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12-05-2008, 08:41 AM
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  | Burmese Weekly : Vol 25 , WE Sun 18th May '08 Singapore may host ASEAN meeting on Myanmar aid - report Sun May 11, 2008 SINGAPORE, May 12 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries could meet in Singapore soon to discuss measures to boost relief and recovery efforts in cyclone-hit Myanmar, the Straits Times reported on Monday. Myanmar has agreed to Singapore's offer to host the meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the city-state and its foreign minister is expected to attend, the Singapore-based newspaper said in a report without identifying its source. snip reuters.com .................................................. .... Cyclone victim says aid given only to junta supporters Reporting by Maung Too May 11, 2008 (DVB)—A cyclone victim in Hlaing Tharyar, Rangoon, has said people in the township are not receiving any assistance and are being driven out of public buildings by local authorities. In an interview with DVB on Friday, the woman said there were many cyclone victims in the township, perhaps more than 10,000, but they had been forced out of buildings where they had taken shelter by local officials and members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association. DVB: We understand the cyclone victims were asked to move out of a building. Can you tell me where that was? “From state high school No. 3. None of the cyclone victims received anything when rice and oil were given out. The USDA and the local authorities were handing out rice and oil, so we went there but we were not given anything. They only distributed the goods to their own people. None of the starving victims received anything. There are many people in serious trouble with many of them staying in monasteries. We are staying in a hall.” DVB: When were the authorities distributing rice and oil? “They have been distributing the food for the past three days.” DVB: What about today? “No, not today. The people who are really starving did not receive anything. The food was distributed to people in their own organisations. Only about 50 of the victims received the food distributed”. DVB: You said only 50 of the victims received the food. How many people do you believe need it? “Over 10,000.” DVB: The 10,000 people you speak of, did they lose their homes in the cyclone? “Yes, they lost everything. Some died, some lost the roofs of their homes, and some were left without shelter and are starving. Some couples have many children.” DVB: Which ward are you from? “Ward No. 14.” DVB: I see, but the victims must be from different wards? “Yes. People from all wards came to the food distribution area.” DVB: Why did they force you away from state high school No. 3? “They said we were not allowed to stay there any longer. The person who ordered out was U Mya Win of the USDA. We were evicted yesterday and had to go without meals in the morning. Food is only given to their people and we, who are starving, did not get anything, neither oil nor rice. We are all homeless and I have to rent a place. “I am a cyclone victim but I have not even received a grain of rice. They said they were distributing food at 1500 hours, so I went there and they told me the distribution was in the morning. They – the USDA Office - asked me to come early the next morning and I did and they told me the distribution would only be in the evening.” DVB: So, you want to appeal to the USDA and the local authorities to be fair in distributing food aid. The international agencies are also concerned about the assistance reaching the people. The aid, it appears, is not reaching you. So, what would you like to tell the international community about it? “I want to tell them that food aid is not reaching us, we are in trouble because of our food, clothing and shelter difficulties, and we have nowhere to stay. We want them to help us. The other day, my niece fainted after they closed the iron gates on the people queuing for food aid and she was caught in between. We are really in trouble and that is what we want the international community to know. We want the food aid to be sent directly to the people because we do not get anything if it comes through them.” ends NLD calls for urgent international intervention Reporting by DVB May 11, 2008 (DVB)—The National League for Democracy has appealed to the international community to use all means available to help Burma immediately, without waiting for permission from the military regime. In a statement read by NLD spokesperson U Thein Nyunt yesterday, the party condemned the Burmese government for obstructing the delivery of international aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis. “The State Peace and Development Council is responsible for safeguarding as well as ensuring the longevity of the lives of the citizens of this country,” the statement said. “Presently, the authorities are hampering and obstructing the delivery of assistance from the international community, including the United Nations. As a result, the number of deaths is growing with each passing day,” it went on. “We, therefore, hold the SPDC responsible for the increasing number of deaths as well as for the diminishing security of lives and property in the country.” The NLD called on the UN to take on its responsibility to protect civilians and come to the Burmese people’s aid. “[W]e, the National League for Democracy, which is mandated by the people, once again appeal to the international community, including the United Nations, to make use of all available means immediately to send experts and humanitarian assistance and start undertaking relief and rescue missions in Burma.” When asked by DVB if the statement was meant to be NLD's green light for humanitarian intervention in Burma, Thein Nyunt reiterated the need of the Burmese people. “Well, people are dying and starving in the coastal areas. In urban areas, many homes are without roofs and others have collapsed, and people are living on the streets because their lives have been destroyed,” Thein Nyunt said. “About 100,000 people were killed by the cyclone and over a million are left homeless in the coastal areas. Furthermore, secondary-effect diseases like cholera and others are about to happen.” Thein Nyunt said the people of Burma urgently needed whatever assistance the international community could offer. “We need to help the people and urgently need assistance from all international sources, including the United Nations and the United States Government,” he said. “It is not only cash and kind but also expertise that is vitally needed and all forms of assistance that is given to Burma must be accepted.” english.dvb.no .................................................. ...... France Backtracking on Intervention By WAI MOE Sunday, May 11, 2008 France appeared to be backing down Sunday on claims it would send a naval vessel carrying 1,500 tonnes of aid to Burma “without waiting any further” on permission from the Burmese authorities, after a French foreign ministry source said France would not send the ship into Burmese waters, according to a Reuters report on Sunday. snip irrawaddy.org .................................................. .
__________________ "Keeping quiet while monks and other peaceful protesters are murdered and jailed is not evidence of constructive engagement." - Arvind Ganesan, Human Rights Watch. "I think...I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check" - M.C. Escher |
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12-05-2008, 04:13 PM
| #2 (permalink) |
| Nautical Member Join Date: Aug 2007
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| Kyonmange resident says over 30 nearby villages destroyed May 11, 2008 (DVB)—More than 30 villages west of Labutta township, near Wakema and Kyonmange in Irrawaddy division, were reportedly destroyed by the recent cyclone, several of them completely swept away. A resident of Kyonmange who is helping the cyclone victims taking refuge there said Thabauk village and its inhabitants had been completely wiped out. Local authorities have not provided any help to cyclone victims in Kyonmange, and on 5 May, a deputy in charge of Wakema township administration ordered local officials in Kyonmange to remove the cyclone victims, who are facing serious problems through lack of food, clothing, and shelter. The Kyonmange resident told DVB that the authorities had not helped clear the bodies of those who died in the cyclone. snip english.dvb.no .................................................. ..... QUOTE OF THE DAY   The authorities [of Burma] need to open up to an international relief effort. There aren't enough boats, trucks, helicopters in the country to run the relief effort of the scale we need.  —Richard Horsey, a spokesman for UN humanitarian operations irrawaddy.org .................................................. ..... First US relief airlift arrives in Myanmar May 12, 2008 at 4:52 AM EDT Associated Press RANGOON, MYANMAR — The first U.S. relief airlift has arrived in Myanmar carrying emergency supplies for last week's cyclone victims. A military C-130 cargo plane left a Thai air force base Monday and landed in Myanmar's biggest city Rangoon. Two more air shipments scheduled to land Tuesday. After the plane's arrival, the supplies were transferred to Myanmar army trucks. Allowing the U.S. flight is a huge concession by Myanmar's military government, which sees Washington as its enemy. snip theglobeandmail.com mid : Allowing the U.S. flight is a huge concession by Myanmar's military government, which sees Washington as its enemy. Cry me a river FOOLS , enemies don't deliver aid  ............................................ Generals consult the stars as public urged to dig deep Monday, 12 May 2008 The General refusing to allow foreign teams to enter Burma to help stop the cyclone death toll hitting 1.5 million is being advised by astrologers, it emerged today. General Than Shwe this morning finally allowed one US military aid flight carrying water, mosquito nets and blankets to leave Thailand for Burma - but he continues to refuse foreign logistics teams, including those from the UN. And today, reports into the ultra-secretive military government suggested the general is advised by a Buddhist nun and astrologer called E Thi. Aid agencies were already despairing that Than Shwe’s secrecy and apparently unsympathetic approach to the deaths of at least 225,000 of his people was hampering donations. The revelations about his astrologer are likely to make matters worse. E Thi is said to have told Shwe to move his government from Rangoon to Naypyidaw, 200 miles away in 2005 and the general is convinced the plan saved him from the devastation caused by cyclone Nargis. One aid worker in Rangoon said "Hundreds of people are dying while Shwe looks to the stars before making his next move. It is utter madness. The international community must act before this dire situation becomes a full-blown holocaust." (mid : highlight mine ) snip thelondonpaper.com .................................................. .. Myanmar says parts of nation still cut off 05-11-2008 YANGON (AFP)  Survivors of the deadly cyclone Nargis work on a roof near the Pyapon river in the southern delta hardest hit by cyclone Nargis on May 11. Parts of Myanmar are still cut off 10 days after its devastating cyclone, the military regime said Monday, ahead of the first aid flight from the United States -- one of its most vocal critics. (AFP) snip turkishpress.com ................................................. French medical aid shipment for cyclone victims reaches Myanmar's capital 2008-05-12 PARIS (AP) - A plane carrying 22 tons of medical and other aid from a French aid group for cyclone victims has arrived in Myanmar's capital. Medecins du Monde says the material includes emergency first aid kits for 20,000 people and medicines to treat malaria and diarrhea. The group says the aid will be sent to towns south of Yangon. Medecins du Monde workers will also travel to the Irrawaddy delta to evaluate humanitarian needs there. snip pr-inside.com .................................................. ...  Frontline podcast - Myanmar: Existing projects were major advantage in the first days' response Information dated 12.05.2008 Juli Niebuhr is MSF Deputy Country Manager in Myanmar. She describes the situation in storm-affected areas as desperate. snip "The scale of this - the size of this - is enormous and the number of injured, dead and missing people are increasing; the official figures are increasing by the day. It is a big area that has been hit and the impact of the storm has been enormous. Like I said, whole villages have been wiped away and the less-affected areas, as we call them where we work now, have 80 to 90 percent of their buildings destroyed. "Thousand s of people in Yangon have been badly affected by the storm as well. There is still no electricity. There is bad communication. Shops are closed. There is not enough food and many people have been made homeless by the storm or their houses have been damaged so badly that they are staying in temporary shelter. "I think a lot of people are still in shock. People are trying to deal with it with whatever small means they have. snip msf.org .................................................. .... U.S. helicopters cause stir in Thai town on Burma border Mon 12 May 2008 By Christopher Johnson In Mae Sot, home to many Burmese exiles and refugees, two helicopters stopped unannounced during a survey of the area Mae Sot, Thailand -In this border town known as "Little Burma," thousands of Burmese exiles and refugees were excited when they saw a US helicopter flying above them on Saturday, within view of Burmese soldiers staging a referendum across the Moei River. "All the Burmese looked up at the sky in hope," said Myo Khin, a Burmese trader who just found out from his sister that their relatives were lost in their hometown of Lapputa in the Irrawaddy delta. "Only America and the foreign countries can save Burma now." Local excitement grew on Sunday as another US helicopter flew into Mae Sot's tiny airport, which stopped serving commercial flights last year. The airstrip is just 1.5 miles from the Friendship Bridge to the Burmese town of Myawaddy. Their sighting jibes with reports that the US has moved ships and aircraft into position to support a humanitarian mission in the country. A trip Sunday afternoon to the airport found eight US crewmen in uniforms pumping fuel from one US helicopter, inscribed with "24 Marines" on the body and "EP" on the tail, to another US helicopter, labeled "25 Marines." "They were here on a survey of the area, and they ran out of gas," explained a Thai airport official in the lobby. "One crew had to wait here overnight for another helicopter to come today and bring them gas." snip dannai.civiblog.org See Also : http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...tml#post622294 (USS Essex : Bound for Burma) ................................................ Junta rewards nursing student for supporting referendum Monday, 12 May 2008 A seemingly grateful Burmese ruling junta rewarded students of the Nursing and Midwife School with a token amount of money and bread in Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, northern Burma yesterday, said school sources. Sources close to the school said, all students were given 500 Kyat and a piece of bread for supporting the referendum to approve the draft constitution on May 10 by U Dai Hu, the head organizer of the junta-sponsored Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) in Du Kahtawng quarter where the school is situated. snip kachinnews.com mid : 500 Kyat and a piece of bread .......  EXCHANGE RATES 1 US = 1155 kyat 1 BT = 35.71 kyat May 12, 2008 irrawaddy.org .................................................. Cholera and asthma cases increasing among Cyclone victims Mungpi Monday, 12 May 2008 15:42 New Delhi - Cases of cholera and asthma are increasing among victims and survivors of Cyclone Nargis, said an aid worker in Rangoon who visited the Irrawaddy Delta. The aid worker, who request anonymity, said several cyclone victims, mostly children, are beginning to suffer from cholera after drinking contaminated water. "Since aid is not reaching as it should be, villagers are forced to use the water which is contaminated by dead bodies," the aid worker said. The aid worker said the refugees are also beginning to suffer from asthma. "Though people know that the water is contaminated, they have no choice but to use it, and they start having diseases," said the aid worker, who had just returned from Laputta town, one of the hardest-hit by the cyclone. He said that while a few people have been grouped in refugee camps, many people still not yet made it to refugee camps. snip mizzima.com .................................................. .... Last edited by Mid : 12-05-2008 at 08:19 PM. |
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13-05-2008, 09:24 AM
| #3 (permalink) |
| Nautical Member Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,984
| 85 Burma aid increasing as casualties rise 13 April, 2008  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his "immense frustration" at Burma's slow response to the cyclone. The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has said he is immensely frustrated at what he called the unacceptably slow delivery of aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma. Mr Ban also warned that an outbreak of infectious diseases could dwarf the current crisis, unless more aid got into the country very quickly. snip bbc.co.uk .................................................. Aid for cyclone victims sold in Rangoon Reporting by DVB May 12, 2008 (DVB)–Noodle packets, cans of condensed milk and mosquito nets intended for Cyclone Nargis victims are being sold openly in the streets and markets of Rangoon, a local resident told DVB. The Rangoon resident said people had been surprised to see provisions designated for flood victims being sold in the shops. "I saw dry noodle packets, condensed milk tins and mosquito nets from rescue efforts in downtown. They are selling noodle packets at Nyaungpinlay Market for 600 [kyat] a packet, and tins of condensed milk too," the resident said. snip The resident said there had been no assistance from the authorities so locals had to tackle the problem themselves. "Local people have to come and cleared [the roads] and the water is gone again now," he said. "We are doing things on our own initiative. No one is coming to help us." english.dvb.no ................................................. Seven residents arrested Mon 12 May 2008 Mon Son, Rai Maraoh Seven residents of Mudon Township, Mon State were arrested by the police while the Burmese military junta was holding the referendum on Saturday. Seven people hurled stones at a car carrying junta officials when it was going around Mudon Township, Mon State telling people to vote "Yes", said Nai Htwe, a Mudon resident. Nai Htwe said that "People hated the sight of the authorities in the car; therefore they throw stones. Now they are under detention." snip NMSP will not recognize constitutional referendum Mon 12 May 2008 By Loa Htaw, IMNA The Burmese ethnic ceasefire group the New Mon State Party (NMSP) will not recognize the government's constitutional referendum which was neither free nor fair, said the NMSP a day after the junta held the referendum. snip monnews-imna.com .................................................. . QUOTE OF THE DAY  If the intransigence of the Burmese generals continues, it is a very real issue whether in the name of humanity some international action should be taken against their will—like military air drops, or supplies being landed from ships offshore—to get aid to the huge numbers who desperately need it right now. —Gareth Evans, president of International Crisis Group irrawaddy.org ................................................ Zarganar discusses film industry support for cyclone victims  daylife.com May 12, 2008 (DVB)-High-profile comedian Zarganar and other celebrities have been reaching out to people affected by the recent cyclone with donations of food, medicines and other basic supplies. Zarganar spoke to DVB yesterday about the film industry's efforts to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis in Rangoon. DVB: Could you explain how artists are helping the storm victims? "First we got together all our friends from the film world. We wanted help to reach out to the people [but] we had difficulties getting rice, medicines, salt…. As we all wanted to get these things to the people, we wanted to do whatever we could. So Lu Min, Lwin Moe, Nay Toe, Eindra Kyaw Zin and May Than Nu all participated. Gradually we are getting there. Wai Lut Kyaw has been distributing it with his own car. He went to Koonchangone, Dala, Twante, Bogalay, Laputa…As we get to know each other gradually, people are becoming united. People who can afford it give rice, medicines and so on … a medical company came to give dermatological medicines. Film people are gathered on 35th Street [in Rangoon], the donation centre. Meanwhile, day labourers in the film community are finding it hard to survive. They only get 2000 to 3000 a day, in Burmese currency. These people have no rice to eat. They have no job. It's stopped. They don't even have the money for transport fares. These people are in trouble and we gave them rice, medicines, oil, rice and clothing this morning." snip DVB: What is, in your opinion, the best way to give help effectively? "The best thing to do is what we are doing now. For the time being, I have to say that this is the best way. We are putting it in their hands. We boil rice gruel in big pots, then we add dried fish and oil and feed them. And we also give them clothes, medicines, money, beans and dried fish in a packet, right in their hands…if you do things with artists like us there is less harassment - that's our advantage." DVB: Is there anything else you want to say? "The other point to mention is that people who were not affected by the storm and the rains also are donating. I'm collecting things donated by people from Mandalay, and other people throughout the country are also donating." DVB: What is the official Motion Picture Association doing now? "As far as I know, they are still painting the ground floor of their office which was flooded." DVB: Are they helping the victims? "Heh heh, they have just been painting their office. I haven't seen any of them helping anyone." DVB: What have you seen the government do to help the victims? "When we were there we didn't see them do anything except clear the roads. We never saw them giving medicines or food to the people." DVB: What do you have to say about the referendum? "As they had already declared, they pushed ahead with it. I have nothing to say about it. We are prioritising our efforts for those who are in trouble here…I don't even want to talk about it." english.dvb.no .................................................. ...  This type of vintage double decker boats which take 12 hours to reach 150 miles are used by Burmese Government to distribute emergency supply! Photo: Burma Sitmone .................................................. .................. Last edited by Mid : 13-05-2008 at 09:34 AM. |
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14-05-2008, 12:43 AM
| #4 (permalink) |
| Nautical Member Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,984
| 201 Aid 'will be rebadged'May 14, 2008 AID officials have warned that Australia's shipment of aid to Burma will almost certainly be rebadged as the property of the Burmese military government. Portions of the shipment are also likely to be siphoned off by corrupt officials following the May 2 cyclone which has left up to 100,000 people dead, the Australian newspaper reports. An Australian aid plane arrived in Rangoon yesterday to offload urgently needed supplies. A senior aid official in Burma said there was little doubt the Australian aid would be rebadged as the property of the Burmese Junta. Credible eyewitness accounts have detailed that UN aid had been similarly repackaged. "The narrative is the military rescuing the nation," the official said. "It's highly probably there will also be leakage of Australian aid." "It's been the same with UK and US aid." news.com.au .............................................. EU looks to world bodies to help in Myanmar crisis - Summary Tue, 13 May 2008 snip The meeting "made clear ... the desire of the EU for regional partners, principally India, China and other members of ASEAN, to bring to bear their influence on the regime in Myanmar to allow free and unfettered access" for aid workers, British development minister Douglas Alexander said. But it did not give explicit backing to a French proposal that the Myanmar regime should be forced to accept aid if it does not do so voluntarily, with EU officials instead pinning their hopes on a planned visit by EU aid commissioner Louis Michel to Myanmar. snip earthtimes.org ............................................ About 60 timber vehicles cross check-point paying bribe Tue 13 May 2008 About 60 vehicles carrying timber from Three Pagodas Pass (TPP) Township, on the Thai-Burma border town, entered Thailand crossing the check-point at 5 a.m. today, even though the border gate has been closed on both sides since May 2005. Most of the timber are teak, the gum-kino tree, a kind of ironwood tree from Thapyu area, Zemi River in the the Karen National Union (KNU) area. According to timber businessman in TPP, “All the timber vehicles passed the check-point gate directly by making part payments in advance as taxes to the Lieutenant- Colonel Hla Min in TPP”. snip See Also : http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...tml#post623657 (Thailand and Burmese Teak ...........) monnews-imna.com 'Yes' votes stuffed by poll station staff in Mon state Tue 13 May 2008 Loa Htaw, IMNA Polling station staff stuffed 'Yes' votes for the constitutional referendum in Thoungpyin village of Lamine Sub-Township, Mon state, said a poll station staff. Before the polling station closed, one of the staff members Zar Kyi Htway filled a lot of left over ballots with 'Yes' votes on behalf of those voters who did not come to vote, said the staff. "I saw that she filling up support votes for a long time." she continued. "We got 1129 support, 925 against and 267 disqualifying votes on the constitution in the polling station in Thoungpyin village booth," she said. "All of our family members’ ages are over 18 year, but we did not get ballots to go to the polling station to vote. We are not involved in any opposition movement and I do not understand why we did not get the chance," said a commission member. Only about 2600 out of 9000 eligible voters received ballots to vote for the referendum in Thoungpyin village, he added. A majority of eligible voters did not receive the ballots and the commission members voted instead of the voters, according to an authoritative source from the Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC). Thoungpyin village is one of the strongholds of activists' in Mon state and the result from the poll station has shocked the villagers, said local observers. monnews-imna.com .................................................. 'No Foreigners, No Cameras' in the Irrawaddy delta: Burmese PM Tuesday, 13 May 2008 New Delhi – Burma's reclusive military junta has banned foreign aid workers from entering the Irrawaddy Delta, the region hit hardest by Cyclone Nargis, sources in the military said. Burma Prime Minister Lt Gen Thein Sein on Tuesday told local Burmese businessmen assigned to help the reconstruction in Rangoon and the Irrawaddy Delta that foreigners would not be allowed in. During the meeting held at Rangoon Military Command Headquarters, Thein Sein also said that anyone assigned to relief and reconstruction would not be allowed to carry cameras, the source said. Junta propaganda continues for next referendum Nem Davies Tuesday, 13 May 2008 State-owned media has continuously aired propaganda for the upcoming constitutional referendum in cyclone-hit regions of Burma. Myanmar Radio and Television has been broadcasting propaganda songs aimed at the 4 million eligible voters in Rangoon Township. Most of the country has already voted, on May 10, except for voters in 47 townships in Rangoon and Irrawaddy division hit hard by Cyclone Nargis. Those voters will be able to cast their ballots on May 24. "Every night, junta propaganda songs are released by government television from artists Kaing Zar and Nann Suu Yathi Soe," said an editor of a Rangoon-based magazine. "They said to vote 'yes' for the referendum." A Rangoon resident said, "We do not watch Myanmar television at home anymore because there is nothing interesting to watch. Instead, we watch DVDs and Burmese movies." snip mizzima.com .................................................. ... Referendum in Indo-Burma Border Area Postponed 5/13/2008 Dhaka: The referendum in at least two villages on the Indo-Burma border was postponed on 10 May as the Arakan Liberation Army seized the ballots a day before the polls were to open. The villager said, "We could not cast votes in the referendum on 10 May as the ALA seized the ballots intending to disturb the referendum. The authority held the referendum the next day." snip 37 Bangladeshis Repatriated by Burma 5/13/2008 Dhaka: Burma's border security force Nasaka handed over 37 Bangladesh nationals on Wednesday to Bangladesh Rifles after they had served three month jail terms, said a government source. The source said Nasaka forces handed over the Bangladesh nationals opposite the Maungdaw border point, having crossed the Naff River by ferry. The Bangladeshis had been arrested in Burmese waters on 4 January, 2008, as they were traveling to Malaysia in a machine boat. snip narinjara.com .................................................. ... Civilian trucks forced to carry relief goods by admin — last modified 2008-05-13 Burmese military has been forcing 6 wheel and 10 wheel trucks to transport goods at Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, to Rangoon and Irrawaddy which were hit by Cyclone Nargis on 2-3 May, according to sources from Southern Shan State. By Hawkeye/ Lieng Lern The forced transportation started on 9 May. "Burmese military stopped the incoming trucks and forced them to carry food, clothes and other materials to Rangoon. Currently, food and commodities such as salt is very expensive because the cyclone had destroyed the salt mines," the source said. During the past few days, commodity prices have increased dramatically in Kunhing Township, 140 miles east of Taunggyi: Before Now Gasoline K 200,000 ($160) per barrel K 350,000($280) Salt K 2,000 (1.6) per viss K 5,000($4) Rice K 18,000 ($14.4) per pack K 22,000($17.6) Cooking oil K 3,000 ($2.4) per viss K 6,000 ($4.8) Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on 2-3 May. At least 100,000 people were believed to have been killed and millions homeless. Thousands of lives could have been saved if the military regime did not ignore the warning given by the Indian Meteorological Department 48 hours in advance about the likely area of landfall as well as time and intensity of the cyclone, say critics. shanland.org .............................................. QUOTE OF THE DAY  This [issue of international assistance for Burma] is not about politics; it is about saving people's lives. There is absolutely no more time to lose. —UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon irrawaddy.org .................................................. .. Myanmar grants entry visa to EU aid official 13 May 2008 (BRUSSELS) - EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel said Tuesday that the Myanmar regime had granted him a visa to enter the cyclone-stricken country and that he would leave Brussels later in the day. snip eubusiness.com ............................................... |
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14-05-2008, 09:38 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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| Myanmar PM sends letter to Thai Premier 12 May 2008 Spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office Police Lieutenant General Vichianchote Sukchotirat (วิเชียรโชติ สุกโชติรัตน์)revealed to the press that the Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar has sent an address to Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The letter expressed the gratitude of Myanmar towards the concern and aid of Their Majesties the King and Queen as well as the entire Royal Family which donated Red Cross relief kits to those afflicted by Cyclone Nargis. The address continued to state that Myanmar is ready to receive more relief kits and is open to aid from all countries that wish to contribute, thus asking Thailand help to counter information from ill-wishing foreign embassies stating otherwise. Myanmar is preparing to receive C 130 aircraft from the United States today and tomorrow that have been sent to distribute aid. The nation will also be welcoming high ranking representatives from the US. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon also personally called Mr. Samak to ask that he help in negotiating the issuance of visas to Myanmar for officials wishing to contribute to relief efforts. thainews.prd.go.th ................................................  In this photo released by World Vision, Myanmar villagers sleep at a Buddhist temple used as a shelter for victims of cyclone Nargis in Yangon, Myanmar Tuesday, May 13, 2008. The U.N. said Myanmar faces a catastrophe of monumental proportions unless relief efforts reach the scale of the Indian Ocean tsunami, as soldiers barred foreign aid workers from reaching cyclone survivors in hard-hit areas. (AP Photo/World Vision, HO) Cite it.notizie.yahoo.com .................................................. ....... Lives ebb away as Myanmar’s military sidelines vital aid May 14th, 2008 By Simon Parry Myawaddy (Myanmar), May 14 (DPA) It was supposed to be a moment of hope, a breakthrough in the troubled international aid effort for the hundreds of thousands of Myanmarese victims of Cyclone Nargis. Instead, I watched as the delivery of the first overland aid convoy was received with stark indifference by military officials either ill prepared or uninterested in speeding the aid to those in need. snip Sharing some of their hope, I defied a ban on foreign journalists and crossed into Myanmar with the trucks. What I witnessed was a debacle. The moment the trucks were out of sight of the border post, they were directed off the road and along a three kilometre dusty track to a semi-deserted monastery and pagoda. snip I watched as they waved the trucks to parking bays without looking to see what they contained, then ambled back to a reception area to resume the card-playing and tea-drinking that had been interrupted. snip The major, Myat Hdut Aye, explained that nothing more would be happening for the time being. “It will have to wait here until tomorrow,” he said, gesturing to the trucks. “Then it will be transferred by road to Yangon. We can’t do anything more today.” I asked gently why it wasn’t being moved immediately. Silent for a moment, he blushed before replying: “We need a big truck to carry all these things and it has to come from Yangon.” So when would it arrive? He looked a little more uncomfortable and said: “We hope it will be here in time to leave early tomorrow.” snip thaindian.com .................................................. Last edited by Mid : 14-05-2008 at 09:46 AM. |
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14-05-2008, 08:17 PM
| #6 (permalink) |
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| 298 May 14, 2008 (DVB)–Refugees from Cyclone Nargis who had taken shelter in Dawpon township in Rangoon division have been ordered to leave, one of those affected told DVB. The cyclone victims were told they would be forced out if they did not leave of their own accord. “The refugee rescue people are driving refugees out of here,” the refugee said. snip “We get no international aid, we only hear about it. We have nowhere to stay and are living on the streets, and the children are suffering from dysentery.” May 14, 2008 (DVB)–Cyclone victims taking refuge in Bogalay are still suffering food shortages and being forced to relocate, a villager from Bogalay township told DVB yesterday evening. snip While local shops have been selling relief supplies, refugees have received only small amounts of rice and some wards were given cooking oil yesterday, but poorer people have received less, the villager said. Cyclone survivors who had fled to Bogalay continue to be forced to go to Ma-Upin or told to return to their villages. snip Some refugees are afraid of being sent to Ma-Upin, due to rumours circulating that around 500 women and 1000 men were forced to work in quarries there. snip “The other day, a helicopter came over and five boxes of tinned fish and five boxes of instant noodles were dropped - that’s all. People have to beg for food.” Mandalay abbots reach Rangoon with relief supplies Reporting by Naw Say Paw May 14, 2008 (DVB)—Four abbots from Maha Gandaryon monastery in Mandalay arrived in Rangoon today with two vanloads of aid to help victims living in cyclone-devastated Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions. More monks from Bago and Magwe are due to arrive this evening and tomorrow morning, according to famous comedian Zaganar. He said that monks had planned to go on the ground to join relief efforts in person and cooperate with celebrities from Burmese film industry who have been working effectively to provide aid to people in the worst-hit areas. snip english.dvb.no ................................................ Rohingya disappears from Nasaka custody Wednesday, 14 May 2008 Maungdaw, Arakan State: A Rohingya disappeared after Nasaka, Burma's Border security force took him into custody for being in possession of anti-referendum papers written in Burmese while he was crossing the Bangladesh-Burma border on May 9, said a relative of the victim on condition of anonymity. snip His father said, "I don't know whether my son is dead or alive." kaladanpress.org .................................................. . Corpse robbers and angry villagers May 14, 2008  (Latest roundup of some news on Cyclone Nargis in Burmese language media) There have been a few reports about corpses of cyclone victims found with ears and fingers cut off, apparently to take the jewelry. Now the Yoma 3 News Service has alleged that soldiers of Infantry Division 66 are among those responsible. According to an eyewitness from Bogalay who spoke by phone: “Division 66 officers and soldiers are removing everything from the bodies of the dead. If wearing bracelets, they’re cutting off the hands.” snip ratchasima.net See Also : http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...tml#post624528 (Burma : Corpse robbers and angry villagers) .................................................. ........... New Delhi - The Indian Meteorological Department on Wednesday said though a low pressure swirl has formed on Burma's southwestern coastal area adjoining the Bay of Bengal, it is unlikely to intensify into a cyclone. The IMD, which is designated the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) recognized by the World Meteorological Organization said, the low pressure area currently forming in the Bay of Bengal will not form into a cyclone in the next 24 hours. "We have not issued any alarm, as it is clear that within the next 24 hours it will not intensify into a cyclone," B.P. Yadav, director of the IMD, told Mizzima. snip mizzima.com .................................................. ..... |
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14-05-2008, 11:23 PM
| #7 (permalink) |
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| 359 Cyclone Nargis; News from Inside Emily Dalton / Kaowao; May 12th, 2008 The people’s requests are not major. Having lived under a military dictatorship for too long, these people are strong and resilient; prior to Nargis, 70% of the population of Burma survived on less than $US1 a day, below the international poverty line benchmark. Now tens of thousands are people are surviving on coconuts and filthy water. They need clean drinking water, shelter and basic medicine. They need their fundamental human rights adhered to. kaowao.org ................................................. Bracing for Another Cyclone The news of a second powerful storm headed toward Myanmar Wednesday was not broadcast by state-controlled media. But Yangon residents picked up the news on foreign broadcasts -- and braced for the worst. (See related article. )  Associated Press Myanmar children lined up to receive water from a local donor on the outskirts of Yangon. Another powerful storm headed toward Myanmar's cyclone-devastated delta Wednesday, where so little aid has reached that the United Nations warned of a "second wave of deaths." online.wsj.com .................................................. Red Cross Says Myanmar Death Toll As High As 128,000 Posted: May 14, 2008 The Red Cross says the death toll in Myanmar's cyclone may be between 68,833 and 127,990. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says it arrived at the figure by pooling and extrapolating assessments by other aid groups and organizations. It says in a situation report on Myanmar that the total affected population is between 1.64 million and 2.51 million. The report issued today noted that "official government casualty figures remain significantly lower." snip wtkr.com .................................................. ... UN chief calls emergency aid meeeting for Myanmar snip "Until now, regrettably, I think we have spent much of our time and energy and in facilitating aids get flow in and visas being issued," the UN chief said. "Even though the Myanmese government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time it's a far, far too short. "The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers. Now I'm going to really discuss this matter with some members of the key donors as well as ASEAN countries this afternoon and discuss what kind of concrete measures we can do now, from now on. Now I think we are entering into almost the second stage of our operation to help the Myanmese people," he added news.yahoo.com .................................................. |
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15-05-2008, 08:30 PM
| #8 (permalink) |
| Nautical Member Join Date: Aug 2007
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| 428 Myanmar disaster response worst in memory 15 May 2008 "I cannot recall a relief operation where, at least the international response, has been subjected to such delays. Where two weeks into it, we don't even have a decent assessment of the numbers affected," said Mark Malloch-Brown, a top Foreign Office official and a former UN deputy secretary general. khaleejtimes.com ............................................. Reporting by Aye Nai May 15, 2008 (DVB) – The police attacked and arrested a storm victim and a member of South Dagon Township National League for Democracy (NLD) member today for attempting to meet with UN officials in Rangoon. At 4’oclock this evening, Daw Khin Win Kyi was arrested for attempting to tell the sufferings of refugees to senior government officials, diplomats and UN officials who were inspecting the living condition of storm victims with 15 other women, a local resident told DVB. “She wanted the senior officials to know the sufferings of the people and wanted to tell them face to face and went to wait at the route of the official entourage. She told officials at Ward – 17 to let her see the senior officials, and the police told her that they could not let her in, and a shouting match followed. Then, the police sergeant punched her, dragged her away and handcuffed her.” snip english.dvb.no ................................................ Junta to expand logging fields in Northern Burma Thursday, 15 May 2008 There is nothing better that the Burmese military junta understands than raking in moolah, even if it means deforestation and massive damage to the ecology and environment. To the generals of the junta money is sweeter than honey. snip kachinnews.com See Also : http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...tml#post625529 (Thailand and Burmese Teak ...........) .................................................. . Burma approves draft constitution by 92.4 percent Thursday, 15 May 2008 New Delhi – Burma's draft constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters, state radio announced Thursday. The announcement read out by Chief Justice Aung Toe, head of the Referendum Holding Committee, said 92.4 percent, or 20,786,596 voters out of the more than 22 million voters, cast ballots in favor of the draft constitution in a referendum held on May 10. Aung Toe said 1.3 million votes were cast against the draft constitution, while 334,584 ballots were canceled. He put the voter turnout at 99.07 percent. mizzima.com mid : 92.4 percent of people will vote yes when confronted with a gun to the head .............. ............................................ Wa told to give back their temporary cards Junta authorities in Mongton township, opposite Chiangmai, have demanded that Wa residents along the Thai-Burma border return their newly issued White cards, according to a yet to be confirmed report. The order was issued on 13 May, 3 days after the nationwide referendum followed by numerous reports about official irregularities, according to the source. A Wa officer contacted by the Shan Herald was unable to substantiate the report but confirmed that most of the Wa eligible voters had cast No votes to the junta-drawn draft charter. “That must have really needled them,” he remarked. snip Authorities force people to work till death By Lieng Lern 3 villagers were drowned after local authorities forced them to make a raft and many other people were forced to clear the bushes beside the Nammao River, also known as Shweli in Namkham Township, according to reliable sources. On 30 April 2008, local authorities forced 4 men to make a raft for them [authorities] to cross the river. "While we were making the raft, some bamboo poles drifted away. Authorities then ordered us to swim after and take them back. But, the water was so strong and deep. 3 of my friends were drowned. I was the only survivor," a villager was quoted as saying. snip shanland.org .................................................. Cyclone Survivors Told to Return to Shattered Homes By WAI MOE Thursday, May 15, 2008 Nearly 2,000 cyclone survivors still sheltering in monasteries, religious buildings and schools in one Rangoon township have been told by the authorities to return to what is left of their homes by May 20. The order was confirmed by one resident of the affected township, South Dagon Myothit, who asked: “Where will the survivors live?” Angered by the official order, Ko Pauk said: “Their homes were destroyed by the cyclone. The authorities are really stupid.”  Children reach their hands out to receive a free banana from a local donor on the outskirts of Rangoon on Wednesday. (Photo: AP) snip irrawaddy.org .................................................. . Sex trade traffickers get busy among cyclone orphans Sex trade traffickers are preying on child survivors of Burma's devastating Cyclone Nargis, writes Edward Loxton for The First Post. At least two suspected traffickers have been arrested in Rangoon since the cyclone hit, according to UNICEF's child protection officer in Burma, Anne-Claire Dufay. "A broker came to a shelter and tried to recruit children," she told the French news agency AFP. "The police intervened and made arrests." snip thefirstpost.co.uk .................................................. . Burma Seeks Help from Neighbors 2008-05-14 May 14, 2008: (Irrawaddy) Burma's junta has approved aid personnel from Bangladesh, China, India and Thailand to help its relief efforts for victims of Cyclone Nargis, while still delaying granting visas to many non-Asian experts, a United Nations official said on Wednesday. snip indoburmanews.net ............................................... Meteorologists downgrade cyclone warning off Myanmar Thursday 15th May, 2008 Warnings of a second cyclone heading for Myanmar, which is reeling from the impact of Cyclone Nargis, have been cancelled, meteorologists said Thursday. 'The potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is downgraded to poor,' the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii said in a forecast issued late Wednesday, saying the centre of the storm had weakened. snip irishsun.com .................................................. ......... from the blog world .............  Global Day of Action for Burma's Cyclone Victims On Saturday May 17th 2008 people across the world will join a Global Day of Action calling for an urgent response to the humanitarian disaster in Burma. We urge you to join this day of action and ask world governments to take action now and save thousands of lives. We are calling on the US, UK, France and other key nations to use whatever assets and means they have to deliver aid to those suffering in Burma, even without the approval of the military regime. Many European leaders have already stood up and called for action to force aid in if necessary. This effort is being pushed by a coalition of organizations around the world, and supported by many groups inside Burma. We cannot stand by as millions more are on the brink of death from starvation and disease. The UN has warned of a "second catastrophe unless the junta immediately allows massive air and land aid deliveries”. Our sources inside Burma tell us that the survivors in the Irrawaddy delta are now having to cope with a “tsunami of disease”. We will hold 3 protests in London on Saturday 17 May, details are below: French Embassy: Time: 12:30 - 13:00 Address: 58 Knightsbridge London SW1X 7JT American Embassy: Time: 13:30 - 14:00 Address: 24 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 2LQ Foreign Office: 14:40 – 15:10 Address: King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH ko-htike.blogspot.com .................................................. . PM says Myanmar can rely on itself 15 May 2008 Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej announces that Myanmar can rely on itself in assisting people affected by cyclone Nargis and Thailand will dispatch 40 medical teams to the country soon. The premier says he has met with his Myanmar counterpart Gen.Thein Sein to discuss assistance for the affected people during his visit to the country. He has also traveled to observe residences damaged by the cyclone. Mr Samak says the affected people already had access to water and electricity but trees and roads have yet been restored. Although Myanmar does not have much experience on this kind of situation, it can revive the cyclone-hit cities by itself, the premier says. The prime minister also says the Myanmar government is willing to accept assistance from Thailand. 20 from 40 medical teams from Thailand will be dispatched to treat the injured and the rest 20 to prevent epidemics. thainews.prd.go.th .................................................. .............. Estimated 3.2 Million Burmese Potentially Affected By Cyclone ScienceDaily (May 14, 2008) — As many as 3.2 million Burmese are estimated to be affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, according to geographic risk models developed by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Lehman College, CUNY. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the researchers calculated the likely distribution of the population of Burma (also known as Myanmar) and developed maps of the regions at greatest risk from the storm’s effects. snip sciencedaily.com See Also : http://teakdoor.com/thailand-and-asi...tml#post625667 (Burma : Estimated 3.2 Million Burmese Potentially Affected By Cyclone) .................................................. .... Myanmar issues warning; cyclone death toll soars May 15, 2008 YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar's military regime is warning of legal action against people who trade or hoard international aid. It's the first acknowledgment by the government of problems with relief efforts following a devastating cyclone earlier this month. The warning comes amid reports that foreign aid is being sold openly in markets. And there's word that the military is seizing and diverting aid for its own use. The government denies the accusations. An announcement on state-run radio claims the government has "distributed the relief goods immediately and directly to the victims." Myanmar says more than 43,000 people have been killed by the storm. The Red Cross puts the figure at more than 68,000. snip kristv.com .................................................. ..... UN: 2.5m in need of aid in Burma 15 May 2008 The United Nations has increased its estimate of the number of people in urgent need of aid in Burma to 2.5 million. It also said over half a million people may now be sheltering in temporary settlements after being left destitute by Cyclone Nargis nearly two weeks ago. The UN has called for a high-level donors conference to deal with the crisis. snip channel4.com Mid : what has China and Russia got to say now ?? .................................................. ........... Junta: Referendum clears Burma statute Rang |
