U.N. halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies
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0
Sarge
Q. How many countries border Burma, er, Myanmar? A. China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladsh, India.
Q. Is it possible these countries can put together a coalition to oust the military government in Myanmar which is preventing much needed aid from reaching the people there?
0
Jyan_Bon
MYANMAR/ BURMA's military leader is uniquely cruel and brutal to it's own people in every possible way. After 7 days of blocking the international help from the world community (to bring in help and expertise to the dying millions) a couple of planes load of food by WORLD FOOD PROGRAM, which did manage to get into Yangon airport yesterday have been seized by the junta. Unique, in the world. Even North Korea has better records on such occasions.
0
tclh
Why anybody needs permission from these generals?Ky Luu has an excellent idea,US should just drop emergency aids from air for these victims ;it is a matter of life and death and time is running out..What can these generals do?nothing.All America get will be the applauses from people around the globe.Go US.
0
Sarge
tc - If the U.S. went ahead and did as you suggested, the uproar would be deafening. "Unwarranted interference" etc. etc.
0
Jyan_Bon
MYANMAR JUNTA, lead by the geriatric general of 77 year old, either DOES NOT UNDERSTAND the scale of work require to alleviate the deadly dangers the victims are facing (or) it doesn't care enough (not as much as the fake referendum it is planning to stage tomorrow),for the lives of 100,000 dying Myanmars at this very moment.
0
OssanULTRA
After this is all over, and the numbers of post-cyclone deaths from disease and starvation dwarf the actual during-cyclone deaths, this Mynmar military government will go down in history as one of the worlds biggest deliberate mass murderers. Time to start identifying each and every high level person and prepare a case for Crimes against Humanity.
0
Jyan_Bon
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL B.S.; With this non-human junta blocking everything which will help the mass population, Myanmar will remain the poorest country on this planet as it stands under this junta for the past 46 years.
0
tclh
Sarge,in this case the" uproar" will be nothing,no uproar.These generals can scream their heads off but nobody will listen,China included.
0
Jyan_Bon
THIS ACTION BY THE JUNTA only proves how LITTLE the Myanmar junta cares about it's own people's welfare. When democracy-loving people pointed out the mentality of this junta for the LAST 20 YEARS, the pro-junta appologists criticized them for being "NEGATIVE" and "CONFRONTATIONAL". Now, the world has seen it very clearly.
0
some14some
Myanmar is accepting supplies not sorrows (crocodile tears) from US and its allies. What is your concern? food for needy not foothold in Myanmar, isn't it? So, donate generously and send your smiles...good enough !
0
Jyan_Bon
some14some; If you want to write anti-USA propaganda material, you can go write somewhere else. WE ARE VERY CONCERN & WORRIED about our fellow citizens here. THE WORLD, including USA has the ways and means to help the victims as proven in Indonesia (Banda Arche) and Pakistan etc. The USA did not stay there ;did they?. WHOSOEVER can alleviate the sufferings of the 1.5 million Burmese in Delta, is WELCOME URGENTLY. Time is crutial here.DONATIONS must be distributed with the expertise of these aid workers who have several years experience. Myanmar military alone does not have the experience and means to handle the task on it's own. We could help the dying victims without your political B.S.
0
tclh
So, donate generously and send your smiles...good enough ! No it is not good enough.Aids,supplies is one thing but HOW to get them to these victims is also very important.People don't want their gifts will just go to generals,and their relatives;they want their gifts reach the victims.
0
Jyan_Bon
THE JUNTA OF MYANMAR, is politically motivated and certainly determined to carry-on with it's voting process tomorrow, rather than concentrating on helping the tens of thousands of dying children, women and elderly victims getting out of their sufferings.... "THIS IS THE URGENT, NATIONAL HUMANITARIAN CRISIS of UNPRECEDENTED SCALE and THE TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE MILLIONS". Why is the junta's referendum more important than human lives at this minute??????
0
Speed
ASEAN has welcomed Myanmar into its organization. Shame on them for collaborating with this tyrannical junta. The whole purpose was to gain leverage to enact change in Myanmar
s treatment of its people, but ASEAN has hardly done anything about it for the last 10 years.Shame on them and for all the countries who have quickly forgotten and let slide the violent crackdown this last winter on its people. (This also goes for the last 16 years when Suu Kyi had the elections stolen from her and the people of Burma.)
When will countries of strength use their powers to enact change for "the good" of the people?! This can be such a "better" world. Where are the great leaders?!
0
some14some
Jyan Bon+tclh: infact i share your concerns, but if Myanmar Govt is wary of aid personnel, what to do? Even US is against the idea of forcible aid by air....etc.
Not necessarily, even Japan refused to accept skilled foreign medical personnel during Hanshin Earth-Quake 1995
Rest assured, Generals &/or their relatives can't consume tons and tons of relief aid even if they want to..
Let's have Patience and hope our prayers will be heard and rewarded in due course of time.
0
zurcronium
Where is Michael Brown now that he is needed,again. Perhaps he is doing a heck of job consulting for the Junta.
Tragic as this is it clear that the Junta proves you can be more incompetent than the bush administation. And thats not easy.
0
Jyan_Bon
Myanmar/Burmese Junta is NOT thinking in the normal line of ............"How are we going to distribute these food and medicine quicky to the suffering millions?" "How soon can we get international help to alleviate the agony of the victims?....and so on. INSTEAD, military is thinking along the line of ...."What are the motives behind these help?";...... "Will there be spies, under cover,coming into Burma?"..... "Why should the international relief agencies gain credit above us, the military?" SICK, isn't it?
0
Jyan_Bon
some14some ; "rest assured generals and their relatives can't comsume tons and tons of relief aid even if they want to" ? WRONG !!!! Generals can keep those tons and tons of relief aid for it's 500,000 strong soldiers, whom they can barely afford to feed; one of the reasons why the military has been seizing thousands of hecters of farming lands from the ordinary farmers.
0
OssanULTRA
Where's Jimmy Carter? Time to send him into Myanmar.
0
beavis
In modern times, its unfortunate to say the least, that nothing can be done to help in a situation of this magnitude. The reality is that fate has already sealed the destiny of thousands of Burmese. One good thing that could come from this would be if other countries in similar situations as Myanmar, revolted against their governments and ousted their tyranical, detrimental leaders, before they are put into threatening circumstances. While I don't condone the war in Iraq, or unnecessarily eliminating another countrys government, the number of citizens suffering in Myanmar at the hand of their leaders certainly warrants world involvement. If Iraq was a so called justified invasion, then Myanmar should certainly qualify. So far, Sarge has the best idea;
0
Nyein_Chan
A well-orchestrated U.S military campaign of intimidation (if not invasion) is well on its way. Washington Post reports that “Three or four [war]ships began a five-day journey to a location off Burma to be available to offer aid.” (Amy Kazmin, Colum Lynch and Howard Schneider, Burma Seizes U.N. Food Deliveries, Washington Post, Friday, May 9, 2008; 9:41 AM) The media has released a news report that says – true or untrue matters less later like the Saddam Hussein’s attempts to buy uranium – that Burmese military impounded UN relief aid. The media has been feeding the public in the past four days that the Burmese military government has refused to accept the humanitarian assistance in order to establish a good reason of war (casus belli).
U.S (along with France) has hinted a possibly legitimate reason to send their armed forces into Burmese territory: the “responsibility to protect.”
A natural disaster that causes tens of thousands of deaths, if not a hundred thousand, and that threatens a million or more, will by and large rally the shallow public opinion in support of military campaigns.
Of course, the well-orchestrated U.S military campaign was intended to intimidate (if not invade) Burma.
Are the U.S warships, aircrafts and helicopters going to start a fight immediately? NOT necessarily. They are there just to encourage the population to rise up against the Burmese military government like a people’s power revolution and to discourage the soldiers from shooting in the crackdown.
Why is the timing? The cyclone devastation can establish a good reason of war (casus belli) and the constitutional referendum is the last chance (some wrongly assume) to overthrow the Burmese military government.
0
Nyein_Chan
The latest news is that the Burmese military government seized the UN aid. This news is damaging to the Burmese military government’s image, to the delight of its opponents and their state/non-state supporters.
What is missing in the news (particularly headlines) on the other hand, the Burmese military government allowed the other UN aid into the country. So, the government and UN should clarify without spin why the aid from that particular plan was seized.
Is it because of high-energy biscuits? Then, the government should allow UN to distribute the relief materials on their own plan, other than biscuits.
The major food items World Food Program brought is high-energy biscuits. WFP is good with their own reasoning: the storm victims won’t have means (charcoal or firewood and utensils) to cook. So, the biscuits will be easier and ready to eat. On the other hand, a little bit of local knowledge should tell them that Burmese don’t eat biscuits for meal. When they say “we need food”, they mean RICE. So, here are a few scenarios that can happen. The victims will eat biscuits as snaps and continue to complain that they don’t have food. Second, they will give biscuits to children and the children will end up hyperactive the entire time. Third, the biscuits will be sold back into the market (to buy rice) and you are going to find it scandalous.
I hope that the biscuit-crisis will end soon and both sides will learn some lessons from this biscuit-crisis: UN not to send biscuits and Burma clarify immediately its actions and decisions.
[Latest wire news update: WFP decides to resume the aid flights.]
WFP brought in high-energy biscuits. Its reasoning? The storm victims won’t have means to cook. So, the biscuits will be easier and ready to eat. Burmese don’t eat biscuits for meal. When they say “we need food” they mean RICE. Victims will eat biscuits as snacks. Second, they will give biscuits to children and the children will end up hyperactive the entire time. Biscuits will be sold back into the market (to buy rice) and you are going to find it scandalous. Hopefully this biscuit-crisis will end soon; both sides will learn some lessons from this biscuit-crisis: UN not to send biscuits; Burma clarify immediately its actions and decisions. [Latest wire news update: WFP decides to resume the aid flights.]
0
Alphaape
Nyein, As someone who knows how military operations occur, a 3 ship Amphbious Group is not enough to get the population moving to start a revolt. With the war in Iraq and Afg, the US is not looking to take on another "liberation job.'
After the tsunami in 2004, US military ships and personnel provided massive relief efforts to the area. I was working coordinating the event, and I can tell you that the last thing on the military mind was setting up cells to get the people to revolt. Since Indonesia is the largest muslim population country in the world, you would expect the Royal Saudi family to scratch off a major check to help. Didn't happen. The bulk of the heavy lift was done by the US forces. Setting up water purification systems, and dropping medical personnel and evacuating stranded people. At no time where we looking to do any conversions or anything of the nature. If you look at Indonesia now, they still are not too keen on the US, and that is fine by me. At I don't see them asking for massive help from the Saudi's when things go wrong.
Yes the US has the apparatus to get the job done quickly, but the Saudi's have something that we don't readily have, and that is the quick cash to get things moving in the right direction. But you hardly see that in these cases.
I hope that the world pays heed to what is going on in Burma, and see how dealing with crackpot leaders will end up hurting millions. It is too bad the people that need the most help will not get the big picture, since they will get the official spin from the junta. Just look at North Korea, and the tons of food aid that goes there, and they still think that the US is waiting to take over.
What does the the female resitance leader who is under house arrest (I can't think of her name) have to say about all of this. I hope that she made it through the storms or will they be used as a cover for the junta to finally get rid of her.
I pray for the victims.
0
Jyan_Bon
I HAVE WRITTEN IN MY EARLIER POSTINGS and ......I AM WRITING AGAIN NOW!!!!!!!.GEN.THAN SHWE WILL NOT LET THE INTERNATIONAL HELP INSIDE THE COUNTRY UNTIL HIS (sham) NATIONAL REFERENDUM (using coercion on voters),TOMORROW, IS DONE AND WON AS PLANNED. This referendum on Draft Constitution ,which was draw up by the military ,one-sidedly, without the participation of people's elected representatives, democratic parties and ethnic nationals is designed to legalize the military rule in Myanmar forever.
0
Jyan_Bon
ALSO,....this new Constitution is very VERY important for Snr.Gen. Than Shwe, because it is specially designed to allow the military leaders walk free without facing any kind of legal charges or punishment for their past, present and future crimes against it's own people.
0
beavis
The only oil in Myanmar is floating in the streets so I think the U.S. intent to purely offer aid is legitimate.
Nyein -With the lack of potable water, I don't think rice is a good idea as an immediate sustenance . I'd personally rather choke down one of the biscuits if my life depended on it.
0
amerijap
Perhaps, we should add this autocratic, heartless, merciless, anti-humanistic military junta in an 'axis of evil' list.
0
apecNetworks
This is a better situation
http://www.aseansec.org/21514.htm
Even if Myanmar was in APEC, central command of aid coordination should be handled by ASEAN b/c Myanmar is a member and they all know each others' culture/history. In other words, point blank relations. Operative phrase: superior awareness overrides superior numbers. Goooooooooo ASEAN!!!!
0
Nyein_Chan
A well-orchestrated U.S military campaign of intimidation (if not invasion) is well on its way. Washington Post reports that “Three or four [war]ships began a five-day journey to a location off Burma to be available to offer aid.” (Amy Kazmin, Colum Lynch and Howard Schneider, Burma Seizes U.N. Food Deliveries, Washington Post, Friday, May 9, 2008; 9:41 AM) The media has released a news report that says – true or untrue matters less later like the Saddam Hussein’s attempts to buy uranium – that Burmese military impounded UN relief aid. The media has been feeding the public in the past four days that the Burmese military government has refused to accept the humanitarian assistance in order to establish a good reason of war (casus belli).
U.S (along with France) has hinted a possibly legitimate reason to send their armed forces into Burmese territory: the “responsibility to protect.”
A natural disaster that causes tens of thousands of deaths, if not a hundred thousand, and that threatens a million or more, will by and large rally the shallow public opinion in support of military campaigns.
Of course, the well-orchestrated U.S military campaign was intended to intimidate (if not invade) Burma.
Are the U.S warships, aircrafts and helicopters going to start a fight immediately? NOT necessarily. They are there just to encourage the population to rise up against the Burmese military government like a people’s power revolution and to discourage the soldiers from shooting in the crackdown.
Why is the timing? The cyclone devastation can establish a good reason of war (casus belli) and the constitutional referendum is the last chance (some wrongly assume) to overthrow the Burmese military government.
0
Nyein_Chan
Why doesn’t the Burmese government – or the Referendum Commission in particular – want to postpone the referendum in the entire country?
One possible reason is that the Cyclone hit very badly only in several regions of the country and the referendum could go on as scheduled in the rest of the country. If a hurricane, May GOD forbid, hit the NY-NJ-PA tri-state area a few days earlier, would US postpone its presidential elections scheduled on Nov 4, 2008?
Even in the five regions declared as natural disaster zone, approximately 47 townships were ravaged. So, the referendum could be held as scheduled in the rest of the country. The latest news is that the government postponed the referendum in the severely-hit areas, 40 out of 45 townships in Yangon province and 7 in Irrawaddy.
If the referendum is held in five days on May 10 as scheduled in the country except the 47 most-severely-hit townships, the government – less concerned about another attempt at people’s power revolution in the presence of international aid workers – might be able to allow more international aid teams into the country, especially for the longer-term reconstruction and rebuilding.
The international teams wouldn’t – and shouldn’t plan to –stay on in Burma for the next two or three years until after the general elections scheduled in 2010.
The darker side of the story is that the Burmese military government might be wrong in thinking that the natural disaster and its efforts might be in its favor, resulting in the approval of the constitutional draft.
The usual scenario of the aftermath of natural disasters is that the soldiers – usually national guards in U.S – marched into the disaster hit areas, cleaned up the mess, do the difficult tasks and embraced the people’s favor. I believe that the Burmese soldiers did so and should also regain its people’s favor.
However, the oversea Burmese Opposition is getting one step ahead and maligning the Burmese military, wrongly alleging in the Burmese-language radio programs that the military fail to adequately respond the natural disaster of such magnitude; that they don’t see soldiers in the streets although there were soldiers cleaning up the main roads (think snow routes) essential for resuming the trade and essential government services. You can look at the wire news photos with the soldiers cleaning up the debris from the fallen trees on the main roads.
One such tactics is to fault the military for not helping the people enough, placing the words in the mouth of the anti-regime trishaw driver and the First Lady of U.S.
We will have to see the true attitude of the Burmese people towards the military and their appreciation of its relief efforts when the referendum poll results from the worst-hit areas are released in the future.
Can the Burmese military win back – as it did win until the mid 1980’s – the hearts and minds of its people in addition to winning the referendum?
0
Nyein_Chan
beavis wrote at 05:12 AM JST - 10th May
Nyein -With the lack of potable water, I don't think rice is a good idea as an immediate sustenance . I'd personally rather choke down one of the biscuits if my life depended on it.
We the Burmese don’t eat biscuits NOT because we know their taste BUT because we just simply don’t take them as staple food. On the other hand, I don’t know how scare the food is in the storm-hit regions although I am inclined to think not as bad as you might think.
0
Nyein_Chan
Indonesian government accepted U.S aid during Tsunami because the former didn’t have any problem with the latter. On the other hand, U.S has a regime change (without using U.S military) policy according to David Steinberg, Burma expert at Georgetown University. On the other hand, the constitutional referendum is scheduled in Burma tomorrow on May 10. The Burmese military government wants the draft constitution ratified. Its opponents want the draft rejected (if possible, the referendum disrupted). U.S (and France) supports the regime opponents. U.S House of Representatives went so far as taking jurisdiction over the draft constitution of another country and passing a concurrent resolution (House Con. 317), calling the Bush Administration and UN to reject the referendum (process) and draft constitution (outcome). Apparently, the Burmese military government won’t allow U.S military aircrafts into the country.
Alphaape, Burmese military government is more risk-averse than Indonesian SBY's government. The latter studied in U.S. and befriended many American generals.
0
Jyan_Bon
Nyein Chan (02:59 am-10th May), Can you not come-up with more plausible and intelligent excuse than to blame on "biscuits". The Pakistanese, Indonesians, Sri Lankan , Indian and Thai governments, all received with gratitude, the same kind of "biscuits" for their Tsunami victims, although their countrymen do not eat biscuits as their meal. Have you heard of "Beggers can't be choosers" ? Besides, what makes you think Burmese (illegal) military government's image is good in the first place for the news to damage it? Don't think too highly of your masters.
0
Alphaape
Nyein, The Indonesian gov't and people does have serious issues against the US and it's gov't. In fact, we were amazed, on the military end, that we were allowed such access to help out. Remember, they were still smarting from our support of East Timor, and the support we were showing diplomatically for the Aceh rebels.
Politics aside, I think the junta should let the flow of goods go to the people. What better way to shove thier referendum down the throats of their people along with a little rice. Even in the hey day of the USSR, the US still sent grain subsidies when the crops were bad.
All of this stalling will just be another line in the sad story of how the junta there screwed its own people.
0
Everton2
The Military is facilitating genocide against its own people. If there was ever a case to use force it is now.
0
skipthesong
Jyan_Bon Your response to Nyein Chan's post was right on. Hey, I don't eat red meat nor pork, but if I am in a disaster area and I am hurting or my family, I can put traditions and culture to the side. Food is food for the most part.
Actually, if this goes any further, its going to remind me of Somalia.
0
presto345
This is not about a biscuit crisis. Let's not diverge from the real problem and the subject here. It's about the junta not letting relief supplies get to those who need it most. The U.N. had no other choice in their decision to halt supplies. Many people, all over the world, who considered making donations, will do the same: they will abort.
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