Myanmar stalling on cyclone aid as death toll tops 43,000

Friday 16th May, 06:51 AM JST

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smithinjapan at 05:18 PM JST - 16th May

Yeah... they'll punish ANYONE who does it aside from themselves, because they are the ones who intend to hoard and sell it, and others doing so takes away from their pockets.

If the junta were anymore see through they wouldn't exist, which would be a blessing.
Jyan_Bon at 06:33 PM JST - 16th May

Now the world has learned (and witnessed) why millions in Burma are fleeing into neighbouring countries, now and during last decades, at any cost. They are not looking for better economic advantages there but merely to stay alive. Ordinary citizens in Burma have very little chance of surviving when 400,000 armed troops are extemely poor and hungry themselves. The very reason that these misappropriate happened.
Jyan_Bon at 06:50 PM JST - 16th May

The first part of this tragic event was natural disaster.(Body count is impossible since tens of thousands of victims were simply washed away into the sea.)

The second part of the tregady, which is extremely slow and painful is PURELY MAN-MADE. Due to the military leaders' ineptitude and blatent disregard on human lives there will be many more thousands, if not million, on their way to join the first group.

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN, BY URGING YOUR COUNTRY'S LEADERS TO INTERVENE
Madverts at 07:50 PM JST - 16th May

Where's the regime change?

Operation Enduring Mynamar???
Jyan_Bon at 07:58 PM JST - 16th May

The venerable monk "Thi-ta-gu Sayadaw", one of the most famous monks in Burma, who is in delta now, talked to BBC Burmese program, urging the junta (to work hand in hand with the international community) in order to help the desperate victims effectively since there is no help arriving from the state nor from the UN in aid of hundreds of villages in Bogalay, Laputta, Pyapone , Daedayae townships .
smithinjapan at 09:48 PM JST - 16th May

"Where's the regime change?"

The US has too many failed regime changes and their subsequent disasters on its hands right now.... and anyway Myanmar has no oil. What's more, the US is too busy planning pondering regime changes in Iran and Syria (NK also has no reasonable resources, so they pass), in which the failed is the result of a former regime change, etc. etc (Pssst... don't tell nucular!) .... and on and on the US idiocy continues.

The Myanmar government has done itself in, here, and in due time, with the power of the actual people and international pressure (not moronic CIA coups), a TRULY non-bush approved democracy will prevail.
Jyan_Bon at 10:05 PM JST - 16th May

These 2.5 million survivors of cyclone Nargis have very slim chance of staying alive. They are guilty on one account, "GUILTY OF BEING BORN IN BURMA/MYANMAR, under the military government". An organizer in Ma-U-bin, which is not far from Yangon, said that he has not seen any international aid material even after 2 weeks since the cyclone hit the delta. Even UN thinks the delay imposed by myanmar junta is unacceptable. When UN thinks it is slow , it must be literally stand-still.
smithinjapan at 10:42 PM JST - 16th May

"When UN thinks it is slow , it must be literally stand-still"

Agreed, Jyan. But what do you suggest we all do? go in with guns blazing? What'll happen to the 2.5 million then? There is no good coming from the current junta for the average Myanmar citizen, save for this: the junta has never more than now been seen for the savage and ludicrous form of government it is, and they will heretofore be pressured more than ever to give up, if not only change dramatically. That is not in any way an attempt to glorify the tragedy at all, but a fact that because of the tragedy, and the Myanmar government's complete ineptitude being clearer than ever, at least one small sliver of hope. I'm just so sad that it is too late.
Jyan_Bon at 10:50 PM JST - 16th May
UN agency in Bangkok said "Think about the air traffic control implications of having to bring 390 tons of food aid per day, when an average cargo plane can take 20 to 30 tons, so we are talking about one flight an hour,(at the moment, hardly two plane loads per day).Think about the trucks to get the food out to the victims".
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          Mr.Horsey (UN) argues that foreign experts in logistics, water-purification, map-making, epidemiology and a host of other emergency-relief-related tasks are still necessary to make the operation efficient and life-saving.
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According to the UN workers, the real issue is that of movement restriction in to the delta. You may get the visas but you can't get in to the delta (the disaster area), said Mr.Horsey in Bangkok.

Thai's PM Samak delivered Ban ki-moon's letter to Myanmar generals, returned from Myanmar and said, "The generals told me that they can deal with the problems. They do not want anyone to intervene or teach them what to do".
smithinjapan at 11:02 PM JST - 16th May

Not really sure that answers my questions, but perhaps you were just posting that simultaneously.
Jyan_Bon at 11:15 PM JST - 16th May

smithinjapan, Thanks for your kind thoughts, the only hope to change the cruel system imposed by generals in Burma is through it's neighbours. It must come from the governments in ASEAN , China, India, and Japan unanimously. At the moment, the only one voice they all agreed upon is "constructive engagement without interfering Burma's internal affairs".This view has been going on for the last 20 years, meanwhile the junta's strong hold upon the country's power is consolidated. The UN and the West have no leverage over China and ASEAN's stance. We Burmese people are doomed until when neighbouring countries believe "enough is enough". Unfortunately,at this moment, our country still have plenty of natural gas for China , India and Thailand to exploit.
tclh at 06:00 AM JST - 17th May

Jyan Bon,I feel your pain. When all talks are useless,all reasonable offers are refused, and Burmese victims are dying by the minutes,only "strong,non-violent"tactics will work:US does the air drops,UN just march in ,no permission from the junta is needed.Too simple and naive?maybe but when you are suffocated,only the simple air will save you.
TonyUS at 12:52 PM JST - 17th May

smith…. you make a good point about how the US seems to not have the capability to bring regime changes in an efficient way or maybe in any way. That is a very good point to bring up as I agree with that .But I do not see that reason as being a reason of doing nothing when so many countries are based and are protectors of human rights.

So what is your suggestion about such regimes where the people are helpless, have no power to change the ruthless treatment the *** leaders rule under..

It would in my opinion be worth a large congregation form between many countries to give them an ultimatum of change in direction, “or else “ and bring back the dignity to the people that are kept as slaves to the leaders.

An ultimatum seems the only choice because we have seen how such rulers will only make the people suffer more, as sanctions and other forms of pressure are used against them, such as with Iraq when all these sanctions were enforced against them, It was the people that suffered while Sadam lived in luxury and comfort while the people did with out.

It is a pathetic situation and also pathetic that such a regime in control can get away with all they have done so far in the past and in the present.

So… Smith.. What is your thought for an answer? You mention pressures, but what pressures would you suggest that did not have devastating affects on the people themselves as was the outcome in the past with other regimes in control such as this?

I could go along with you "tclh " as for the short term solution to this recent tragety.

Also "Jyan" you also make a very good point about the natural resource China is after. and we very well know China... and what it could care less about to get what it wants, even sacrificing its own people for what that government and its leaders want. Another pathetic stance by those wanting power and control. We can not even gather enough pressure to change China's stance on Darfur.. when 100.s of thousands have been slaughtered.
dr_jones at 01:04 PM JST - 17th May

This government is a huge joke! On the election they had a check mark pre-printed on the vote leaflet for their party. No other vote allowed! So why make an election in the first place? Some governments are ridiculous beyond comprehension!
SuperLib at 01:43 PM JST - 17th May

Where's the regime change?

Come on, adverts. What we have happening in Burma is a perfect example of what can happen when the world does not enact regime change. We're at 100,000+ dead and counting.

I never asked you to support regime change as a policy, I only asked you to admit that not acting results in death, meaning both choices (invade or not invade) carry a very real cost in human life. You've used Iraq to point of the cost of regime change, so now I'm using Burma to point out the cost of allowing the regime to stay. Both choices result in death, including your own. Mocking Bush or Iraq war supporters makes it sound like you still aren't taking into account the consequences and burdens of your position.