=====
Zomi says:
It is very disappointing, very frustrating and very tragic to see the SPDC
being insensitive to the needs of the people in distress.
Highlights:
Another blogger, who calls herself May Burma, blamed the storm's
devastation
on corruption and dissipation in Myanmar society.
"Burmese used to say that our country never had natural disaster since we
have our religion, culture and so many arhats [spiritual practitioners],
pure monks and sayadaws [senior monks]. This is not the case anymore
lately," she wrote.
Meanwhile, Myanmar military authorities were attempting to prevent the
monks
from getting involved in relief efforts, Irrawaddy said. Learn more about
Myanmar »
"Burmese military officials ordered monks not to use monasteries as safe
houses for survivors and, according to journalists in Rangoon, the
Ministry
of Information ordered news agencies not to publish photographs of
Buddhist
monks aiding survivors, working in the streets or rebuilding homes," the
Web
site alleged.
In the southern delta region, the soldiers who were seen were clearing
downed trees, not delivering aid, Rivers said.
The Irrawaddy site alleged local officials in Yangon were charging storm
victims for tin-roofing material. It said officials' relatives were buying
up the material and reselling it at a 600 percent markup.
=====
Bloggers describe 'sad moment' for Myanmar
By Jim Kavanagh
CNN
Story Highlights
* Web sites deliver eyewitness reports from inside devastated country
* One blogger blames corruption in Myanmar society for storm's havoc
* Opposition site says military government fails to help victims,
skews
news
* Buddhist monks trying to feed, house displaced people, witnesses say
(CNN) -- Eyewitness reports on the devastation and suffering left in the
wake of Tropical Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar trickled out Wednesday by way
of
Web sites and blogs.
==
Photo:
art.myanmar.damage.irpt.jpg
Power lines are down in Yangon after the cyclone struck Myanmar in a photo
from iReport contributor Erik Hetrick.
more photos »
==
"This is indeed a very sad moment for all Myanmar people," blogger Myat
Thura wrote from neighboring Thailand.
More than 22,000 people have died, according to estimates from Myanmar's
state-run media. Another 40,000 are believed to be missing, according to
the
estimates, and 1 million have been left homeless since the storm hit last
weekend in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
"They are my people and it hurts me so much. Why our Burmese people have
to
suffer such kind of hardship? Why us?" Myat Thura wrote.
Another blogger, who calls herself May Burma, blamed the storm's
devastation
on corruption and dissipation in Myanmar society.
"Burmese used to say that our country never had natural disaster since we
have our religion, culture and so many arhats [spiritual practitioners],
pure monks and sayadaws [senior monks]. This is not the case anymore
lately," she wrote.
A blogger called Rule of Lords claimed to translate reports from Thai
television station Yoma 3 into English.
==
Video:
Watch a firsthand report from a devastated village »
==
According to Rule of Lords, the station quoted eyewitnesses who said
refugees were pouring into Laputta, even though the storm flattened the
city
of 50,000.
"There was water, rain and wind," an eyewitness told Yoma 3, Rule of Lords
related. "The shore road was submerged and on the high ground the water
was
at knee level. The whole town was under water. There were heavy waves all
over, and water snakes. Some died from the snakes.
"There has been no help. No one has anywhere to stay. No work, there's
nothing. We're just sticking together at the monastery," the witness told
the station, according to Rule of Lords.
==
iReport.com: Watch video of a baby being carried through the storm
==
The Irrawaddy, an opposition news Web site, quoted a doctor who said
Buddhist monks were helping victims as much as they could.
"Monks and young people in each town collected money and rice after the
storm, and they cooked rice soup for the survivors," the physician said,
Irrawaddy reported.
In one monastery in the township of Bogalay, about 600 people waited for
aid, said CNN correspondent Dan Rivers, who is in the devastated region.
The
monks there said they had enough food for two days and no prospects of
getting more.
Meanwhile, Myanmar military authorities were attempting to prevent the
monks
from getting involved in relief efforts, Irrawaddy said. ==
Learn more about Myanmar »
==
"Burmese military officials ordered monks not to use monasteries as safe
houses for survivors and, according to journalists in Rangoon, the
Ministry
of Information ordered news agencies not to publish photographs of
Buddhist
monks aiding survivors, working in the streets or rebuilding homes," the
Web
site alleged.
Rangoon is the former name of Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and its
economic center.
"The newspapers said the ruling generals and troops encouraged and aided
survivors," a dentist told Irrawaddy on Wednesday. "But this has quickly
become a standing joke among people in Rangoon. We now say soldiers can
only
be seen in newspapers -- nowhere else.
=====
Myanmar sites
http://myatthura.blogspot.com
http://www.mayburma.com
http://ratchasima.net
http://www.Irrawaddy.org
http://jotman.blogspot.com
=====
"My house was destroyed," he added. "But I don't see any officials coming
to
visit me."
A news program on state television showed video of soldiers in helicopters
delivering bags of rice and containers of water to people, but it was
unclear where in Myanmar the footage was shot, CNN's Rivers reported.
==
Map »
==
In the southern delta region, the soldiers who were seen were clearing
downed trees, not delivering aid, Rivers said.
The Irrawaddy site alleged local officials in Yangon were charging storm
victims for tin-roofing material. It said officials' relatives were buying
up the material and reselling it at a 600 percent markup.
"Toilets are overflowing," Laputta resident Aye Kyu said, according to
Irrawaddy. "If aid does not arrive soon, people will starve to death. I
beg
both the government and international agencies to get emergency aid to
Laputta as soon as possible."
A blogger named Jotman noted the storm devastated Myanmar's main
rice-growing region.
"This disaster could not have come at a worse time for Burma and the
world;
the effects of Cyclone Nargis may be felt far beyond the shores of Burma,"
Jotman wrote. "Because if the Burmese people are to be fed, the food may
have to come from somewhere else.
"It is conceivable that the cyclone will drive up rice and food prices
worldwide, and exacerbate global shortages."
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/07/myanmar.blogs/index.html
=====
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