends meet. We don’t be-
The strike affecting the re- ment for oil workers on lieve that is safe,” White Operators holds up picket signs and acknowledge honking
finery in the city of Rich- wages and working condi- said. horns outside the Chevron Corp. refinery, Monday, March 21,
mond began at 12:01 a.m. tions, but about 200 individ- Chevron said that in Rich- 2022, in Richmond, Calif.
It came after workers vot- ual bargaining units still had mond, the union’s de- Associated Press
ed down Chevron’s most to negotiate local issues. mands “exceeded what
recent contract offer and USW Local 5 representative the company believes to pattern bargaining agree- union had asked for 5% to
the company refused to B.K. White, a refinery opera- be reasonable and moved ment.” keep up with inflation and
return to the bargaining ta- tor who has worked for the beyond what was agreed The company offered a cost of living in the Bay
ble, the United Steelworkers company for 29 years, said to as part of the national 2.5% pay increase, but the Area, White said.q