May 9, Democratic Voice of Burma
Burma's victims need help right now - Bo Kyi
The secretary-general of the United Nations and the leaders and foreign
ministers of many nations including the United States, China, France and
the UK have all urged the Burmese regime to allow international aid into
the country to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis.
The situation in Burma is becoming increasingly desperate. Most peripheral
towns south of Rangoon, like Kungyan Gone, Kawhmu, Kayan and Thongwa, are
still heavily flooded and only accessible by helicopter.
Tens of thousands of families are still stranded in their farm houses,
surrounded by sea water. No help has reached the area yet, and the death
toll in the area is likely to continue rising.
Yesterday, donations of rice from merchants in Rangoon began to arrive in
Bogolay, one of the hardest-hit towns in Irrawaddy division.
Donors reported tragic scenes of families searching for loved ones amongst
the corpses. No-one has the capacity to deal with the thousands of dead
bodies scattered everywhere, increasing the risk of disease.
About 25,000 injured and traumatized survivors from Latputta and Mawgyun
townships in Irrawaddy division were picked up by boats and carried to
safety in Myaungmya. The regime ordered local people to provide food.
But the locals have quickly run out of rice and medicines, clean water,
food and clothing are all urgently required, with 5,000 more survivors
expected to arrive in Myaungmya tomorrow.
In Rangoon division, people in Hlaing Tharyar, North and South Dagon,
Shwepyithar, Dawpone, Dala, Seikkyi Kanaungdo, Thanlyin and Kyauktan areas
were among the hardest hit.
Relief provided by the regime in these areas has been inadequate, angering
local people. Local authorities have assumed complete control over aid
distribution in the area, with the Union Solidarity and Development
Association giving some aid to local people merely as a token gesture.
In Rangoon itself, suburban areas of the city are now becoming accessible,
but electricity and water supplies are still cut off. Many people have to
rely on lakes on the outskirts of the city for water.
In downtown Rangoon, state-sponsored agencies like the USDA are selling
construction materials such as zinc roofing and nails rather than giving
it away. Rangoon is the only place in the storm-hit area where clean
drinking water is available, but at vastly inflated prices.
In spite of this desperate situation, the Burmese regime has been slow to
accept international aid and still refuses international expertise.
The regime's refusal to issue visas to relief experts is unprecedented,
according to the UN. The country is technologically poor, and the regime
does not have the expertise or the capacity to effectively manage the aid
operation. The regime can ill-afford to refuse this help.
If the international community - particularly the United States, the UK,
France and China - cannot get access to Burma to help victims, even more
people will lose their lives.
The authorities have stated that they are only willing to accept money and
aid. This allows them to maintain their absolute grip on power and,
through their propaganda machine inside Burma, the illusion that they are
the benevolent ones who are providing aid to the people.
The regime is still determined to go ahead with the referendum on its
draft state constitution. Its obsession with legitimacy and refusal to
postpone the referendum nationwide in favour of focusing efforts on
delivering aid is costing Burmese lives.
Now is the time to go into Burma and deliver the help that is so
desperately needed, with or without the regime's permission.
The United Nations must give an ultimatum to Than Shwe's regime, calling
for permission to enter the country within the next 48 hours. If Than
Shwe's regime ignores the ultimatum, the UN should enter Burma without his
permission.
Burma does not belong to Than Shwe and his army. Burma belongs to 57
million people. Now nearly two million people are suffering and need
water, shelter, medicine and food immediately.
The people of Burma cannot wait any longer; too many will die.
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