=====
Zomi says:
The generals outwardly show that they are Buddhists. But are they? A
devout
Buddhist will not want to beat a Buddhist monk, not to mention killing
him.
Buddhism teaches the people not to kill, not to steal, not to commit
adultery, not to be intoxicated, and not to be dishonest. Real Buddhists
do
not commit killing, stealing, committing adultery, being intoxicated, and
being dishonest.
The generals do not want aid money and material to reach the victims
directly. Why not? Because they want to steal.
Highlights:
Neighboring Asian countries, Western countries and the United Nations are
ready to provide relief assistance. But what is the military government
doing?
People across the region complain of a lack of warning as the storm
approached. After the storm hit, the military, police and other
governmental
workers were nowhere to be seen. On Monday-two days after the cyclone
struck-a few uniformed people could be seen in areas of the city. Overall,
the government's response has been criminally negligent, a clear
demonstration of its disrespect and concern for the people of Burma.
Scores of people were quoted in the media noting the government's
readiness
to dispatch troops to shoot, beat and arrest people engaged in peaceful
demonstrations in 2007, and its recent disappearing act when the people
needed its help.
In the ruling generals' view, the disaster is something to be exploited
for
politics. The generals, including Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein, have
appeared on television handing out aid donations to families of victims.
The
people receiving blankets and other material were shown clapping on state
television-pure propaganda.
=====
Relief Effort Should be Burma's No 1 Priority
By KYAW ZWA MOE Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Burma, devastated by cyclone Nargis, is undergoing a national disaster
that
is beyond politics.
The military government said on Tuesday 22,464 people are dead and 41,054
are missing, but local people say the figure may go much higher. One
million
people may be homeless in Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions, according to
aid
workers.
It's time to go beyond politics: local, national and international.
Neighboring Asian countries, Western countries and the United Nations are
ready to provide relief assistance. But what is the military government
doing?
People across the region complain of a lack of warning as the storm
approached. After the storm hit, the military, police and other
governmental
workers were nowhere to be seen. On Monday-two days after the cyclone
struck-a few uniformed people could be seen in areas of the city. Overall,
the government's response has been criminally negligent, a clear
demonstration of its disrespect and concern for the people of Burma.
Scores of people were quoted in the media noting the government's
readiness
to dispatch troops to shoot, beat and arrest people engaged in peaceful
demonstrations in 2007, and its recent disappearing act when the people
needed its help.
In the ruling generals' view, the disaster is something to be exploited
for
politics. The generals, including Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein, have
appeared on television handing out aid donations to families of victims.
The
people receiving blankets and other material were shown clapping on state
television-pure propaganda.
Meanwhile, The Irrawaddy stringers in Rangoon file reports saying many
people in Hlaing Tharyar and Shwe Pyi Thar townships are sleeping on the
roads because their houses are gone. People don't have clean drinking
water.
Almost all towns in the affected areas still lack electricity and other
public services. Prices of all commodities are doubling and tripling.
Material for rebuilding house is skyrocketing, if it can be found.
Some European countries, the United States and some Asian countries
quickly
offered assistance, but the military regime, as always, was skeptical and
slow to accept help. Nevertheless, aid from Thailand and India is already
on
the way, and many other countries are setting the wheels in motion for a
massive relief effort. On Tuesday, a UN spokesperson said the junta
finally
signaled it will welcome humanitarian aid.
Unfortunately, the UN and other aid groups will face cumbersome
restrictions
as usual. In the past, the junta has thwarted international NGOs from
having
clear access to people in need of their services. The suspicious generals
believe foreigners are looking for information they will use to embarrass
the regime.
In spite of the turmoil, the regime is determined to hold the
constitutional
referendum except in 47 townships that were hit hardest by the cyclone.
The
vote in forty townships in Rangoon Division and seven townships in
Irrawaddy
Division will be postponed until May 24. The rest of the country will vote
on May 10 as scheduled.
Meanwhile, local sources said the military regime has continued to
pressure
people in rural areas to vote "yes" in the referendum.
The referendum should have been postponed. The government clearly lacks
the
ability to cope with the current disaster and the follow-up relief effort.
Going on with the referendum as scheduled is callous and demeaning.
During the relief effort, the junta will be asked to work with more
international groups than ever before, and the logistics of the relief
effort will be more demanding than anything the military has attempted in
the recent past.
The generals No 1 priority should be to help take care of the dead,
injured
and homeless, and to follow through with a massive rebuilding of essential
public services. Tragically, the chances of that happening are slim
indeed.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/opinion_story.php?art_id=11792
=====
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