Myanmar opens door to help from Asian neighbors

Tuesday 20th May, 07:12 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

15 Comments

TonyUS at 08:49 AM JST - 20th May

Yeah great after it is too late for so many that could have been helped in the beginning and then this idot leader visits the devistated area something like 11 days after..

Real compasion, they should hang the Bast**d
adaydream at 12:01 PM JST - 20th May

The US ask again if they could send in helicopters.

Myanmar leaders said, You will never get your helicopters in our country. So quit asking.

That's how the junta is ensuring that their people get aid.
Jyan_Bon at 08:58 PM JST - 20th May

Now everyone sees what kind of "inhuman animals" have been incharge of Burma/Myanmar for the last 46 years. Burmese lives have been worthlessly and needlessly wasted like flies under these generals. The very reason why those who can ,flee the country by millions. During all these years the generals become multi-millionaires and have pocketed untold amount of wealth tucked away in Singapore and in Swiss banks .The world could do nothing to help the Burmese people so far and there is little prospect that they could in the future. We, Burmese have risen against this tyrant many a time but you have seen what happened to us in Sept.2007 and in August 1988. May be, just may be the world will understand and sided with millions of us, this time.
Jyan_Bon at 09:14 PM JST - 20th May

Myanmar's foreign minister Nyan Win is more interested in $10 billion lost (the figure could be highly inflated)on properties etc. than the lost of HUMAN LIVES, during this major catastrophe.
ca1ic0cat at 09:25 PM JST - 20th May

Perhaps removal of the junta by force of arms could be justified under the circumstances? Iraq certainly wasn't one such case but Jyan Bon is right, the Burmese have tried to protest only to be slaughtered. There is a democratic movement in Burma that was (and still is?) lacking in Iraq. I'm sure the French could take out the generals in a few weeks of hard fighting. The rest of the world could move in with aid behind the French troops. I wonder what the UN would think about that? I'm sure ASEAN wouldn't like it. But this is just beyond belief. Anybody got a better idea?
Jyan_Bon at 09:40 PM JST - 20th May

It is these generals who failed to issue timely warnings to the population about the approaching cyclone; who, once the cyclone struck, lied about the scope of devastation; who refused to permit the delivery of needed food, water tents and medicine; who diverted soldiers from rescue operations to enforce the conduct of previously scheduled phony referendum enshrining their rule.........Now, those same soldiers are chasing reporters out of the disaster zone and confiscating aid from monks and other Burmee citizens trying to help their compatriots.....Burma's generals are concerned about preserving power, not saving lives, and they fear that foreign aid workers would undermine the regime's legitimacy. So victims of the cyclone are left in the rain, without shelter; lying in mud,without bedding; hungry, without proper food. Everyday the danger of cholera, diarrheal diseases, measles , dengue fever and pnuemonia grows. Meanwhile in Bangkok and a few miles offshore, tons and tons of food, thousands of gallons of fresh water , medicine, helicopters and aid workers are waiting to get to the dying Burmese millions.
Jyan_Bon at 11:30 PM JST - 20th May
While desperate, helpless pictures of victims are coming out of the hard-hit areas of remote villages, deep in the delta, Burmese generals are announcing that the emergency relief work is over and done in Burma. No wonder the generals do not want international workers to come in and report the truth to the world, what is going on with the 1.4 million people, whom the junta wants to write off, immediately.
```
   CNN and Aljazee have tons of video footage from delta on latest situation which came out only today. Obviously, Gen.Than Shwe and co. never set their foot in those places, 18 days after the cyclone. Ban Ki-moon arriving on Thursday should not accept the junta's unilateral decision to move on to "reconstruction" phase. On the contrary,he should make clear that other nations insist on a "humanitarian relief" phase and that they will attend no conferences if they cannot conduct assessments , on site, of true needs.
```
And France, Britain , USA and Indonesia ,together with other neighbouring countries should prepare to deliver immediate relief and save thousands of lives, whether or not Burma's generals want them saved.
some14some at 11:39 PM JST - 20th May

Jyan Bon: your sentiments and intentions may be as good as that of Tibetan leader 'the Dalai Lama'. However, the world is short of energy because of Iraq war. Still i can assure you that ASEAN and non-ASEAN (asian) will take better care of Myanmar than western powers.
Jyan_Bon at 11:42 PM JST - 20th May

CNN and Aljazeera have tons of footage from delta on latest situation which came out today.Tomorrow, UN's Mr.Ban should not accept the junta's unilateral decision to move on to a "reconstruction" phase while there are millions whom Than Shwe and party are not interested in saving. On the contrary, he should make clear that the other nations insist on a "humanitarian relief" phase and they will attend no conferences if they cannot conduct assessments , on site, of true needs.He should warn the regime that the west cannot extend loans to individuals and organisations under sanction for their repressive behavior.

There's only one priority in Burma; aid for the thousands who have been abandoned.
some14some at 11:52 PM JST - 20th May

Let's observe mourning period with full respect and blast junta thereafter.
Jyan_Bon at 11:59 PM JST - 20th May

Who are you to assure about ASEAN,"some14some"? So far, ASEAN is a laughing stock on the block.
Jyan_Bon at 01:01 AM JST - 21st May

I can assure you that ASEAN and non-ASEAN Asians will take better care of Myanmar than western power.

Myanmar has been a member of ASEAN for last 11 years and still it's human rights record stands only second to DPRK.The world's 2nd largest producer of drugs. State healthcare system stands 191st out 0f 192 countries.The 90% of the population earn less than $1 per day. The country has second largest military in Asia. One of the least developed countries and one of the most corrupt systems in Asia.

THANKS ASEAN. Things have gone from bad to worse since Myanmar joined ASEAN in 1997.
OssanULTRA at 01:19 AM JST - 21st May

" I'm sure the French could take out the generals in a few weeks of hard fighting. The rest of the world could move in with aid behind the French troops."

Why the French?
ca1ic0cat at 04:09 AM JST - 21st May

'cause the US and Brits have their hands full in Iraq. The Aussies maybe? I'm open to suggestions. Heck, let the Indians have at it!
apecNetworks at 04:53 AM JST - 21st May

To Jyan_Bon:

"....ASEAN is a laughing stock on the block."

ASEAN may not be powerful, but I think there are some people who respect their accomplishments: ASEAN Regional Forum(ARF), East Asia Summit (EAS), AsiaPacificEconomicCooperation (APEC), United Nations (UN)(not all participants). ASEAN has a distinguished past to those associated w/ them.