Dems angry about actions on Myanmar

WASHINGTON — The State Department said Friday the U.S. is considering further actions against those responsible for “ethnic cleansing” of Rohingya Muslims, after Democratic lawmakers called for more military officers to face sanctions.

Rep. Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, contended that Myanmar authorities are committing genocide in Rakhine State. He called it “stunning” that the Trump administration has only blacklisted one person from Myanmar for the bloody crackdown that caused a refugee exodus to Bangladesh.

The United States imposed sanctions on Maung Maung Soe, who until last month was chief of the Myanmar army’s Western command responsible for security operations in Rakhine. He was among 13 people worldwide punished Thursday under human rights legislation.

Katina Adams, a State Department spokeswoman for East Asia, said Friday the U.S. is continuing to consider options under U.S. and international law “to help ensure that those responsible for ethnic cleansing and other atrocities face appropriate consequences.”

The crackdown has forced 650,000 of the minority Muslims to flee the majorityBuddhist nation, casting a shadow over its transition to democracy after decades of direct military rule.

“With 6,000 dead and thousands more raped, beaten and displaced, it is clear Maung Maung Soe has not acted alone,” said Rep. Joe Crowley of New York. “The other military officials involved in the ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya must be sanctioned for their roles in this genocide. The United States has a moral obligation to act.”

Myanmar denies allegations of human rights violations.