Two years after Myanmar military’s brutal attacks against hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas, the Trump administration says it continues to push for action against perpetrators of the crime and justice for the victims.

To mark the two-year anniversary of the atrocities, the US State Department issued a statement on Saturday (Aug 24) urging all those involved to respect human rights, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and engage in political dialogue to pursue peace.

“The lack of accountability and civilian oversight of the military means that military abuses continue today in Rakhine State, as well as Kachin and Shan States and elsewhere in Burma,” said State department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.

Appreciating Bangladesh’s “ongoing generosity” in hosting more than 700,000 refugees, the US government, which is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance, called on others to join the efforts. The US claims to have provided nearly $542 million since the outbreak of violence in August 2017.

“Justice and accountability are essential for Burma’s efforts to build a strong, peaceful, secure, and prosperous democracy,” said Ortagus, adding, “We continue to call on others to support efforts to promote justice and facilitate conditions for voluntary return.”

A report published by the United Nation’s fact-finding mission this week, said the conditions in Myanmar are not conducive for the return of the Rohingyas and that the atrocities committed against men, women and children had a “genocidal intent”.

While the State department has slapped economic sanctions against Myanmar’s security officials and also imposed visa sanctions against its top general, it has resisted the demand from human rights campaigners to call the atrocities a “genocide”.

The use of the term could have severe international repercussions on Myanmar, but the US has continued to call it “ethnic cleansing” which doesn’t have the same legal impact.

The US government says it’s encouraging the Burmese government to implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission, which “offer the best path forward for Burma and all the people of Rakhine State, as well as all those who fled”.

“We continue to work with international organisations to encourage Burma to create the conditions that would allow for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of refugees to their places of origin or other places of their choosing,” said Ortagus in her statement.

In US media reports, State department officials have claimed some progress in Myanmar, including investments in infrastructure, education and health care in Rakhine state as per the recommendations of the Annan report.

The UN fact-finding mission, however, saw no evidence of those in the satellite imagery provided to them.