washington unite state wednesday call myanmar military operation rohingya population ethnic cleanse threaten target sanction responsible call horrendous atrocities situation northern rakhine state constitute ethnic cleanse rohingya u.s. secretary state rex tillerson say statement use term avoid visit myanmar also know burma last week unite state also pursue accountability u.s. law include possible target sanction responsible allege abuse drive hundreds thousands rohingya neighbor bangladesh say unite state shift stance part raise pressure myanmar military civilian leaders share power past two years uneasy arrangement decades military rule address crisis right monitor accuse myanmar military atrocities include kill mass rape arson stateless rohingya so-called clearance operations rohingya militants aug. 25 attack 30 police post army base 600,000 rohingya muslims flee rakhine state buddhist-majority myanmar mostly neighbor bangladesh since crackdown follow insurgent attack abuse among burmese military security force local vigilantes cause tremendous suffer force hundreds thousands men women children flee home tillerson say repeat u.s. condemnation insurgent attack add provocation justify horrendous atrocities ensue myanmar 2-year-old government lead nobel peace prize laureate aung san suu kyi face heavy international criticism response crisis though control general share power situation completely authority certainly count show leadership also work civilian government military address crisis senior u.s. official tell reporters conference call term ethnic cleanse define international u.s. law inherently carry specific consequences second senior u.s. official say call murray hiebert southeast asia analyst center strategic international study think tank washington say state department use term threat sanction likely limit impact grind likely create distrust unite state myanmar military government push close china russia authoritarian neighbor southeast asia add u.s. move come day u.n. tribunal convict former bosnian serb military commander ratko mladic genocide crimes humanity massacre bosnian muslims ethnic cleanse campaign imprison life second u.s. official say washington analyze whether genocide crimes humanity occur myanmar would violate international law make determination either would take time assess end court decide see verdict mladic say top u.n. official september describe military action textbook case ethnic cleanse unite state wednesday avoid term washington seek balance wish nurture civilian government myanmar compete influence china desire hold military accountable abuse u.s. officials also worry mistreatment rohingya muslim minority may fuel radicalism first u.s. official say washington would work bangladesh myanmar encourage voluntary repatriation rohingya focus issue voluntary return official say want people force return situation feel uncomfortable congressional pressure tough u.s. response rohingya crisis mount president donald trump first visit asia month attend summit southeast asian countries include myanmar manila u.s. government source tell reuters october officials prepare recommendation tillerson would define military-led campaign rohingya ethnic cleanse could spur new sanction early november u.s. lawmakers propose target sanction travel restrictions myanmar military officials right group amnesty international call comprehensive arm embargo myanmar well target financial sanction senior myanmar military officials u.s. call myanmar move rohingya 'ethnic cleanse