BURMA CYCLONE

[The understudy]

News Update!

After France now the German Government is also considering Helping the Burmese poeple even without the aproval of the Junta Regime. On German News Channel n-tv it has been reported that a UNWFP ship loaded with supplies had sunk in front of the Burmese Coast.
And According to the German News Paper "Der Koellner Stadtanzeiger" from reliable sources says: "Any attempt dropping humanitarian supplies by Air will result of the imediate shooting down of that Helicopter or Aircraft by the Millitary Government of Burma!" Spokes Person to the Junta Regime!

Though: I would risk it anyways to help the Burmese People who are clearly in dispair. If the Junta really do shoot down a Aircraft filled with Humanitarian Supplies than the World should act swiftly without hesitation and Remove the Junta immediatly!!!
Question: Why is China so freaking Silent on Burma and when it comes to UN resolutions always Veto! Isn't a case of abuse of Veto Power or a case of vested interest!

Your's The understudy!!!

[frankbangkok]

Time Magazine on invading Burma: The longer Burma resists offers of help, the more likely it is that the disaster will devolve beyond anyone's control. "We're in 2008, not 1908," says Jan Egeland, the former U.N. emergency relief coordinator. "A lot is at stake here. If we let them get away with murder we may set a very dangerous precedent."

That's why it's time to consider a more serious option: invading Burma. Some observers, including former USAID director Andrew Natsios, have called on the U.S. to unilaterally begin air drops to the Burmese people regardless of what the junta says. The Bush Administration has so far rejected the idea — "I can't imagine us going in without the permission of the Myanmar government," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday — but it's not without precedent: as Natsios pointed out to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. has facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid without the host government's consent in places like Bosnia and Sudan.

A coercive humanitarian intervention would be complicated and costly. During the 2004 tsunami, some 24 U.S. ships and 16,000 troops were deployed in countries across the region; the mission cost the U.S. $5 million a day. Ultimately, the U.S. pledged nearly $900 million to tsunami relief. (By contrast, it has offered just $3.25 million to Burma.) But the risks would be greater this time: the Burmese government's xenophobia and insecurity make them prone to view U.S. troops — or worse, foreign relief workers — as hostile forces. (Remember Black Hawk Down?) Even if the U.S. and its allies made clear that their actions were strictly for humanitarian purposes, it's unlikely the junta would believe them. "You have to think it through — do you want to secure an area of the country by military force? What kinds of potential security risks would that create?" says Egelend. "I can't imagine any humanitarian organization wanting to shoot their way in with food."

Also, in my opinion, Burma does not fall within the United States' or Europe's strategic sphere of interest. While the US and Europe will do their best to volunteer assistance, they will not resort to military force to save these people. While Burma is truly a sad case, these people live in a country that is not on the forefront of strategic international importance. Thus, sadly, the will of the junta will most likely prevail for now. Were this another country in another time, perhaps history would treat these people more kindly. But the sad reality is that there is simply no compelling strategic reason for the United States to use its military might to force a solution to Burma's political problems at this time. For the United States, they simply have larger fish to fry, and the socialist countries of Europe no longer have the capability to act militarilly.

[dtaai-maai]

Also, in my opinion, Burma does not fall within the United States' or Europe's strategic sphere of interest.

Which is really the only relevant factor. Nor did Bosnia, not really (a token effort at best), nor did Rwanda, most definitely. Black Hawk Down was based in Somalia, where the population was mostly hostile to the West. The people in Burma would welcome 'regime change' with open arms.

It's a bit of a shame really that as soon as a country has nothing that the US and maybe a few token EU nations need it no longer falls within their 'sphere of interest'.

I'm sure there must be a few WMD hidden somewhere in Burma.

[huahinsimon]

With regards to China's involvement, I think it might be a mistake to link the disaster in Burma with the Summer Olympics. China and its people are extremely sensitive on the subject of the olympics and for any governmental body to threaten China's olympics over this disaster would bring nothing but international outrage. A more diplomatic approach to
China could be made, but my money would be on Thailand having a better response to such diplomatic pressure.

I have to disagree here FB, I think it would be a mistake NOT to link China's response to Burmese crisis to the Olympics. The Chinese govt is playing the free world for a sucker on the Olympics. That 'around the world tourch parade' and up to the top of Mt Everest generated so much Western press coverage it made me sick. To see CNN, BBC, CNBC, and probably more channels than I can get kissing China's arse with sappy sentimental coverage, esp the woman on top of Mt Everest was a thing of disgust.

The Tibetans timed their uprising to coincide with the Olympics and got little support from the West. I'm not a historian on Tibet, but since when was Tibet a part of China?

FB wrote: China and its people are extremely sensitive on the subject of the olympics and for any governmental body to threaten China's olympics over this disaster would bring nothing but international outrage.


So let'em be sensitive, let'em be outraged. The Tibetans are sensitive too. This dissident in China are sensitive and outraged. Look at the pictures of executions of dissident you can find on the internet and you will be outraged too. I can see from interviews of Chinese people on the streets by TV reporters that most Chinese think China is CORRECT in its occupation of Tibet. They are proud of the new strength of China and, I read between the lines, that they are willing to go to war against the world to secure or make China's place in "new world history."

The longer the free world kisses China's arse the worse will be the consequences. As soon as the Olympics are over be prepared for a new surge for Taiwan. Taiwan is China, they say. Maybe so, but those Chinese dont want to be communist. This new Chinese nationalism will lead to war just like Nazi German nationalism lead to war. So eat, drink and be merry people cause as soon as the Olympic celebration is over those sensitive Chinese are going to destroy the relative tranquility of our world in a big, big, way. I see no olive branches coming from China.

I wonder what role the Russians will play in all this as they too are on a new resergence of nationalism and spending huge amounts again on their armed forces thanks to the boom in natural resources, oil and gas, that they are selling to the world.

Oh, and where are those peace loving, generous Muslim countries in this aid for Burma? Either they aren't there or the world press is doing a poor job in reporting who is giving what? What I see is the already broke and mortgaged USA in the fore front again, sticking a fork in itself. Would be nice for "our friends" the Saudis and the oil rich Emerits to pick up the check for the cost of aid relief to Burma. They may not have a delivery system but they sure as hell have the bank book. I would be positive PR to offset the terrorist PR. All I see them doing with their money is building casinos, hotels, golf courses, shopping malls, etc.

Or am I going wrong?

HHS

[margaretcarnes]

Chinas immediate deployment of troops to help in its' own disaster area yesterday was in glaring contrast to the continuing inactivity in Burma.
I watched two live news reports from the Friendship Bridge on Sunday - several hours apart. Both times there was no traffic over the bridge at all.
Burmese Generals are now allowing some supplies in, and putting their own names as donors on the the parcels. Sadly it's all much too little and too late.
Certainly the Great British Public seem to be wising up to these situations. Donations so far are reported to be much less than was collected in the aftermath of the Tsunami, and I have yet to see any collections at all on the streets or in the shops as happened before.
Maybe people are becoming immune to disasters - maybe they are starting to realise that cash tends to go missing - or maybe they are just struggling to survive themselves now. Whatever, there certainly seems to be a rising tide of public opinion which is saying 'take care of number one'

[santa]

Actually, one of the first countries to send aid was Kuwait. Their plane was allowed to land, and the junta took the supplies.

[Spitfire]

Donor fatigue may well be a problem as margaretcarnes says and I'm sure much of the money will get diverted to other suspect areas within Burma.

The Burmese government is simply using this disaster to shore up their political position with the Burmese people( as they are so scared of Ang Sung Su Chi ) while getting others to pay for it, as no credit will be given inside Burma to the help that has come from outside the country.

[frankbangkok]

Comparing Burma's response to its cyclone with China's response to its earthquake is like night and day. Burma is a corrupt, third world country being run by uncaring thugs, while China's leadership deserves credit for its humanitarian response. This is usually how it goes and one can tell third world countries by these very acts. We see it over and over, third world countries are what they are because of the ways of their third world leadership.

[Spitfire]

A country can often be judged by the way it treats those that needs its help, particulary its own citizens.

[frankbangkok]

Here in Thailand many foreigners use an expression which expresses their frustration with the third world ways which are often encountered even here: TIT - This Is Thailand.

[caller]

I thought China was one of the countries vetoing aid to Burma by not supporting drops and the like.

I won't give to Burma unless and when I can be satisfied it will go to those that need it.

I guess that will be never?

It will make the UN and everyone redundent if the generals come through this unscathed. China will have the pipeline soon, guarentees can be given by the west and that should be an end of it, and them.

Easy, eh?

[Spitfire]

Good call, Caller (excuse the pun).

[robby hh]

Was wondering what TL the friend neighbour and business partner of Burma ,after the PM's visit, was doing to help.
The lady tells me it said last night on the Thai news (Nation I think) that TL was "selling" water and mama noodles and was planning to give US$1mill. Said the news presenters doubted that it would get past the pockets of the generals.

[buksida]

Here is an interesting twist and hardly surprising given the education levels and government propaganda we're talking about:

History means some Thais shed no tears for Myanmar
It takes more than a natural disaster to wipe out centuries of bad blood.

In Thailand, where school books and movies overflow with tales of atrocities and brutality by invading Burmese armies, the devastation wrought by Cyclone Nargis has left some people thinking Myanmar only got what it deserved.

At the official level, Bangkok has pulled out all the stops to help in the wake of the May 3 disaster, which has killed up to 100,000 people and left 1.5 million more clinging to survival in the Irrawaddy delta.

Thailand was the first country to fly in aid and some of its biggest companies were among the first to pledge donations in cash and kind. Its revered royal family also donated supplies of food, blankets, water and mosquito nets.

Its Prime Minister also tried many times to intercede on behalf of the United Nations, appealing -- in vain, it now seems -- to the generals in charge of Myanmar to throw their doors open to a massive international aid operation.

But some Thais feel that the country's ancient foe immediately to the west got what it deserved for destroying the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya in 1569 and 1767.

Full Story: Reuters

[sandman67]

Buksi

its the same all over mate....moving west we have India and Pakistan still fighting over the division after we pulled out. Closer to home we have a whole raft of nutters who still think the calendar says its 1916...... sad.

Latest from the Beeb is that SadSak has dragged his useless self over the border to try to persuade the generals to clear UN and other disaster relief workers visa's......not the negotiator I would have sent but then maybe it will work.

The real double whammy is there is another potential typhoon/cyclone brewing up in the sea off Rangoon....

"The potential for the development of a significant tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours is good with the only limitation being temporary land interaction," the Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center said on its website.