BY IMAN AWAD
Iman Awad is the Deputy Director at Emgage, an organization committed to empowering Muslim Americans. In her role, she spearheads national policy initiatives aimed at safeguarding global human rights and advancing domestic policies to benefit Muslim Americans. Prior to joining Emgage, Iman was appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley in 2008 to lead the nation’s first state-level Commissions on Middle Eastern and Continental African Affairs. She is a current student at SAIS, a graduate of Loyola University, Maryland and a Truman National Security Project Political Partner.
On March 21, 2022, the world witnessed a shift in the moral reckoning as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken unequivocally labeled the horrors endured by the Rohingya people as genocide after years of Rohingya activists, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations advocating tirelessly for this recognition. Now, two years later, the dire situation remains largely unchanged, underscoring the urgent need for continued action and support to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Following this determination, the U.S. has implemented a rigorous sanctions policy, which includes imposing sanctions not only on the military regime but also on arms deals and state-owned financial institutions. Additionally, the U.S. has also sanctioned the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) – one of the military’s “largest source[s] of foreign revenue.” These policies signal a firm commitment to severing financial support for Burma’s military and seek to put an end to the atrocities perpetrated by the junta. As with any impactful sanctions policy, the objective is to exert pressure to induce a change in behavior.
Despite various U.S. policy measures to hold the Burmese military accountable, the ongoing escalation of violence suggests that there is still considerable progress to be made, particularly in the recognition of corporations that continue to operate in Burma. With the formal declaration of genocide, the U.S. now bears both a moral and legal obligation to take immediate and responsive action. Morally, it restores dignity to the Rohingya and other victims of the genocide by acknowledging their pain and trauma — and now it’s time for corporations to do the same.
Since August 2017, the Burmese military has displaced over 700,000 Rohingya, forcing them to relocate to neighboring Bangladesh. Furthermore, between August 25, 2017, and September 24, 2017, Médecins Sans Frontières estimated that at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed, including 730 children, while 2,700 others died from disease and malnutrition. This crisis has continued taking more lives in ways we often do not see.
Recent reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees highlight the urgent necessity for action in response to the increasing number of Rohingya fatalities at sea. In 2023, 569 Rohingya lost their lives while attempting to escape either Burma or the harsh conditions of refugee camps in Bangladesh in search of a better life. Despite international calls for accountability and shifts in U.S. policy, the atrocities continue.
One of the primary causes lies in the failure of businesses to uphold their moral responsibility in ensuring that their activities do not contribute to human rights violations, whether directly or indirectly. For example, Chevron, a major oil and gas corporation, continues its business operations, despite its claims to divest from Burma, aiding the military regime and fueling human rights abuses.
Inclusive Development International (IDI), an organization dedicated to social, environmental, and human rights causes, has identified companies that continue to conduct business in Burma with direct connections to the military. Specifically, among the listed entities are U.S.-based companies such as Alphabet, Inc. (the parent company of Google), Cloudflare, Apple, Meta, and Hilton. IDI's report emphasizes these connections, including Cloudflare's provision of "website services for the military-controlled Ministry of Home Affairs and the national police force, the latter of which has been implicated in the violent suppression of pro-democracy demonstrators following the coup.”
It is not only large corporations that have continued business activities in Burma. Just last year, U.S. businesses, both large and small ventures, were reported to have purchased over 300 tons of timber from Burma, another key sector of revenue for its military. As U.S. companies continue to rely on goods produced in Burma, the military maintains access to capital. This perpetuates not only their ongoing campaign of violence but also facilitates their expansionist agenda, which poses a dire threat to other vulnerable ethnic minorities in Burma.
While the U.S. government has taken significant steps to address the crisis, the continued displacement and loss of life among the Rohingya community underscores the urgent need for additional actions. The involvement of businesses in Burma further complicates the situation by providing financial support to the military. These companies must uphold their moral responsibility and cease contributing to human rights violations.Businesses are urged to follow US policies and respect the UN Guiding Principles to avoid contributing to human rights violations in Burma, as emphasized in the US Trade Representative's Supplemental Business Advisory. The advisory underscores critical sectors to avoid involvement with entities supporting Burma's military regime or corruption. Moreover, businesses must enhance risk mitigation systems, particularly regarding potential diversion to military uses, financial services to state-owned banks, and ongoing labor rights abuses, requiring thorough risk analysis to prevent legal and reputational repercussions.
This blog was written for Professor Nina Gardner’s Corporate Sustainability, Business and Human Rights course at Johns Hopkins SAIS DC Campus
Photo Credit: Mondal Folgoonee Kumar, Getty Images, licensed with Canva Pro