2008-06-21 08:17:42 - Aung San Suu Kyi's 63rd birthday June 19 in Rangoon, international organizations and activists remain persistent in linking Burma's political stage with the humanitarian crisis following Cyclone Nargis.August 8,2008 being numerology better omen day for revolution to take place opposition leader ask army to go to barracks on this days and let saffron revolution to prevail.Myanmar Junta on the other hand is keeping alert vigil on total situation.
In the Nargis Mayhem May 02-03,2008 saw Myanmar killing more than 78000 people deads and more than 56000 missing in Irrawaddy delta,Deadly tropical cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on last May 2-3, of which Ayeyawaddy and Yangon inflicted the heaviest casualties and massive infrastructural damage. The storm has killed 77,738 people and left 55,917 missing and 19,359 injured, according to official released death toll.
This 19 June birthday to Aung San Suu Kyi's 63rd birthday present we can give to our beloved leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The lone candle we can light on her birthday cake is the eternal truth for all of us. If she is the icon of Saffron Revolution, we must be the saffron flames so that our future will be bright.Nay Than Maung writes in Mizzima news.
Women's League of Burma said "In times of trouble and disaster, we all need to hear the voice and reassurance of the people we trust. To heal from this dreadful disaster, the people of Burma need to hear and see their leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi." The words came as part of a campaign for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners under the slogan, "Vote NO to One more day."
The Burmese military junta authorities have been closely watching the National League for Democracy (NLD) youth wing meeting. Security personnel kept an eye while the meeting was in progress.
The Swanahshin, riot police and intelligence personnel arrived at the party office this morning in police and prison vans while the opposition political party was holding its regular meeting at the party office in Bahan Township, Rangoon.
"There are eight Swanahshin vehicles at the Kyaukse Prayer Hall, adjacent to the party office. Swanahshin members are sitting there. Five Swanahshin Toyota Dyna light trucks with about 200 men are waiting in the Yuzana Centre premises across the Old Yetashe Road," a party official of the NLD Youth Information Department said.
The Youth wing leaders from 30 townships in Rangoon Division held their bi-annual meeting last month and deliberated on their constitutional referendum experiences, a party official of the Information Department said.
"I think they became anxious after watching all youth leaders come to hold this meeting," a youth wing leader who attended the meeting said.
Ministry of Home Affairs sources said that intelligence personnel are keeping a record of the youth leaders who attended the meeting.
The letter by Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy praised Suu Kyi's 'exceptional courage and dedication to your people.'
Her release from house arrest and freedom to participate in determining the future of Myanmar remained essential, said the latter, published as Brown and Sarkozy were meeting in Paris ahead of attending the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels later Thursday.
'We call on the government of Burma to set in motion, without delay, a fully inclusive political process which involves representatives of the full range of civil opposition and ethnic groups,' the letter said.Bold initiatives and compromises were now required as the present situation in Myanmar was 'neither satisfactory nor sustainable,' the leader said.
EU's targeted sanctions against the Burmese junta are still having a limited effect on the regime, thus falling short of the objectives sought. It therefore reiterates its call on the Council "to take further steps and effectively hamper access by the junta to the EU's financial system" and "calls on the Council and the Member States to monitor closely, and ensure the effective application of, the targeted sanctions".
Democratic Alliance of Burma general-secretary Kyaw Nyunt said August 8 was an opportunity for the people of Burma to seek the justice they had been denied for decades.
At a recent meeting on the Thai-Burma border, he urged the soldiers to return to their barracks on August 8 and allow the people to protest.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Myanmar Junta extends San Suu Kyi's detention
International community and Myanmar people to free Noble laurate pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,the Burma's junta on Tuesday extended her detention period, a government source said.
The extension was reportedly read out to the detained Burmese opposition leader on Tuesday afternoon by government officials, who visited her at her lakeside villa in Rangoon's University Avenue, the source said.
The source said the extension is for another six months. However, some reports said the extension is for a year. It was not immediately possible to independently verify the information.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was told of the extension, as her party – the National League for Democracy – today observed the 18th anniversary of the landslide victory in the general election in 1990.
While her party leaders remained unaware of the extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention, Nyan Win the NLD spokesperson said it is against the law and condemned the ruling junta for manipulating the law to their convenience.
"The government cannot do whatever it likes. There are laws and if it is true then it means lawlessness," Nyan Win told Mizzima.
He added that laws are meant to be followed by all citizens, and that if the junta has extended the detention period of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, they are violating the law, which they have created.
Meanwhile, the United States based Freedom Now, an advocacy group lobbying for freedom of prisoners of conscience across the world, said the junta's extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention is against both international and domestic law.
"The Burmese junta's extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest is a clear violation of its own law and comes as no surprise," said Jared Genser, President of Freedom Now and a personal counsel for Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to Burmese law, a person in Burma who is deemed a "threat to the sovereignty and security of the State and the peace of the people" may be detained for up to a maximum of five years through a restrictive order, renewable one year at a time.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained for more than 12 of the past 18 years, was last arrested in May 2003. She completes a consecutive detention of five years on May 24, 2008, according to her personal counsel Genser.
Earlier today, about 20 of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party youths were rounded up by the police and herded into policed trucks as they were shouting slogans and marching towards her house.
Burmese military junta continues to crack down on the Opposition arresting about 30 youth activists on Tuesday evening.
Youth members of the National League for Democracy, Burma's main opposition party were arrested by the Special Branch of the police from their residence, Naing Ngan Linn information in-charge of the NLD youth wing said.
"So far we could only get the name of Kyi Lwin from South Dagon from among those arrested last night," Naing Ngan Linn said.
While still unable to get the names of the arrested NLD members, he said they were rounded up in the evening after 18 out of the 24 NLD youth members were arrested earlier for marching towards Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house demanding her release.
A police source in Rangoon, however, told Mizzima that Kyi Lwin, the only person so far identified, was rounded up by the Special Branch of the police, local police and ward level officials.
"According to information I have, the authorities are searching for activists with their photographs. I think they must have taken photographs of those who held protests yesterday in front of the NLD office," Naing Ngan Linn said.
However, NLD spokesperson Nyan Win said he had not heard of the fresh arrests."I have not heard of any other arrests, all I know is that yesterday afternoon 18 activists were arrested. They have not yet been released. There is a twelve year old boy among them. And we don't know where they have been kept," Nyan Win said.
Among those arrested on Tuesday afternoon are– Saw Pyih Phyo Aung, Phyo Ko Naing, Thet Min Soe, Tun Win Thein, Hla Myo Naing, Aung Pe, Tun Tun Win, Pyih Pyih, Kyaw Myo Naing, Yan Naing Tun, Maung San, Moe Kyaw Zin, Linn Aung Tun, Win Min Aung, Htet Htet Wai Oo and her twelve-year old son Ye Yint Min Htet Oo.
On Tuesday 24 NLD youth held a brief protest in front of the party head office in west Shwegondine in Bahan Township, and marched towards party leader Aung San Suu Kyi's residence on University Avenue shouting slogans like "Free.. Free.. Aung San Suu Kyi", "We need… immediate aid".
But their protest march was short-lived because the police who were waiting for them on Kaba Aye Pagoda Street in three 'Dyna' light trucks rounded them up. While several activists escaped, 18 were arrested.
Eyewitnesses said the youths shouted 'Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi' and marched towards her lakeside villa.
However, it is still unclear where the youths have been taken.
The extension was reportedly read out to the detained Burmese opposition leader on Tuesday afternoon by government officials, who visited her at her lakeside villa in Rangoon's University Avenue, the source said.
The source said the extension is for another six months. However, some reports said the extension is for a year. It was not immediately possible to independently verify the information.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was told of the extension, as her party – the National League for Democracy – today observed the 18th anniversary of the landslide victory in the general election in 1990.
While her party leaders remained unaware of the extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention, Nyan Win the NLD spokesperson said it is against the law and condemned the ruling junta for manipulating the law to their convenience.
"The government cannot do whatever it likes. There are laws and if it is true then it means lawlessness," Nyan Win told Mizzima.
He added that laws are meant to be followed by all citizens, and that if the junta has extended the detention period of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, they are violating the law, which they have created.
Meanwhile, the United States based Freedom Now, an advocacy group lobbying for freedom of prisoners of conscience across the world, said the junta's extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention is against both international and domestic law.
"The Burmese junta's extension of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest is a clear violation of its own law and comes as no surprise," said Jared Genser, President of Freedom Now and a personal counsel for Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to Burmese law, a person in Burma who is deemed a "threat to the sovereignty and security of the State and the peace of the people" may be detained for up to a maximum of five years through a restrictive order, renewable one year at a time.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained for more than 12 of the past 18 years, was last arrested in May 2003. She completes a consecutive detention of five years on May 24, 2008, according to her personal counsel Genser.
Earlier today, about 20 of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party youths were rounded up by the police and herded into policed trucks as they were shouting slogans and marching towards her house.
Burmese military junta continues to crack down on the Opposition arresting about 30 youth activists on Tuesday evening.
Youth members of the National League for Democracy, Burma's main opposition party were arrested by the Special Branch of the police from their residence, Naing Ngan Linn information in-charge of the NLD youth wing said.
"So far we could only get the name of Kyi Lwin from South Dagon from among those arrested last night," Naing Ngan Linn said.
While still unable to get the names of the arrested NLD members, he said they were rounded up in the evening after 18 out of the 24 NLD youth members were arrested earlier for marching towards Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house demanding her release.
A police source in Rangoon, however, told Mizzima that Kyi Lwin, the only person so far identified, was rounded up by the Special Branch of the police, local police and ward level officials.
"According to information I have, the authorities are searching for activists with their photographs. I think they must have taken photographs of those who held protests yesterday in front of the NLD office," Naing Ngan Linn said.
However, NLD spokesperson Nyan Win said he had not heard of the fresh arrests."I have not heard of any other arrests, all I know is that yesterday afternoon 18 activists were arrested. They have not yet been released. There is a twelve year old boy among them. And we don't know where they have been kept," Nyan Win said.
Among those arrested on Tuesday afternoon are– Saw Pyih Phyo Aung, Phyo Ko Naing, Thet Min Soe, Tun Win Thein, Hla Myo Naing, Aung Pe, Tun Tun Win, Pyih Pyih, Kyaw Myo Naing, Yan Naing Tun, Maung San, Moe Kyaw Zin, Linn Aung Tun, Win Min Aung, Htet Htet Wai Oo and her twelve-year old son Ye Yint Min Htet Oo.
On Tuesday 24 NLD youth held a brief protest in front of the party head office in west Shwegondine in Bahan Township, and marched towards party leader Aung San Suu Kyi's residence on University Avenue shouting slogans like "Free.. Free.. Aung San Suu Kyi", "We need… immediate aid".
But their protest march was short-lived because the police who were waiting for them on Kaba Aye Pagoda Street in three 'Dyna' light trucks rounded them up. While several activists escaped, 18 were arrested.
Eyewitnesses said the youths shouted 'Free Daw Aung San Suu Kyi' and marched towards her lakeside villa.
However, it is still unclear where the youths have been taken.
WFP efforts in aid Nargis Cylone victims
01.06.2008 WFP is making continues efforts to in reaching victims of the Myanmar cyclone Nargis.WFP has dispatched food to eight townships namely ogale, Labutta, Pyapon, Kyaiklat, Maubin, Ngaputaw, Dedaye and Pathe near Rangoon in in the Ayeyarwady delta.
WFP till now dispatched enough food to the affected areas to feed 575,000 people with a two-week ration of rice. WFP estimates that nearly 485,000 people have received a first ration of food since the cyclone struck. High-energy biscuits for over 107,000 children and ready-to-eat meals for about 2,500 people have also been dispatched.
However, these quantities fall short of WFP's target, as many people still haven't been reached with food rations while others may now be due to receive more as part of the next distribution cycle.
In terms of Logistics support,Myanmar has set the area at Don Muang is taken over as the main hub for air transport of humanitarian items into Myanmar. Currentlytwo transport planes with pay load of 40 tons, one Ilyushin 76 and one Antonov 12 are serving the air bridge into Yangon. The capacity can be increased quickly if required. Regular flights continue across the air bridge from Bangkok into Yangon and from other points direct into Myanmar.
WFP has now contracted four barges and push tugs, and two river boats for inter-agency use in the delta region. They are capable of moving a total of 3,050 metric tons of food and other humanitarian supplies. A large number of smaller boats have been contracted in the delta to ferry supplies to outlying areas. Two large barges were loaded with food and other relief supplies in Yangon on Thursday (29 May), bound for the worst affected parts of the delta.
WFP has now deloyed 30 trucks of varying capacities for inter-agency use to deliver food and other humanitarian supplies in the delta region, but given the terrain of the delta the operational emphasis is on the inland waterway operation.
WFP is currently using 4,000 square metres of warehouse space in Yangon in support of its own food assistance operation and the vital humanitarian supplies of other UN agencies and NGOs. The warehouse allows for quick off-loading from the airport and onward delivery for the delta. In terms of temporary warehousing in delta, Labutta now has seven wiikhalls in place. Two are up in Pyapon.
WFP has purchased 10,000 tons of rice on the local market in Myanmar. A further 1,000 tons of beans have also been purchased in addition to 200 tons of salt.WFP is seeking to provide a full basket of rice, beans, cooking oil and salt. For the time-being, rice and high-energy biscuits are being prioritised.
www.wfp.org/english
WFP till now dispatched enough food to the affected areas to feed 575,000 people with a two-week ration of rice. WFP estimates that nearly 485,000 people have received a first ration of food since the cyclone struck. High-energy biscuits for over 107,000 children and ready-to-eat meals for about 2,500 people have also been dispatched.
However, these quantities fall short of WFP's target, as many people still haven't been reached with food rations while others may now be due to receive more as part of the next distribution cycle.
In terms of Logistics support,Myanmar has set the area at Don Muang is taken over as the main hub for air transport of humanitarian items into Myanmar. Currentlytwo transport planes with pay load of 40 tons, one Ilyushin 76 and one Antonov 12 are serving the air bridge into Yangon. The capacity can be increased quickly if required. Regular flights continue across the air bridge from Bangkok into Yangon and from other points direct into Myanmar.
WFP has now contracted four barges and push tugs, and two river boats for inter-agency use in the delta region. They are capable of moving a total of 3,050 metric tons of food and other humanitarian supplies. A large number of smaller boats have been contracted in the delta to ferry supplies to outlying areas. Two large barges were loaded with food and other relief supplies in Yangon on Thursday (29 May), bound for the worst affected parts of the delta.
WFP has now deloyed 30 trucks of varying capacities for inter-agency use to deliver food and other humanitarian supplies in the delta region, but given the terrain of the delta the operational emphasis is on the inland waterway operation.
WFP is currently using 4,000 square metres of warehouse space in Yangon in support of its own food assistance operation and the vital humanitarian supplies of other UN agencies and NGOs. The warehouse allows for quick off-loading from the airport and onward delivery for the delta. In terms of temporary warehousing in delta, Labutta now has seven wiikhalls in place. Two are up in Pyapon.
WFP has purchased 10,000 tons of rice on the local market in Myanmar. A further 1,000 tons of beans have also been purchased in addition to 200 tons of salt.WFP is seeking to provide a full basket of rice, beans, cooking oil and salt. For the time-being, rice and high-energy biscuits are being prioritised.
www.wfp.org/english
Thursday, May 22, 2008
UN SG visits Myanmar to speed-up aid efforts
Myanmar a food scarce for its people,Once the rice bowl of Asia is in midst of Nargis hit cyclone disaster which has made millions of Myanmar citizen suffer from natural catastrophe and now the aid trickle has added more suffering.
Mayhem and suffering on increase in Myanmar,the Secretary General of United Nations Ban-ki-Moon is visiting today to convince the Myanmar Junta to speed-up the international aid efforts by allowing free access to their teams and logistic supports as Helicopter,Vehicals and medical teams.
Myanmar a reclsuive nation,governing its people on strategy that of Communist with frugal freedom for its people and restrictive to the global media or international agencies may not allow free access to their cylone ravaged area of Irrawaddy delta.Secerary general efforts will go in vain but as the Intyernational head he finds its necessary to give a clarion call on humanitarian grounds for cause on which the International organisation have been instituted.
Than Shwe is touring the disaster zone as per the state media reports into the hardest-hit regions of the Irrawaddy delta for the first time.Till Sunday, General Than Shwe,the senior general had not made a public appearance or remark about the disaster.
International agencies are blaming the Myanmar junta that it has failed to reach the millions of starving people and provide basic needs to the peoples in the midst of cylone ravaged zones
“While the ASEAN initiative may turn out to be a step forward, it does not have the capacity to address all the urgent needs faced by Burma"s cyclone survivors," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“Governments and aid agencies should not delude themselves into thinking otherwise."
The group urged the international community to demand more visas for relief workers, freedom for agencies to oversee aid distribution, and approval for foreign governments to use military assets to deliver aid.
“Until the Burmese Government opens its doors to all aid offered, unnecessary deaths and suffering will continue," Mr Adams said, while urging the United Nations Security Council to take action against Burma"s generals.
“How many failed and inconclusive meetings and visits to Burma by diplomats will it take before the UN Security Council acts?"
Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar in midnights on May 2 leaving more than 150,000 people dead or missing. Million people that the UN estimates the storm severely affected, only about 500,000 have been reached by international aid so far.
Relief organisations have accused the military junta of slowing the flow of life-saving supplies by insisting it can handle the crisis on its own.
Burma agreed at regional talks in Singapore yesterday to allow ASEAN to coordinate an international relief effort, after resisting multiple foreign attempts to deliver aid to hard-hit areas.
UN aid official John Holmes was allowed yesterday to glimpse how desperate the situation has become, as he toured part of the delta, where entire villages were washed away.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, was set to visit the hardest-hit regions of Burma on Thursday ahead of weekend fund-raising talk in Rangoon.
World Bank has refused help to Myanmar beacuse of its outstanding debts.
Myanmar is lacking basic infrastructure,bridges broken roads in poor states and lack of communication with poor navigation has hampered the aid work.Aid eneterd has not been ably distributed by the junta rulers creating situation from bad to worse
Mayhem and suffering on increase in Myanmar,the Secretary General of United Nations Ban-ki-Moon is visiting today to convince the Myanmar Junta to speed-up the international aid efforts by allowing free access to their teams and logistic supports as Helicopter,Vehicals and medical teams.
Myanmar a reclsuive nation,governing its people on strategy that of Communist with frugal freedom for its people and restrictive to the global media or international agencies may not allow free access to their cylone ravaged area of Irrawaddy delta.Secerary general efforts will go in vain but as the Intyernational head he finds its necessary to give a clarion call on humanitarian grounds for cause on which the International organisation have been instituted.
Than Shwe is touring the disaster zone as per the state media reports into the hardest-hit regions of the Irrawaddy delta for the first time.Till Sunday, General Than Shwe,the senior general had not made a public appearance or remark about the disaster.
International agencies are blaming the Myanmar junta that it has failed to reach the millions of starving people and provide basic needs to the peoples in the midst of cylone ravaged zones
“While the ASEAN initiative may turn out to be a step forward, it does not have the capacity to address all the urgent needs faced by Burma"s cyclone survivors," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“Governments and aid agencies should not delude themselves into thinking otherwise."
The group urged the international community to demand more visas for relief workers, freedom for agencies to oversee aid distribution, and approval for foreign governments to use military assets to deliver aid.
“Until the Burmese Government opens its doors to all aid offered, unnecessary deaths and suffering will continue," Mr Adams said, while urging the United Nations Security Council to take action against Burma"s generals.
“How many failed and inconclusive meetings and visits to Burma by diplomats will it take before the UN Security Council acts?"
Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar in midnights on May 2 leaving more than 150,000 people dead or missing. Million people that the UN estimates the storm severely affected, only about 500,000 have been reached by international aid so far.
Relief organisations have accused the military junta of slowing the flow of life-saving supplies by insisting it can handle the crisis on its own.
Burma agreed at regional talks in Singapore yesterday to allow ASEAN to coordinate an international relief effort, after resisting multiple foreign attempts to deliver aid to hard-hit areas.
UN aid official John Holmes was allowed yesterday to glimpse how desperate the situation has become, as he toured part of the delta, where entire villages were washed away.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon, was set to visit the hardest-hit regions of Burma on Thursday ahead of weekend fund-raising talk in Rangoon.
World Bank has refused help to Myanmar beacuse of its outstanding debts.
Myanmar is lacking basic infrastructure,bridges broken roads in poor states and lack of communication with poor navigation has hampered the aid work.Aid eneterd has not been ably distributed by the junta rulers creating situation from bad to worse
Myanmar axed EU aid offer
Nargis Cyclone hit Myanmar has asked India to send its army medical teams to assist relief operations an Indian official said Thursday. An Indian Air Force transport aircraft is planned to fly to Yangon on Saturday carrying a team of doctors and medical supplies, said the official who did not want to be identified.
Commissioner of European Union Lois Michael three days visit to Myanmar to offer humanitarian aid was refused by Junta rulers.
He asked for more visa and free entryof NGO and aid teams for six moths to move in Irradwaddy delta as the need of the hours.
"I urged the Burmese government to grant more visa and allow more expertise in so that there is more efficient response to the disaster" Commissioner said to journalist," I stressed that my mission was purely humanitarian and not political".Time is of the essence".
EU commissioner spoke to powerless minister and the supreme Genral Than Shwe has only the powers to make decision.His request to visit Irrawady delta is met along with sixty diplomates and heads of UN agency are arranged to take them in helicopters to site of catastrophe.
Commissioner of European Union Lois Michael three days visit to Myanmar to offer humanitarian aid was refused by Junta rulers.
He asked for more visa and free entryof NGO and aid teams for six moths to move in Irradwaddy delta as the need of the hours.
"I urged the Burmese government to grant more visa and allow more expertise in so that there is more efficient response to the disaster" Commissioner said to journalist," I stressed that my mission was purely humanitarian and not political".Time is of the essence".
EU commissioner spoke to powerless minister and the supreme Genral Than Shwe has only the powers to make decision.His request to visit Irrawady delta is met along with sixty diplomates and heads of UN agency are arranged to take them in helicopters to site of catastrophe.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
More than 1.5 Millions severely affected:UN official
Countries with iron curtain faces controversy as they live on their way of goverance and not as Soveriegn state for Sovereign people.The Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on Saturday, devastating the Irrawaddy delta, the cities of Yangon and Pegu, and the states of Karen and Mon, a large parts of the country.
Victim of Nargis are in tattered,shambles and in pitable condition which needs humantarians aid,they are global citizens and human being therefore to get natural global attention inspite of rulers reservations, developed countries are coming forwrd to help.
The death toll is likely to mount further as rescue workers still struggle to reach remote settlements with skelton infrastructure and the nationwide number of displaced or homelss people could reach million.
Myanmar junta has imposed a state of emergency in the five worst-hit areas - the Irrawaddy delta, the cities of Yangon and Pegu, and the states of Karen and Mon. It is expected that most of the deaths came in the low-lying,slushy,marshy Irrawaddy delta region when Naris cyclone hit them with speed of 190KMPH in early hours of saturday with tidal waves crossing 3.5 meter height encroaching and distroying the dwelling the habitants of low lying delta.
John Holmes, the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the conditions in the disaster-stricken Myanmar is extremely dangerous.Their is a high risk of epidemic due to unsanitary conditions caused by rotting carcasses and corpses in towns and villages and a lack of clean drinking water.
More than 1.5 million people have been “severely affected” by the Nargis tropical cyclone that hit Myanmar at the weekend, a UN official said on Thursday.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar last Saturday, devastating large parts of the country. The death toll, which currently stands at over 100,000, is likely to rise further as rescue workers struggle to reach remote settlements, while the nationwide number of displaced people could reach millions.
Victim of Nargis are in tattered,shambles and in pitable condition which needs humantarians aid,they are global citizens and human being therefore to get natural global attention inspite of rulers reservations, developed countries are coming forwrd to help.
The death toll is likely to mount further as rescue workers still struggle to reach remote settlements with skelton infrastructure and the nationwide number of displaced or homelss people could reach million.
Myanmar junta has imposed a state of emergency in the five worst-hit areas - the Irrawaddy delta, the cities of Yangon and Pegu, and the states of Karen and Mon. It is expected that most of the deaths came in the low-lying,slushy,marshy Irrawaddy delta region when Naris cyclone hit them with speed of 190KMPH in early hours of saturday with tidal waves crossing 3.5 meter height encroaching and distroying the dwelling the habitants of low lying delta.
John Holmes, the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said the conditions in the disaster-stricken Myanmar is extremely dangerous.Their is a high risk of epidemic due to unsanitary conditions caused by rotting carcasses and corpses in towns and villages and a lack of clean drinking water.
More than 1.5 million people have been “severely affected” by the Nargis tropical cyclone that hit Myanmar at the weekend, a UN official said on Thursday.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar last Saturday, devastating large parts of the country. The death toll, which currently stands at over 100,000, is likely to rise further as rescue workers struggle to reach remote settlements, while the nationwide number of displaced people could reach millions.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Myanmar no to foreign rescue team
Myanmar is "not ready" for foreign search and rescue teams
Myanmar no to foreign rescue team
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2008-05-09 07:16:55 - No Air drop of food aids on Nargis victims.
US has offered to drop food packages from aeroplanes or helicopters to which Myanmar junta has not permitted their aircraft to fly on their aerial zone.US official says they have dropped the idea to undertake such an effort.
Myanmar is getting assurance of aid on Nargis victim as the cyclone has completely devasted leaving people in mayhem and great suffering,Countries which came forward are India Japan. South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand,German,Norweign,Israel,China,US,UK,Czech.
Myanmar is "not ready" for foreign search and rescue teams after the deadly cyclone, the foreign ministry said on Friday in a state newspaper, announcing that
some aid workers had been deported.
A search and rescue team and media who arrived on Wednesday on a flight from Qatar were deported the same day because Myanmar authorities believed the plane was only carrying supplies, not workers, the statement said.
"The relevant parties from the Myanmar side did not have prior information on the presence of such teams. The Myanmar side understood that only handing over of donated emergency provisions would take place," it said.
"Currently Myanmar has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said.
"As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries."
Myanmar will only accept donations of cash or emergency aid, the statement added, saying the country needed medical supplies, food, clothing, generators and shelters.
"The donors and the international community can be assured that Myanmar is doing its best ... to relieve the suffering of victims of Cyclone Nargis."
So far 11 charter flights carrying international aid have arrived in Yangon "with prior consent" from Myanmar authorities, the statement said.
"Myanmar authorities on their part have been making their best efforts to forward and distribute the donated provisions to the victims in a timely manner," it said.Officially, Myanmar says that nearly 23,000 people have died while more than 42,000 are missing.
The United States has estimated the true toll at near 100,000.
US prepared to work with India to provide relief in Myanmar
The US has said that it was prepared to work with countries like India and China to provide humanitarian assistance in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar if Yangon did not allow a direct entry to its military for relief operations.
Responding to a question on whether the US could work with the United Nations and countries like India and China until the airdrops by its military were okayed by the military junta, the Defence Secretary Robert Gates sounded positive.
"Well, this is really more the State Department's and the White House's arena, but my belief would be that if we cannot get in directly, that we would be prepared to work creatively with others in any way we could to help. And if that involves using an intermediary, perhaps we would do that," he said speaking at the Pentagon.
"I think our interest here is totally non-political. It's to try and help the people of Myanmar. And I think if we can't do it directly, then we'd be prepared to consider other means of doing it," he stressed.
Meanwhile, the State Department said that there were no plans to get the United Nations Security Council involved in the humanitarian issue.
"The UNSC has been used on Myanmar for political issues and there are no plans by Washington to approach that body in the current humanitarian crisis," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"Our focus, really, is -- as well as others -- trying to get the diplomacy to work, to try to get this regime to allow in international assistance. That really is the focus of our efforts," he added.
A week after the Cyclone Nargis hit Irrawady delta 22 villages the southernwest coast of Burma rendering a lakh homeless and many thousand killed victime still to get relief.
Myanmar junta has been slow in offering timely help to the victim.Budhist monks with their open hearts are making efforts to bring the people to their monastries with help of all sorts,food,medicalaid, shelters and peoples are offering their assitance to these monastries as per the internet reports.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Myanmar no to foreign rescue team
Print article
Refer to a friend
2008-05-09 07:16:55 - No Air drop of food aids on Nargis victims.
US has offered to drop food packages from aeroplanes or helicopters to which Myanmar junta has not permitted their aircraft to fly on their aerial zone.US official says they have dropped the idea to undertake such an effort.
Myanmar is getting assurance of aid on Nargis victim as the cyclone has completely devasted leaving people in mayhem and great suffering,Countries which came forward are India Japan. South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand,German,Norweign,Israel,China,US,UK,Czech.
Myanmar is "not ready" for foreign search and rescue teams after the deadly cyclone, the foreign ministry said on Friday in a state newspaper, announcing that
some aid workers had been deported.
A search and rescue team and media who arrived on Wednesday on a flight from Qatar were deported the same day because Myanmar authorities believed the plane was only carrying supplies, not workers, the statement said.
"The relevant parties from the Myanmar side did not have prior information on the presence of such teams. The Myanmar side understood that only handing over of donated emergency provisions would take place," it said.
"Currently Myanmar has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and is making strenuous efforts to transport those provisions without delay by its own labours to the affected areas," it said.
"As such, Myanmar is not ready to receive search and rescue teams as well as media teams from foreign countries."
Myanmar will only accept donations of cash or emergency aid, the statement added, saying the country needed medical supplies, food, clothing, generators and shelters.
"The donors and the international community can be assured that Myanmar is doing its best ... to relieve the suffering of victims of Cyclone Nargis."
So far 11 charter flights carrying international aid have arrived in Yangon "with prior consent" from Myanmar authorities, the statement said.
"Myanmar authorities on their part have been making their best efforts to forward and distribute the donated provisions to the victims in a timely manner," it said.Officially, Myanmar says that nearly 23,000 people have died while more than 42,000 are missing.
The United States has estimated the true toll at near 100,000.
US prepared to work with India to provide relief in Myanmar
The US has said that it was prepared to work with countries like India and China to provide humanitarian assistance in cyclone-ravaged Myanmar if Yangon did not allow a direct entry to its military for relief operations.
Responding to a question on whether the US could work with the United Nations and countries like India and China until the airdrops by its military were okayed by the military junta, the Defence Secretary Robert Gates sounded positive.
"Well, this is really more the State Department's and the White House's arena, but my belief would be that if we cannot get in directly, that we would be prepared to work creatively with others in any way we could to help. And if that involves using an intermediary, perhaps we would do that," he said speaking at the Pentagon.
"I think our interest here is totally non-political. It's to try and help the people of Myanmar. And I think if we can't do it directly, then we'd be prepared to consider other means of doing it," he stressed.
Meanwhile, the State Department said that there were no plans to get the United Nations Security Council involved in the humanitarian issue.
"The UNSC has been used on Myanmar for political issues and there are no plans by Washington to approach that body in the current humanitarian crisis," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.
"Our focus, really, is -- as well as others -- trying to get the diplomacy to work, to try to get this regime to allow in international assistance. That really is the focus of our efforts," he added.
A week after the Cyclone Nargis hit Irrawady delta 22 villages the southernwest coast of Burma rendering a lakh homeless and many thousand killed victime still to get relief.
Myanmar junta has been slow in offering timely help to the victim.Budhist monks with their open hearts are making efforts to bring the people to their monastries with help of all sorts,food,medicalaid, shelters and peoples are offering their assitance to these monastries as per the internet reports.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Kyi party urges Myanmar junta to delay vote
2008-05-09 07:50:26 - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party called on the junta to postpone a constitutional referendum this weekend after the devastating cyclone that has left tens of thousands dead.
Myanmar devastating cyclone that has left tens of thousands dead. The opposition parties National league for democracy conveys,"With this situation, it is not the appropriate time to hold the referendum," National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win said.
The military has insisted the referendum will go ahead on Saturday in most of the impoverished state except in areas worst hit by
Cyclone Nargis, which has devastated the Irrawaddy delta and badly affected the main city Yangon.
It has been postponed in 47 towns and cities until 24th May.
Myanmar's generals say approval of the constitution will pave the way for elections in 2010 under their own "roadmap" to democracy, but critics say it will only solidify their iron grip on power.
Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate who has been held in house arrest for most of the past 20 years, and her NLD have called on voters to reject the document, which they say will not bring democratic change after decades of military rule.
"We did not change, we are still asking the people to vote No at tomorrow's referendum," Nyan Win said.
They and other pro-democracy groups have had little ability to campaign for a "No" vote as the generals have outlawed speeches and leaflets about the referendum.
It will be the first ballot since the 27th May 1990 election which the NLD won by a landslide, but the military never recognised the results.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Myanmar devastating cyclone that has left tens of thousands dead. The opposition parties National league for democracy conveys,"With this situation, it is not the appropriate time to hold the referendum," National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win said.
The military has insisted the referendum will go ahead on Saturday in most of the impoverished state except in areas worst hit by
Cyclone Nargis, which has devastated the Irrawaddy delta and badly affected the main city Yangon.
It has been postponed in 47 towns and cities until 24th May.
Myanmar's generals say approval of the constitution will pave the way for elections in 2010 under their own "roadmap" to democracy, but critics say it will only solidify their iron grip on power.
Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate who has been held in house arrest for most of the past 20 years, and her NLD have called on voters to reject the document, which they say will not bring democratic change after decades of military rule.
"We did not change, we are still asking the people to vote No at tomorrow's referendum," Nyan Win said.
They and other pro-democracy groups have had little ability to campaign for a "No" vote as the generals have outlawed speeches and leaflets about the referendum.
It will be the first ballot since the 27th May 1990 election which the NLD won by a landslide, but the military never recognised the results.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Myanmar Nargis Cyclone death toll reach 1,00,000
Nargis Cyclone death toll reach 1,00,000;
2008-05-08 08:04:07 - US first lady Laura Bush"s recent remarks in which she suggested that India could help Yangon in a much better way than the United States, and that Myanmar"s military junta might accept help from New Delhi 'more readily".
India,China,Thailand and Malaysia are sending their aid to the Cyclone torn state of Burma by planes and ships.Myanmar which was called Burma is the most poorest nation and lives in recluse since the military Junta took over the reign in 1962.
The Irrawaddy delta 22 villages were completely destroyed the death toll could be crossing in the range of more than
one Lakh is located in southwestern.
Laputta Township was one of the first coastal areas to have been hit by the cyclone an estimate of 200,000 people live within Laputta Township.
Unofficial death is estimated more than 1,00,000 and Corpses can be seen everywhere in rice field as the Nargis waves more than 3.5 Meter heigh with speed of 190kmph has swept more fifty thousand people go missiing.Those who Survived cannot find food or water after week,local sources said that diarrhea has now affected a great number of people in the Irrawaddy Delta due to infection from corpses and dead fish hence death will bring the worst ever tragedy in Asia.
Myanamar government has not eased visa restriction and the aid workers with their logistic support are unable to move fast to give timely relief to the state with such devastating mayhem and suffering.
US and UN are making diligent effort to send aid." We have the US ambassador for ASEAN Scot Marciel in the region. And he is working the issue. We have also been in contact with China, Japan and India about their using whatever leverage and influence they might have with the Burmese regime," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.His remarks came in the backdrop of Speaking at a news conference two days ago, Laura Bush had said 'I think India can help. India is close on the border there. I think there are a lot of ways they could help and get help there quickly, and maybe the Burmese government would accept it more readily from the Indian government than they do from the US government".
Meanwhile, McCormack stated that the US government was in touch with the Burmese embassy to encourage access for US assistance and experts.
'We have also been in contact with neighbouring countries to Burma, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, to encourage them to use whatever leverage they may have with the Burmese government to allow assistance teams," he said.
As many as 80,000 people had died in the deadly cyclone Nargis which had hit Myanmar last week, according to Myanmar officials. PTI
US with initial aid of 2,50,000 dollar and EU sending 3 million dollars through its embassy in Rangoon. Humanitarian aids pouring in Burma from neighbouring countries,South Korea foreign ministry has said material worth 1,00,000 $ aid and Singapore assures for aid material worth 2,00,000$,UN is prepared to give aid from Central Emergency Response fund to redress peoples affected by Nargis cyclone in Burma.
Czech government will provide 2.5million crowns (155,000 U.S. dollars) of financial aid to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said Monday. The Czech aid will be provided through the International Committee of the Red Cross," the Czech news agency CTK quoted Opletalova as saying.
The German government is to provide 500,000 euros (around 775,000 U.S. dollars) to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, German Foreign Ministry announced in Berlin Monday.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier appealed to the Myanmar authorities to facilitate an effective assistance operation and to cooperate with international aid organizations. Cyclone Nargis had struck a further blow to the long-suffering people of the country, Steinmeier said, expressing his condolences to the families of those killed.
The Norwegian government has allocated 10 million krone (1.95 million U.S. dollars) to be used in emergency aid for cyclone-hit Myanmar, according to reports reaching here from Oslo Tuesday. The situation is extremely difficult for the Myanmar people hit by the recent cyclone, so the Norwegian government decided to provide emergency aid to Myanmar, Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of International Development said in a statement.
New Zealand will make a donation to help the relief effort in Myanmar, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today as the death toll from the cyclone hit 15,000.Miss Clark said the size of the donation, which would be made through NZAID to a United Nations agency, would be announced shortly.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also assured of medical aid and other supports to the Myanmar cyclone victims.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
2008-05-08 08:04:07 - US first lady Laura Bush"s recent remarks in which she suggested that India could help Yangon in a much better way than the United States, and that Myanmar"s military junta might accept help from New Delhi 'more readily".
India,China,Thailand and Malaysia are sending their aid to the Cyclone torn state of Burma by planes and ships.Myanmar which was called Burma is the most poorest nation and lives in recluse since the military Junta took over the reign in 1962.
The Irrawaddy delta 22 villages were completely destroyed the death toll could be crossing in the range of more than
one Lakh is located in southwestern.
Laputta Township was one of the first coastal areas to have been hit by the cyclone an estimate of 200,000 people live within Laputta Township.
Unofficial death is estimated more than 1,00,000 and Corpses can be seen everywhere in rice field as the Nargis waves more than 3.5 Meter heigh with speed of 190kmph has swept more fifty thousand people go missiing.Those who Survived cannot find food or water after week,local sources said that diarrhea has now affected a great number of people in the Irrawaddy Delta due to infection from corpses and dead fish hence death will bring the worst ever tragedy in Asia.
Myanamar government has not eased visa restriction and the aid workers with their logistic support are unable to move fast to give timely relief to the state with such devastating mayhem and suffering.
US and UN are making diligent effort to send aid." We have the US ambassador for ASEAN Scot Marciel in the region. And he is working the issue. We have also been in contact with China, Japan and India about their using whatever leverage and influence they might have with the Burmese regime," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.His remarks came in the backdrop of Speaking at a news conference two days ago, Laura Bush had said 'I think India can help. India is close on the border there. I think there are a lot of ways they could help and get help there quickly, and maybe the Burmese government would accept it more readily from the Indian government than they do from the US government".
Meanwhile, McCormack stated that the US government was in touch with the Burmese embassy to encourage access for US assistance and experts.
'We have also been in contact with neighbouring countries to Burma, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, to encourage them to use whatever leverage they may have with the Burmese government to allow assistance teams," he said.
As many as 80,000 people had died in the deadly cyclone Nargis which had hit Myanmar last week, according to Myanmar officials. PTI
US with initial aid of 2,50,000 dollar and EU sending 3 million dollars through its embassy in Rangoon. Humanitarian aids pouring in Burma from neighbouring countries,South Korea foreign ministry has said material worth 1,00,000 $ aid and Singapore assures for aid material worth 2,00,000$,UN is prepared to give aid from Central Emergency Response fund to redress peoples affected by Nargis cyclone in Burma.
Czech government will provide 2.5million crowns (155,000 U.S. dollars) of financial aid to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said Monday. The Czech aid will be provided through the International Committee of the Red Cross," the Czech news agency CTK quoted Opletalova as saying.
The German government is to provide 500,000 euros (around 775,000 U.S. dollars) to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, German Foreign Ministry announced in Berlin Monday.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier appealed to the Myanmar authorities to facilitate an effective assistance operation and to cooperate with international aid organizations. Cyclone Nargis had struck a further blow to the long-suffering people of the country, Steinmeier said, expressing his condolences to the families of those killed.
The Norwegian government has allocated 10 million krone (1.95 million U.S. dollars) to be used in emergency aid for cyclone-hit Myanmar, according to reports reaching here from Oslo Tuesday. The situation is extremely difficult for the Myanmar people hit by the recent cyclone, so the Norwegian government decided to provide emergency aid to Myanmar, Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of International Development said in a statement.
New Zealand will make a donation to help the relief effort in Myanmar, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today as the death toll from the cyclone hit 15,000.Miss Clark said the size of the donation, which would be made through NZAID to a United Nations agency, would be announced shortly.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also assured of medical aid and other supports to the Myanmar cyclone victims.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
NargisCyclone kills 22500 in Burma
NargisCyclone kills 22500 in Burma
Irrawaddy leaves 92706 people homeless:
2008-05-06 15:51:14 - Unofficial death is estimated more than 50000n and Corpses can be seen everywhere. Survivors cannot find food or water, local sources said that diarrhea has now affected a great number of people in the Irrawaddy Delta due to infection from corpses and dead fish.source said that no aid from either the Burmese government or non-governmental organizations has been received in Laputta Township to date. The cyclone Nargis hit Laputta Township on May 2 at about 2 a.m. when most people were sleeping,high wind storm continued throughout the night.
Leaders of Burma has asked for International aid as more than 22500 peoples have died and 30000 missing with more than ninty two thousands people are in state of homeles as wind of 190KM/H has brought devastation to their living condiitions.
Relief Minister Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Swe said in meeting with diplomats,the referendum scheduled for Saturday could be postponed by
''a few days'' in the worst-affected areas, but state media indicated Monday that the May 10 date was still set.
The Irrawaddy casualty count has been rising quickly as authorities reach hard-hit islands and villages in the Irrawaddy delta, formerly famous as 'rice bowl of Asia" which bore the brunt of Cyclone Nargis 190 kmph wind which made tens of thousand inhabitants homeless and deprieved of all amenities.
With news creeping the death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at 22,500, witnesses who have managed to get out of Laputta Township in the Irrawaddy Delta have told The Irrawaddy news that 22 villages were completely destroyed and that the death toll could be much higher.Township located in southwestern of the delta, Laputta Township was one of the first coastal areas to have been hit by the cyclone. About 200,000 people live within Laputta Township. The cyclone Nargis hit Laputta Township on May 2 at about 2 a.m. when most people were sleeping,high wind storm continued throughout the night.
On Monday night Myanmar state electronic media reported that Myanmar welcomes foreign aid for relief and resettlement for the regions hit by deadly cyclone Nargis.The Myanmar government will also allocate 5 billion Kyats 4.5 million U.S. dollars for the relief and resettlement programme.Further adds a Thai aircraft with relief supplies will arrive in Yangon Tuesday.The state TV Media report said 67 powered vessels were sunk by Nargis and at least 15,000 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyawaddy in the violent cyclone storm that swept Myanmar"s five divisions and states on last Friday and Saturday.
The casualties in Ayeyawaddy division"s Bogalay alone will exceed 10,000 and at least 1,000 in Laputta in the same division,more than 2,375 people in Ayeyawaddy division and 504 in Yangon division totaling 2,879 are missing, said official.Death toll in Bogalay Township alone is 10,000 with 30,000 people still missing and 20,000 houses destroyed. Bogalay lies some 80 kilometers from Laputta. Official Burmese media has said that 92,706 people have been left homeless on Haing Kyi Island off the Irrawaddy delta coast.Regarding Haing Kyi island in the Ayeyawaddy division more than 20,000 houses were destroyed.
Devastating cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Kayin and Mon for first time with such casualities in Myanmar and has declared the five divisions and Irrawady and Rangoon as natural-disaster-hit regions.
Rangoon in Mess:
Rangoon media reports, people say that the 400,000-strong military was doing little to help victims after Saturday's storm, they were found clearing streets where the ruling elite resided,leaving residents to help themselves on their own in most other areas. Residents, as well as Buddhist monks from the city's many monasteries, banded together on Monday, wielding axes and knives took to clear roads of tree trunks and branches strew,scattered by the cyclone's 190 kph (120 mph) winds.With the city's in state of shock, electricity supply virtually unavailable, citizens lined up to buy double price candles, and water.Lack of electricity-driven pumps left most households dry thus few walked to the city's lakes to wash.
Czech government will provide 2.5million crowns (155,000 U.S. dollars) of financial aid to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said Monday. The Czech aid will be provided through the International Committee of the Red Cross," the Czech news agency CTK quoted Opletalova as saying.
The German government is to provide 500,000 euros (around 775,000 U.S. dollars) to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, German Foreign Ministry announced in Berlin Monday.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier appealed to the Myanmar authorities to facilitate an effective assistance operation and to cooperate with international aid organizations. Cyclone Nargis had struck a further blow to the long-suffering people of the country, Steinmeier said, expressing his condolences to the families of those killed.
The Norwegian government has allocated 10 million krone (1.95 million U.S. dollars) to be used in emergency aid for cyclone-hit Myanmar, according to reports reaching here from Oslo Tuesday. The situation is extremely difficult for the Myanmar people hit by the recent cyclone, so the Norwegian government decided to provide emergency aid to Myanmar, Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of International Development said in a statement.
New Zealand will make a donation to help the relief effort in Myanmar, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today as the death toll from the cyclone hit 15,000.Miss Clark said the size of the donation, which would be made through NZAID to a United Nations agency, would be announced shortly.
US with initial aid of 2.50,000 dollar and EU sending 3 million dollars through its embassy in Rangoon. Humanitarian aids pouring in Burma from neighbouring countries,South Korea foreign ministry has said material worth 1,00,000 $ aid and Singapore assures for aid material worth 2,00,000$,UN is prepared to give aid from Central Emergency Response fund to redress peoples affected by Nargis
Irrawaddy leaves 92706 people homeless:
2008-05-06 15:51:14 - Unofficial death is estimated more than 50000n and Corpses can be seen everywhere. Survivors cannot find food or water, local sources said that diarrhea has now affected a great number of people in the Irrawaddy Delta due to infection from corpses and dead fish.source said that no aid from either the Burmese government or non-governmental organizations has been received in Laputta Township to date. The cyclone Nargis hit Laputta Township on May 2 at about 2 a.m. when most people were sleeping,high wind storm continued throughout the night.
Leaders of Burma has asked for International aid as more than 22500 peoples have died and 30000 missing with more than ninty two thousands people are in state of homeles as wind of 190KM/H has brought devastation to their living condiitions.
Relief Minister Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Swe said in meeting with diplomats,the referendum scheduled for Saturday could be postponed by
''a few days'' in the worst-affected areas, but state media indicated Monday that the May 10 date was still set.
The Irrawaddy casualty count has been rising quickly as authorities reach hard-hit islands and villages in the Irrawaddy delta, formerly famous as 'rice bowl of Asia" which bore the brunt of Cyclone Nargis 190 kmph wind which made tens of thousand inhabitants homeless and deprieved of all amenities.
With news creeping the death toll from Cyclone Nargis currently stands at 22,500, witnesses who have managed to get out of Laputta Township in the Irrawaddy Delta have told The Irrawaddy news that 22 villages were completely destroyed and that the death toll could be much higher.Township located in southwestern of the delta, Laputta Township was one of the first coastal areas to have been hit by the cyclone. About 200,000 people live within Laputta Township. The cyclone Nargis hit Laputta Township on May 2 at about 2 a.m. when most people were sleeping,high wind storm continued throughout the night.
On Monday night Myanmar state electronic media reported that Myanmar welcomes foreign aid for relief and resettlement for the regions hit by deadly cyclone Nargis.The Myanmar government will also allocate 5 billion Kyats 4.5 million U.S. dollars for the relief and resettlement programme.Further adds a Thai aircraft with relief supplies will arrive in Yangon Tuesday.The state TV Media report said 67 powered vessels were sunk by Nargis and at least 15,000 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyawaddy in the violent cyclone storm that swept Myanmar"s five divisions and states on last Friday and Saturday.
The casualties in Ayeyawaddy division"s Bogalay alone will exceed 10,000 and at least 1,000 in Laputta in the same division,more than 2,375 people in Ayeyawaddy division and 504 in Yangon division totaling 2,879 are missing, said official.Death toll in Bogalay Township alone is 10,000 with 30,000 people still missing and 20,000 houses destroyed. Bogalay lies some 80 kilometers from Laputta. Official Burmese media has said that 92,706 people have been left homeless on Haing Kyi Island off the Irrawaddy delta coast.Regarding Haing Kyi island in the Ayeyawaddy division more than 20,000 houses were destroyed.
Devastating cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Kayin and Mon for first time with such casualities in Myanmar and has declared the five divisions and Irrawady and Rangoon as natural-disaster-hit regions.
Rangoon in Mess:
Rangoon media reports, people say that the 400,000-strong military was doing little to help victims after Saturday's storm, they were found clearing streets where the ruling elite resided,leaving residents to help themselves on their own in most other areas. Residents, as well as Buddhist monks from the city's many monasteries, banded together on Monday, wielding axes and knives took to clear roads of tree trunks and branches strew,scattered by the cyclone's 190 kph (120 mph) winds.With the city's in state of shock, electricity supply virtually unavailable, citizens lined up to buy double price candles, and water.Lack of electricity-driven pumps left most households dry thus few walked to the city's lakes to wash.
Czech government will provide 2.5million crowns (155,000 U.S. dollars) of financial aid to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zuzana Opletalova said Monday. The Czech aid will be provided through the International Committee of the Red Cross," the Czech news agency CTK quoted Opletalova as saying.
The German government is to provide 500,000 euros (around 775,000 U.S. dollars) to the people of Myanmar hit by the recent cyclone, German Foreign Ministry announced in Berlin Monday.Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier appealed to the Myanmar authorities to facilitate an effective assistance operation and to cooperate with international aid organizations. Cyclone Nargis had struck a further blow to the long-suffering people of the country, Steinmeier said, expressing his condolences to the families of those killed.
The Norwegian government has allocated 10 million krone (1.95 million U.S. dollars) to be used in emergency aid for cyclone-hit Myanmar, according to reports reaching here from Oslo Tuesday. The situation is extremely difficult for the Myanmar people hit by the recent cyclone, so the Norwegian government decided to provide emergency aid to Myanmar, Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of International Development said in a statement.
New Zealand will make a donation to help the relief effort in Myanmar, Prime Minister Helen Clark announced today as the death toll from the cyclone hit 15,000.Miss Clark said the size of the donation, which would be made through NZAID to a United Nations agency, would be announced shortly.
US with initial aid of 2.50,000 dollar and EU sending 3 million dollars through its embassy in Rangoon. Humanitarian aids pouring in Burma from neighbouring countries,South Korea foreign ministry has said material worth 1,00,000 $ aid and Singapore assures for aid material worth 2,00,000$,UN is prepared to give aid from Central Emergency Response fund to redress peoples affected by Nargis
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar welcomes foreign aid
2008-05-06 05:36:06 - Myanmar junta government is still to work out the distribution network of food to the survivors.India has sent two naval ships laden with food and medical aids material to Myanmar.China and US have shown keen interest to sent the aid.
Thai has sent a plane laden with food aid and essential items to Rangoon.Thailand official are keen to give instant help as their 800 tinnes of rice lay in the Rangoon warehouse.'We have 800 tons of rice stock available in Rangoon in our warehouse now, so that will be available for immediate distribution,' Paul Risley, spokesperson for the World Food Programme's (WFP) Thailand office said.
The Irrawaddy casualty count has been rising quickly as authorities reach hard-hit islands and villages in the Irrawaddy delta, formerly famous as "rice bowl of Asia" which bore the brunt of Cyclone Nargis 190 kmph wind which made tens of thousand inhabitents homeless and deprieved of all amentiies.
On Monmday night Myanmar state electronic media reported that Myanmar said on Monday Myanmar welcomes foreign aid for relief and resettlement for the regions hit by deadly cyclone Nargis.
The Myanmar government will also allocate 5 billion Kyats 4.5 million U.S. dollars for the relief and resettlement programme.Further adds a Thai aircraft with relief supplies will arrive in Yangon Tuesday.
The state TV Media report said 67 powered vessels were sunk by Nargis and at least 15,000 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyawaddy in the violent cyclone storm that swept Myanmar's five divisions and states on last Friday and Saturday.
The casualties in Ayeyawaddy division's Bogalay alone will exceed 10,000 and at least 1,000 in Laputta in the same division,more than 2,375 people in Ayeyawaddy division and 504 in Yangon division totaling 2,879 are missing, it said.
Regarding Haing Kyi island in the Ayeyawaddy division more than 20,000 houses were destroyed, leaving ninty three thousand people homeless.
Devastating cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Kayin and Mon for first time with such casualities in Myanmar and has declared the five divisions and Irrawady and Rangoon as natural-disaster-hit regions.
The Myanmar government has formed a national central committee for prevention of natural disaster to promptly and effectively carry out relief and resettlement tasks as reported in the media.
International aid agencies need free access to the states worst affected areas.On this issue the Burmese government and the Burma-based WFP country director were still undergoing dialogoue and WFP awaits for results from observers on the extent of the cyclone's damage and an assessment on how much aid will be needed.
'The meeting is to discuss whether international humanitarian assistance of the World Food Programme from the United Nations would be accepted by the government for the country,' Risley added.
Nearly 4,000 people are believed dead and thousands more still missing, according to state media reports late Monday. The cyclone swept through the Irrawaddy Delta and the nation's commercial capital with winds blowing more than 120 mph.
The storm made tree fall on roads,cut phone connections, blocked roads and ripped roofs off houses with a result more than tens of thousands of people are believed lay homeless without any help.
UN and the Red Cross of Burma today started surveying six hard-hit areas.
Cyclone Nargis was 'very strong cyclone, according to the satellite news, and exact extent of the damage to people's houses, shelter, in the Irrawaddy division and Rangoon division is awaited.Leaders of Junta have made Helicopter visit.
Flood water is damaging families' food stock, so there may potentially be very critical food assistance needs from the next few days.'
The Irrawaddy Delta is main rice-producing region of Burma.
Another aid group, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is ready to move in. 'We have people in Burma already working on medical project, and if the Burmese government asks for help, then we will suddenly help,' said Chris Lom, the IOM's regional information officer.
The main needs are shelter and clean water, Lom said. At a meeting with the UN, the agencies discussed providing plastic sheets and a water purification system to prevent water-borne diseases.
'It's difficult to say how much will be needed,' Lom said. 'We just don't know because all telephone lines are down.'
International humanitarian groups are finding difficult to work in Burma,due to lack of coordination between various nodal agencies as the state has been ruled by military dictators since 1962.
The Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria withdrew its presence from Burma in 2005, citing restrictions by the Burmese junta on movements of its volunteers.
Similarly, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), citing government restrictions, closed down two of its field offices in Mawlamyine of Mon State and Kyaing Tong of Eastern Shan State.
A nation which lives in veil and does not permit aid submitting countries volunteers to work is making difficult aid reach the survivors.
US and other EU countries wish to send aid but they await free access to the areas worst affceted
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Thai has sent a plane laden with food aid and essential items to Rangoon.Thailand official are keen to give instant help as their 800 tinnes of rice lay in the Rangoon warehouse.'We have 800 tons of rice stock available in Rangoon in our warehouse now, so that will be available for immediate distribution,' Paul Risley, spokesperson for the World Food Programme's (WFP) Thailand office said.
The Irrawaddy casualty count has been rising quickly as authorities reach hard-hit islands and villages in the Irrawaddy delta, formerly famous as "rice bowl of Asia" which bore the brunt of Cyclone Nargis 190 kmph wind which made tens of thousand inhabitents homeless and deprieved of all amentiies.
On Monmday night Myanmar state electronic media reported that Myanmar said on Monday Myanmar welcomes foreign aid for relief and resettlement for the regions hit by deadly cyclone Nargis.
The Myanmar government will also allocate 5 billion Kyats 4.5 million U.S. dollars for the relief and resettlement programme.Further adds a Thai aircraft with relief supplies will arrive in Yangon Tuesday.
The state TV Media report said 67 powered vessels were sunk by Nargis and at least 15,000 people have been killed in two divisions of Yangon and Ayeyawaddy in the violent cyclone storm that swept Myanmar's five divisions and states on last Friday and Saturday.
The casualties in Ayeyawaddy division's Bogalay alone will exceed 10,000 and at least 1,000 in Laputta in the same division,more than 2,375 people in Ayeyawaddy division and 504 in Yangon division totaling 2,879 are missing, it said.
Regarding Haing Kyi island in the Ayeyawaddy division more than 20,000 houses were destroyed, leaving ninty three thousand people homeless.
Devastating cyclone, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states Yangon, Bago, Ayeyawaddy, Kayin and Mon for first time with such casualities in Myanmar and has declared the five divisions and Irrawady and Rangoon as natural-disaster-hit regions.
The Myanmar government has formed a national central committee for prevention of natural disaster to promptly and effectively carry out relief and resettlement tasks as reported in the media.
International aid agencies need free access to the states worst affected areas.On this issue the Burmese government and the Burma-based WFP country director were still undergoing dialogoue and WFP awaits for results from observers on the extent of the cyclone's damage and an assessment on how much aid will be needed.
'The meeting is to discuss whether international humanitarian assistance of the World Food Programme from the United Nations would be accepted by the government for the country,' Risley added.
Nearly 4,000 people are believed dead and thousands more still missing, according to state media reports late Monday. The cyclone swept through the Irrawaddy Delta and the nation's commercial capital with winds blowing more than 120 mph.
The storm made tree fall on roads,cut phone connections, blocked roads and ripped roofs off houses with a result more than tens of thousands of people are believed lay homeless without any help.
UN and the Red Cross of Burma today started surveying six hard-hit areas.
Cyclone Nargis was 'very strong cyclone, according to the satellite news, and exact extent of the damage to people's houses, shelter, in the Irrawaddy division and Rangoon division is awaited.Leaders of Junta have made Helicopter visit.
Flood water is damaging families' food stock, so there may potentially be very critical food assistance needs from the next few days.'
The Irrawaddy Delta is main rice-producing region of Burma.
Another aid group, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is ready to move in. 'We have people in Burma already working on medical project, and if the Burmese government asks for help, then we will suddenly help,' said Chris Lom, the IOM's regional information officer.
The main needs are shelter and clean water, Lom said. At a meeting with the UN, the agencies discussed providing plastic sheets and a water purification system to prevent water-borne diseases.
'It's difficult to say how much will be needed,' Lom said. 'We just don't know because all telephone lines are down.'
International humanitarian groups are finding difficult to work in Burma,due to lack of coordination between various nodal agencies as the state has been ruled by military dictators since 1962.
The Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria withdrew its presence from Burma in 2005, citing restrictions by the Burmese junta on movements of its volunteers.
Similarly, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), citing government restrictions, closed down two of its field offices in Mawlamyine of Mon State and Kyaing Tong of Eastern Shan State.
A nation which lives in veil and does not permit aid submitting countries volunteers to work is making difficult aid reach the survivors.
US and other EU countries wish to send aid but they await free access to the areas worst affceted
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
US $ 2.5 million EU $3 Million aid to Myanmar
2008-05-06 06:37:36 - European Union released three million dollars in initial emergency aid. The United States offered an initial 250,000 dollars through its embassy in Yangon.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations would "do whatever necessary to provide urgent humanitarian assistance" to the country, which is one of the poorest on the planet.
Myanmar looks in precarious food position as its food crop is worst affected as Irrawady is rich rice producing zone which is completely devasted with cyclone Nargis.Myanmar is chief rice producing country
and exports its surplus to its neighbouring countries.
The Myanmar lives under secretive veil and does not allow free foreign media access and foreign volunteers find diffcult to move freely in the country the aid may therefore could reach by the armymen,however monks are coming to help the survivors in their way.The communication phones line is completly disrupted and roads blocked with tree fallen.Essential food items like rice,wheat,water and home shelters is the need of the hour as more than 93,000 peoples are homeless waiting for the aid to reach them.Helicopter survey has been made by Myanmar Junta leaders.Negotiation on the modalities to reach the aid distribution is worked out.
The Irrawaddy casualty count has been rising quickly as authorities reach hard-hit islands and villages in the Irrawaddy delta, Once famous as "rice bowl of Asia" which has bore the severe brunt of Cyclone Nargis 190 kmph wind made the tens of thousand inhabitants homeless,deserted and stupified on Friday and Saturday.
UN agency in charge of fighting hunger has issued an earlier plea for the world to provide more food aid to the people of Burma, which states 5 million people are chronically short of food, according to the World Food Program, which tries to provide aid to 500,000 people each month. However, because of constraints, only 200,000 people now receive aid each month.
India sends two naval ships loaded with food and medicine and other aid material as preliminary help to Myanmar.Thailand has also sent food loaded cargo plane with essential aid to the cyclone torn state.
UN estimates that more than one-third of Burmese children suffer from malnutrition and estimates about 100,000 die each year
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations would "do whatever necessary to provide urgent humanitarian assistance" to the country, which is one of the poorest on the planet.
Myanmar looks in precarious food position as its food crop is worst affected as Irrawady is rich rice producing zone which is completely devasted with cyclone Nargis.Myanmar is chief rice producing country
and exports its surplus to its neighbouring countries.
The Myanmar lives under secretive veil and does not allow free foreign media access and foreign volunteers find diffcult to move freely in the country the aid may therefore could reach by the armymen,however monks are coming to help the survivors in their way.The communication phones line is completly disrupted and roads blocked with tree fallen.Essential food items like rice,wheat,water and home shelters is the need of the hour as more than 93,000 peoples are homeless waiting for the aid to reach them.Helicopter survey has been made by Myanmar Junta leaders.Negotiation on the modalities to reach the aid distribution is worked out.
The Irrawaddy casualty count has been rising quickly as authorities reach hard-hit islands and villages in the Irrawaddy delta, Once famous as "rice bowl of Asia" which has bore the severe brunt of Cyclone Nargis 190 kmph wind made the tens of thousand inhabitants homeless,deserted and stupified on Friday and Saturday.
UN agency in charge of fighting hunger has issued an earlier plea for the world to provide more food aid to the people of Burma, which states 5 million people are chronically short of food, according to the World Food Program, which tries to provide aid to 500,000 people each month. However, because of constraints, only 200,000 people now receive aid each month.
India sends two naval ships loaded with food and medicine and other aid material as preliminary help to Myanmar.Thailand has also sent food loaded cargo plane with essential aid to the cyclone torn state.
UN estimates that more than one-third of Burmese children suffer from malnutrition and estimates about 100,000 die each year
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Thailand,Vietnam,Malaysia;Emerge Robust economy
2008-05-04 05:24:16 - Rice exports are being handled cautiously by Vietnam,India and Bangladesh. Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar willing to form OPEC like organisation to check rise in rice prices.
Rice,Wheat and Maize staple foods producing countries to have strong economy base.Countries with best attention to agrarian policy is to outshine its counterparts.
Rice producing countries, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam,India,China are chief countries on way to get a big boost in their economy with best managment.
South asian countries are planning to make a pool of conglomerate of rice producing countries of
their zone however their efforts has not taken any concrete idea,the lurking thought prevail still to be unveiled due to political differences.
Economy of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietanam is growing at ease pace with strong base of agriculture outputs.The technology upgrading in these countries are being easily adopted and people enjoying the boom of economy growth with foods and machines, a dire need for developing nations. A strong agrarian policy with technology skill make the nation build-up to its developing state with strong cohesive political strength.
The rice producing countries are on way to open high tech colleges and institutes to maintain their tecnology upgradation as per their needs to create infrastructures on way to overall development.
Countries having cheap labour and tropical climate especially in African continents and Latin America may agglomerate in producing the staple foods with the available technology along with the help of developing countries of the world for an overal growth.
India official agencies has achieved its target of buying wheats from the open market which exhibits is strong base in producing wheat and rice in this years.The official agencies have purchased 154 lakhs tonnes of wheats compare to last year collection of 111 lakh tonnes.
Asean conglomerate concert of south asian outward looking countries are soon likely to form a rice producing syndicate to control the flow of their staple food of their region.
In India the government of India agencies in on Rice purchase spree and has procure 230 lakh tonnes have been procures so far and government making efforts to garner more staple food stocks in its kitty.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
e-mail
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Rice,Wheat and Maize staple foods producing countries to have strong economy base.Countries with best attention to agrarian policy is to outshine its counterparts.
Rice producing countries, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam,India,China are chief countries on way to get a big boost in their economy with best managment.
South asian countries are planning to make a pool of conglomerate of rice producing countries of
their zone however their efforts has not taken any concrete idea,the lurking thought prevail still to be unveiled due to political differences.
Economy of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietanam is growing at ease pace with strong base of agriculture outputs.The technology upgrading in these countries are being easily adopted and people enjoying the boom of economy growth with foods and machines, a dire need for developing nations. A strong agrarian policy with technology skill make the nation build-up to its developing state with strong cohesive political strength.
The rice producing countries are on way to open high tech colleges and institutes to maintain their tecnology upgradation as per their needs to create infrastructures on way to overall development.
Countries having cheap labour and tropical climate especially in African continents and Latin America may agglomerate in producing the staple foods with the available technology along with the help of developing countries of the world for an overal growth.
India official agencies has achieved its target of buying wheats from the open market which exhibits is strong base in producing wheat and rice in this years.The official agencies have purchased 154 lakhs tonnes of wheats compare to last year collection of 111 lakh tonnes.
Asean conglomerate concert of south asian outward looking countries are soon likely to form a rice producing syndicate to control the flow of their staple food of their region.
In India the government of India agencies in on Rice purchase spree and has procure 230 lakh tonnes have been procures so far and government making efforts to garner more staple food stocks in its kitty.
Author:
Naresh Sagar
Web: http://www.nksagar.com
Phone: 9810974027
Monday, February 18, 2008
Burmese journalists remain behind bars
Reporters Without Borders released its 2008 Annual Report, in which systematic abuses of freedom of the press inside Burma are chronicled.
According to the group, the working conditions for journalists in Burma significantly deteriorated from mid-August of last year, when the first protests materialized in response to unannounced energy price hikes.
The report notes that 15 journalists were arrested as a result of covering the protests, while Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was killed and other foreign correspondents closely monitored.
Raising the cost of a satellite license from five to 800 dollars, pulling the plug on the Internet and restricting the sale of foreign periodicals in the days and months following the protests are all listed in the year’s summary as examples of infringements against media rights.
Additionally, Reporters Without Borders is concerned as to restrictions on mobile phones, used during the protests and subsequent crackdown to take pictures and video.
Nine journalists are listed as remaining in detention, including the 77-year old Win Tin, who has languished in a cell since 1989.
Others still behind bars include Ko Aung Gyi, former editorial head of 90 minutes, along with Ko Win Maw and Ko Aung Aung, all of whom are being held on suspicion of distributing pictures and information to international media sources during the 2007 uprising.
According to the group, the working conditions for journalists in Burma significantly deteriorated from mid-August of last year, when the first protests materialized in response to unannounced energy price hikes.
The report notes that 15 journalists were arrested as a result of covering the protests, while Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was killed and other foreign correspondents closely monitored.
Raising the cost of a satellite license from five to 800 dollars, pulling the plug on the Internet and restricting the sale of foreign periodicals in the days and months following the protests are all listed in the year’s summary as examples of infringements against media rights.
Additionally, Reporters Without Borders is concerned as to restrictions on mobile phones, used during the protests and subsequent crackdown to take pictures and video.
Nine journalists are listed as remaining in detention, including the 77-year old Win Tin, who has languished in a cell since 1989.
Others still behind bars include Ko Aung Gyi, former editorial head of 90 minutes, along with Ko Win Maw and Ko Aung Aung, all of whom are being held on suspicion of distributing pictures and information to international media sources during the 2007 uprising.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Pado Manh Sha Myanmar leader assassinated in Thailand
Bangkok:Prominent Leader of pro democracy movement in Myanmar"s Karen National Union who was also a key figure in the democracy movement was assassinated on Thursday at his home in Thailand, Thai police said.
Pado Manh Sha, 65, was the Karen Nationa Union secretary general based in the town of Mae Sot in Thailand. He was a critic of Myanmar"s military regime who coordinated between the ethnic Karen and the democracy movement in the Myanmar.
"His relatives who witnessed the killing said the first man went up to greet Pado Manh Sha while he was resting, but then shot him once. A second man came up and shot him again," Passawat said.
Pado Manh Sha could have been killed by a Karen splinter group or assassins ordered by the military as reported in the media.Political analyst says,It could be KNU internal problems as the Christian KNU and Buddhist groups battles with splinter group called the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
KNU is in embattled with Myanmar"s rulers from last six decades in one of the world"s longest-running insurgencies.KNU is the largest rebel group battling Myanmar"s armed forces and one of the few remaining ethnic insurgencies yet to sign a peace deal with the junta.
KNU once controlled broad swaths of eastern Myanmar but presently is reduced mainly to small bases pressed against the Thai border.
Six decades of continuous war with military junta has destroyed eastern Myanmar, more than 500,000 people have been displaced by violence, according to reports by Human Rights.
In this eastern Thai border of Myanmar more than 150,000 Karen refugees live in camps along Thai"s border with Myanmar. Many of them have been there for more than 20 years.
he was also a critical link between the rebellion and the pro-democracy movement inside Myanmar.
KNU spokesman David Thaw said the group's leadership would gather Friday in Mae Sot to make funeral preparations and try to unravel the mystery of his killing. "There's a lot of confusion,"
"At the moment we think that it must be someone trying to create problems for the Karen, to create more disunity and divisions among each other," he said.
"It might be a professional killer, so someone might have hired this gunman. It is a very cold-blooded killer who can kill Pado Manh Sha at his house," he said.
"The gunshot was very accurate for someone to die instantly," he added.
Thai police said they were combing through Pado Manh Sha's double-storey house to search for clues but admitted they were struggling to find a solid lead.
"We are investigating to look for more evidence," a senior provincial police officer said.
A Thai military officer in Mae Sot said on condition of anonymity that investigators believe the killing was likely committed by a Karen splinter group like the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Most Karen are Christians, but the DKBA has broken away and aligned itself with Myanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962.
Pado Manh Sha, 65, was the Karen Nationa Union secretary general based in the town of Mae Sot in Thailand. He was a critic of Myanmar"s military regime who coordinated between the ethnic Karen and the democracy movement in the Myanmar.
"His relatives who witnessed the killing said the first man went up to greet Pado Manh Sha while he was resting, but then shot him once. A second man came up and shot him again," Passawat said.
Pado Manh Sha could have been killed by a Karen splinter group or assassins ordered by the military as reported in the media.Political analyst says,It could be KNU internal problems as the Christian KNU and Buddhist groups battles with splinter group called the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).
KNU is in embattled with Myanmar"s rulers from last six decades in one of the world"s longest-running insurgencies.KNU is the largest rebel group battling Myanmar"s armed forces and one of the few remaining ethnic insurgencies yet to sign a peace deal with the junta.
KNU once controlled broad swaths of eastern Myanmar but presently is reduced mainly to small bases pressed against the Thai border.
Six decades of continuous war with military junta has destroyed eastern Myanmar, more than 500,000 people have been displaced by violence, according to reports by Human Rights.
In this eastern Thai border of Myanmar more than 150,000 Karen refugees live in camps along Thai"s border with Myanmar. Many of them have been there for more than 20 years.
he was also a critical link between the rebellion and the pro-democracy movement inside Myanmar.
KNU spokesman David Thaw said the group's leadership would gather Friday in Mae Sot to make funeral preparations and try to unravel the mystery of his killing. "There's a lot of confusion,"
"At the moment we think that it must be someone trying to create problems for the Karen, to create more disunity and divisions among each other," he said.
"It might be a professional killer, so someone might have hired this gunman. It is a very cold-blooded killer who can kill Pado Manh Sha at his house," he said.
"The gunshot was very accurate for someone to die instantly," he added.
Thai police said they were combing through Pado Manh Sha's double-storey house to search for clues but admitted they were struggling to find a solid lead.
"We are investigating to look for more evidence," a senior provincial police officer said.
A Thai military officer in Mae Sot said on condition of anonymity that investigators believe the killing was likely committed by a Karen splinter group like the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army.
Most Karen are Christians, but the DKBA has broken away and aligned itself with Myanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
US Ambassador to Thailand, Ralph Boyce US policy on Myanmer
US Ambassador to Thailand, Ralph Boyce, his term in Thailand to end also defended Washington’s policy on Burma, saying: “What I think is that our policy is important for the people who are struggling inside Burma. We don’t follow policy necessarily to try to impact the generals; they are fairly impervious—impermeable even— to outside pressure, for good or bad, it seems.
“Even some of the countries that people call ‘enablers’ or their ‘closest protectors’ or whatever—it’s unclear, at the end of the day, just how much influence even they can have.”
There has been growing criticism of the US’s image and their policies. Incoming Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan recently said that the US’s influence in the region was on the wane. And critics have pointed out that the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, twice canceled visits to attend Asean meetings where the US traditionally sends its highest State Department official.
Ambassador Boyce responded: “I think it would be a misinterpretation to suggest that Secretary Rice’s inability to attend the last two or three meetings was because of her lack of attentiveness. We have a lot on our policy agenda and there are geographic and time constraints that make it a huge investment for a US Secretary to come out for an Asean meeting. It’s not because we don’t take Asean seriously.”
The ambassador added that the current US administration has upgraded its attention on Asean as an institution, as a region, and to the bilateral relationships it enjoys with each of the Asean partners.
He admitted that the Chinese were more influential in the region; however, he welcomed the strides China had taken.
“I think that Chinese diplomacy is very active in the region, as it should be,” he said. “Some people call it the emergence of China; it’s really the re-emergence of China. It’s a more natural state of things.”
Ambassador Boyce noted that the US had spent the last 50 years as “the preeminent power in the region.” That was, he said, very unusual in world history and had evolved after the Second World War because all the other major powers were preoccupied internally or elsewhere.
“What it means to the US is that it’s more challenging for us to maintain our influence and, if other countries are going to be more active in the region, it means that we have to be more active too,” he added.
On Burma, the ambassador said that the UN envoys’ visits to Burma were “extremely important.”
However, when asked if the US wished to send a special envoy to the region to deal with the Burmese generals, he replied: “Too many envoys spoil the broth.”
“The regime claims they will deal only with the UN, and they reject a regional approach: they certainly reject any intervention from actors like the US or the UK or the EU,” said Boyce.
He also praised Thailand for its long-term policy on dealing with refugees.
“Everyone has been very attentive over the last decades to rumors that there were going to be major push-backs—whether it was with Cambodians, Vietnamese, Lao of various types, or Burmese of various types,” he said, concluding: “Thailand’s record is, in fact, pretty good on that score.”
Asked if the US would be willing to engage with Snr-Gen Than Shwe and the Burmese regime, Ambassador Boyce pointed out that an unpublicized meeting between senior US State Department officials and Burmese ministers had taken place some months before in Beijing.
Details of the talks were unknown, but Western diplomats said that they were cordial. However, the US did request the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The ambassador said: “We engaged in Beijing—meetings that the Chinese brokered between the [Burmese] regime and ourselves; and as long as those discussions can produce something substantive as opposed to just ‘talk’—talking past each other—then I think we’re always ready to engage.”
Concluding the interview with a message of support to the people of Burma, the US ambassador said: “We are watching. Stay the course. We know the suffering. We will never change our policy about what is right in Burma. We are there.”
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?cat_id=2
“Even some of the countries that people call ‘enablers’ or their ‘closest protectors’ or whatever—it’s unclear, at the end of the day, just how much influence even they can have.”
There has been growing criticism of the US’s image and their policies. Incoming Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan recently said that the US’s influence in the region was on the wane. And critics have pointed out that the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, twice canceled visits to attend Asean meetings where the US traditionally sends its highest State Department official.
Ambassador Boyce responded: “I think it would be a misinterpretation to suggest that Secretary Rice’s inability to attend the last two or three meetings was because of her lack of attentiveness. We have a lot on our policy agenda and there are geographic and time constraints that make it a huge investment for a US Secretary to come out for an Asean meeting. It’s not because we don’t take Asean seriously.”
The ambassador added that the current US administration has upgraded its attention on Asean as an institution, as a region, and to the bilateral relationships it enjoys with each of the Asean partners.
He admitted that the Chinese were more influential in the region; however, he welcomed the strides China had taken.
“I think that Chinese diplomacy is very active in the region, as it should be,” he said. “Some people call it the emergence of China; it’s really the re-emergence of China. It’s a more natural state of things.”
Ambassador Boyce noted that the US had spent the last 50 years as “the preeminent power in the region.” That was, he said, very unusual in world history and had evolved after the Second World War because all the other major powers were preoccupied internally or elsewhere.
“What it means to the US is that it’s more challenging for us to maintain our influence and, if other countries are going to be more active in the region, it means that we have to be more active too,” he added.
On Burma, the ambassador said that the UN envoys’ visits to Burma were “extremely important.”
However, when asked if the US wished to send a special envoy to the region to deal with the Burmese generals, he replied: “Too many envoys spoil the broth.”
“The regime claims they will deal only with the UN, and they reject a regional approach: they certainly reject any intervention from actors like the US or the UK or the EU,” said Boyce.
He also praised Thailand for its long-term policy on dealing with refugees.
“Everyone has been very attentive over the last decades to rumors that there were going to be major push-backs—whether it was with Cambodians, Vietnamese, Lao of various types, or Burmese of various types,” he said, concluding: “Thailand’s record is, in fact, pretty good on that score.”
Asked if the US would be willing to engage with Snr-Gen Than Shwe and the Burmese regime, Ambassador Boyce pointed out that an unpublicized meeting between senior US State Department officials and Burmese ministers had taken place some months before in Beijing.
Details of the talks were unknown, but Western diplomats said that they were cordial. However, the US did request the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The ambassador said: “We engaged in Beijing—meetings that the Chinese brokered between the [Burmese] regime and ourselves; and as long as those discussions can produce something substantive as opposed to just ‘talk’—talking past each other—then I think we’re always ready to engage.”
Concluding the interview with a message of support to the people of Burma, the US ambassador said: “We are watching. Stay the course. We know the suffering. We will never change our policy about what is right in Burma. We are there.”
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?cat_id=2
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
NLD says no sign of any dialogue
Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
NLD says no dialogue -Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi
Congressional Gold Medal to Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Burmese opposition, the National League for Democracy, says that for one month there’s been no sign of any dialogue with the military government.
The spokesman for the League, Nyan Win, said he’d not been allowed to speak to the detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, since before her last meeting with a government minister on the nineteenth of November.
The United Nations said there had been progress towards a dialogue after.
Burmese Leader Aung San Suu Kyi gets highest honour - the congressional Gold Medal, the US House of Representatives has voted to award Burmese pro-democracy Leader.The bill passed 400-0, said the move was meant to send a message to Burma's military leaders. "We will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom... to the people of Burma," said Joseph Crowley, a Democrat.
Her work and dedication to the cause of freedom and individual liberty has earned her recognition throughout the world, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Today, the US House of Representatives showed her and the world that she has also won the hearts and minds of the US Congress."
This bill will now be referred to the US Senate, which must also back the measure.
Posted by Nksagar at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Ashin Panyathami,U Indra Panya U MagindarMonks flee from Myanmar to evade arrest.
A Buddhist monk from Rangoon's Zathilaryama monastery, who took part in the September protests, fled from the manhunt launched by the Burmese military junta and arrived in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh.
Ashin Panyathami, a young monk from the Zathilaryama monastery in Rangoon, fled to Bangladesh along with more than 20 fellow monks, following the junta's relentless search to arrest and detain monks and protesters.
"As the authorities launched widespread search operations, more than 20 monks, had to hide near the Moe Yeik River for three days. After that we returned to our monastery but there the soldiers called more than 20 of us for interrogation," Ashin Panyathami, who arrived Cox Bazaar on December 5, told Mizzima during an interview.
"They took our photographs and asked us whether we had joined the protests. They told us not to join up again and threatened that we would be arrested if we did," added the young monk.
After arresting the abbot of their monastery, U Zarthila at the end of September, soldiers had continued their rampant crackdown by conducting raids in monasteries and had come to their monastery several times.
The young monk, who is an ethnic Arakan, said he left the monastery in Rangoon for his native home town in Arakan State for fear that authorities would continue raids and arrests.
Along with Ashin Panyathami, several monks went back to their native hometowns. However, authorities were reportedly looking for him to arrest as he possess photographs, which he had taken at the Maha Wizeyatheindaw monastery in Rangoon.
The young monk said, he finally left Burma for Bangladesh as authorities were conducting raids in several monasteries in Arakan searching for him. The monk said, he had to hide himself for five days and nights along Kin Chyaung River , and finally crossed the border to Bangladesh.
Similarly, on October 29, U Indra Panya and U Magindar from the Alodawpyih DamaSariya monastery, who had actively participated during the recent protests, fled to Bangladesh after authorities came in hot pursuit of the duo.
Ashin Panyathami, a young monk from the Zathilaryama monastery in Rangoon, fled to Bangladesh along with more than 20 fellow monks, following the junta's relentless search to arrest and detain monks and protesters.
"As the authorities launched widespread search operations, more than 20 monks, had to hide near the Moe Yeik River for three days. After that we returned to our monastery but there the soldiers called more than 20 of us for interrogation," Ashin Panyathami, who arrived Cox Bazaar on December 5, told Mizzima during an interview.
"They took our photographs and asked us whether we had joined the protests. They told us not to join up again and threatened that we would be arrested if we did," added the young monk.
After arresting the abbot of their monastery, U Zarthila at the end of September, soldiers had continued their rampant crackdown by conducting raids in monasteries and had come to their monastery several times.
The young monk, who is an ethnic Arakan, said he left the monastery in Rangoon for his native home town in Arakan State for fear that authorities would continue raids and arrests.
Along with Ashin Panyathami, several monks went back to their native hometowns. However, authorities were reportedly looking for him to arrest as he possess photographs, which he had taken at the Maha Wizeyatheindaw monastery in Rangoon.
The young monk said, he finally left Burma for Bangladesh as authorities were conducting raids in several monasteries in Arakan searching for him. The monk said, he had to hide himself for five days and nights along Kin Chyaung River , and finally crossed the border to Bangladesh.
Similarly, on October 29, U Indra Panya and U Magindar from the Alodawpyih DamaSariya monastery, who had actively participated during the recent protests, fled to Bangladesh after authorities came in hot pursuit of the duo.
Bush Bans Gems wants San Suu Kyi to be released
President George Bush works out a strategy for the release of pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and for this the House of Representatives adopted sanctions against Burma's multi-million dollar gem and natural gas exports. Ms Suu Kyi's lawyer has called on Australia to take the regional lead in targeting sanctions against Burma's military.
United States sanctions on the economic interests of Burma's generals and companies conducting business in Burma are one step closer to being further strengthened, following the House of Representatives unanimous vote in favor of the JADE Act.
The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act, while focusing its attention on the trade of gemstones originating from Burma, looks to close significant holes existing in current sanctions policy.
"Millions of dollars in gemstones that are exported from Burma ultimately enter the United States but the Burmese regime attempts to conceal the origin of the gemstones in an effort to evade the sanctions in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003," according to the legislation.
"Burma's generals fund this repression of their own people by selling off the country's natural resources, especially oil and gems, leaving the Burmese people in poverty," said Democratic Representative Tom Lantos, sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations.
If passed, the bill will ban the import of all gems originating from Burma.
In justification of the need for this bill, the House Committee on Foreign Relations states that while Burma is known to supply 90 percent of the world's rubies; only three percent of rubies entering the United States are listed as coming from Burma.
Further, 99 percent of a stone's value is said to come from the stone itself, with labor accounting for a mere one percent of the value. Therefore supporters of the legislation argue that the bill effectively targets economic interests of the Burmese state without significantly impacting the daily livelihood of Burma's citizens.
The Jewelers of America, representing over 11,000 stores nationwide, and several major retailers, have lent their support to the Act.
Another significant aspect of the bill is its targeting of the economic interests of Chevron Corporation, an American company actively engaged in the exploitation of Burma's energy resources.
The JADE Act will terminate tax deductions for Chevron's Burma investments. A move that it is hoped will prompt a domino effect among Chevron and its partners in Burma to desist in operations inside Burma due to rising costs and economic restrictions.
The regime's ability to make use of money laundering activities will also be negatively impacted by passage of the Act, in addition to a further freeze on assets associated with Burma's generals.
"The peaceful protesters of Burma are human rights heroes, and the reprehensible military dictators ruling them deserve to be nothing less than international pariahs for their dismal human rights record," reads a statement from Lantos' office. "I am deeply grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle stood together today, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Burmese people as they struggle for freedom."
Upon final passage of the Act, Congressional annual review and renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 will no longer be necessary.
It is widely expected that both the Senate and President will offer their full support to the JADE Act, at which time the legislation will go into effect.
Jared Genser, legal counsel for Burma's Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi,says Well ultimately sanctions are only going to be as effective as the number of countries that are willing to put them on the military dictatorship. Historically the United States has had the strongest sanctions, although we are seeing stronger sanctions put in place by the European Union that were recently enacted and even tighter sanctions in this case in particular focusing on imports from Burma that go through third countries on their way here, such as gem stones which are polished in third countries. Australia has taken some important steps in recent weeks and I believe there's more that Australia can do, but what it has done already is put on a list of potential sanctions recipients, senior members of the military dictatorship, business owners who are tied into the military dictatorship as well to put in place financial sanctions against them to block assets they have in Australia and to prevent them from doing financial transactions through Australian banks. And that's a good first step.Australia has a critical role to play, obviously as a major power in the region and in its interacations with ASEAN and China.
China is Australia's top trading partner, the new Prime Minister Mr Rudd speaks fluent Mandarin, has extensive experience with the Chinese and therefore is very well placed to express his perspective to the Chinese government, and really the Howard government for some progress it might have made in other areas made virtually no progress on the question of Burma. The Australian government policy under Mr Howard had been a softly softly approach whereby engagement was the order of the day. But engagement didn't yield any substantive results and in his campaign for office Mr Rudd spoke publicly about the need to support US efforts to put further sanctions on Burma as well as put greater pressure on ASEAN and China to see real progress made in Burma. And so I think he needs to follow through on his campaign promises and lots of us around the world are watching closely to see how his new government takes shape.
United States sanctions on the economic interests of Burma's generals and companies conducting business in Burma are one step closer to being further strengthened, following the House of Representatives unanimous vote in favor of the JADE Act.
The Block Burmese JADE (Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act, while focusing its attention on the trade of gemstones originating from Burma, looks to close significant holes existing in current sanctions policy.
"Millions of dollars in gemstones that are exported from Burma ultimately enter the United States but the Burmese regime attempts to conceal the origin of the gemstones in an effort to evade the sanctions in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003," according to the legislation.
"Burma's generals fund this repression of their own people by selling off the country's natural resources, especially oil and gems, leaving the Burmese people in poverty," said Democratic Representative Tom Lantos, sponsor of the bill and Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Relations.
If passed, the bill will ban the import of all gems originating from Burma.
In justification of the need for this bill, the House Committee on Foreign Relations states that while Burma is known to supply 90 percent of the world's rubies; only three percent of rubies entering the United States are listed as coming from Burma.
Further, 99 percent of a stone's value is said to come from the stone itself, with labor accounting for a mere one percent of the value. Therefore supporters of the legislation argue that the bill effectively targets economic interests of the Burmese state without significantly impacting the daily livelihood of Burma's citizens.
The Jewelers of America, representing over 11,000 stores nationwide, and several major retailers, have lent their support to the Act.
Another significant aspect of the bill is its targeting of the economic interests of Chevron Corporation, an American company actively engaged in the exploitation of Burma's energy resources.
The JADE Act will terminate tax deductions for Chevron's Burma investments. A move that it is hoped will prompt a domino effect among Chevron and its partners in Burma to desist in operations inside Burma due to rising costs and economic restrictions.
The regime's ability to make use of money laundering activities will also be negatively impacted by passage of the Act, in addition to a further freeze on assets associated with Burma's generals.
"The peaceful protesters of Burma are human rights heroes, and the reprehensible military dictators ruling them deserve to be nothing less than international pariahs for their dismal human rights record," reads a statement from Lantos' office. "I am deeply grateful that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle stood together today, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Burmese people as they struggle for freedom."
Upon final passage of the Act, Congressional annual review and renewal of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 will no longer be necessary.
It is widely expected that both the Senate and President will offer their full support to the JADE Act, at which time the legislation will go into effect.
Jared Genser, legal counsel for Burma's Nobel laureate and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi,says Well ultimately sanctions are only going to be as effective as the number of countries that are willing to put them on the military dictatorship. Historically the United States has had the strongest sanctions, although we are seeing stronger sanctions put in place by the European Union that were recently enacted and even tighter sanctions in this case in particular focusing on imports from Burma that go through third countries on their way here, such as gem stones which are polished in third countries. Australia has taken some important steps in recent weeks and I believe there's more that Australia can do, but what it has done already is put on a list of potential sanctions recipients, senior members of the military dictatorship, business owners who are tied into the military dictatorship as well to put in place financial sanctions against them to block assets they have in Australia and to prevent them from doing financial transactions through Australian banks. And that's a good first step.Australia has a critical role to play, obviously as a major power in the region and in its interacations with ASEAN and China.
China is Australia's top trading partner, the new Prime Minister Mr Rudd speaks fluent Mandarin, has extensive experience with the Chinese and therefore is very well placed to express his perspective to the Chinese government, and really the Howard government for some progress it might have made in other areas made virtually no progress on the question of Burma. The Australian government policy under Mr Howard had been a softly softly approach whereby engagement was the order of the day. But engagement didn't yield any substantive results and in his campaign for office Mr Rudd spoke publicly about the need to support US efforts to put further sanctions on Burma as well as put greater pressure on ASEAN and China to see real progress made in Burma. And so I think he needs to follow through on his campaign promises and lots of us around the world are watching closely to see how his new government takes shape.
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