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William Shatner Main Discussion - Why won't the Goverment of Burma accept help

britstarfan - May 09, 2008 - 05:20 PM
Post subject: Why won't the Goverment of Burma accept help

Burma shuns foreign aid workers ..

Burma's military junta says the country is not ready to accept foreign aid workers, amid mounting criticism of its response to the devastating cyclone. The foreign ministry said Burma was happy to accept aid, but insisted it would control the distribution itself.

The statement follows pressure from the United Nations to speed up the issuing of visas to foreign relief experts. The World Food Programme's Paul Risley said the delays were "unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts".

Dozens of aid experts are reported to be waiting for visas in neighbouring Thailand - but the Burmese embassy there has now closed for a public holiday until next Tuesday.

The UN says that up to 1.5 million people may have been affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the Irrawaddy Delta region on Saturday.

Burmese state media say 22,980 people were killed, but there are fears the figure could rise to 100,000. Hundreds of thousands of people have no food, water or shelter. International aid agencies on the ground say they have reached only 10% of those that need help.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 391535.stm

thoughts?

BWW - May 09, 2008 - 05:35 PM
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Military governments seldom welcome outside assistance, it just highlights the fact that they are incapable of governing properly.

Harry_Mudd - May 09, 2008 - 05:40 PM
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Because they are afraid that they will be toppled. They are a very strange entity that may well be overthrown, regardless, by the desperation of the people, who now have nothing whatsoever. For the junta, these are dangerous days...

morgram - May 09, 2008 - 06:08 PM
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The myannar junta is a criminal regime and a pack of murderous thugs who may well be celebrating the devastation the cyclone has wrought on the Burmese people. UN blue helmets should go in and the hell with what the criminal myannar tyrants have to say. NOT ALLOWING humanitarian aid to reach a devastated populace is evil and criminal in every sense of the word.

Batman - May 09, 2008 - 08:22 PM
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morgram wrote:

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. Yeah, yeah! Just sit on your couch watching TVLand and keep talking. Don't really do anything. All talk, no action. Go on over and help if you are so concerned. Quit being a phoney!!

Harry_Mudd - May 09, 2008 - 08:58 PM
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I virtually never agree with anything Morgram says, BUT, I think that the Security Council (NOT just the US) now needs to go into action and get in there. The people are dying unnecessarily! This murderous junta cannot be allowed to continue inflicting pain on these beautiful people. I cannot tell you how heartbroken I am.

I received this news from an American who has lived in Burma for the past 7 years: 'The place [Yangon] is falling into ruin and destitution rapidly. I am very worried. I've never experienced anything like this, and I have spent the last 15 years of my life living in dicy places.'

Harry_Mudd - May 09, 2008 - 09:03 PM
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Batman wrote:

Go on over and help if you are so concerned.

I'll tell you this, I would be there in a heartbeat, if I knew I could help on the ground... That's if they would give me a visa!

The internet is a vital tool for my activities against the government and for keeping awareness of efforts in the Pro-Democracy Movement and with now raising funds for relief work. Do what you can, please, guys. I AM LIVID THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING AID AND RELIEF WORKERS INTO THE COUNTRY! LIVID!!!

littlestar - May 09, 2008 - 09:56 PM
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Some people WILL get through all the blockades Harry....

Debb - May 10, 2008 - 02:27 AM
Post subject: Re: Why won't the Goverment of Burma accept help

(caution: Debb is going to use more than 10 words...)

There are two motivating forces in our world.

GREED and FEAR

Both are present in this case

The Myanmar Government FEAR that they will lose face (pride is a factor) that they could not help their own citizens.

The Myanmar Government and military are also facing the same crisis as civilians. Therefore, there own needs come first. Ergo GREED.

Should they let foreign aid workers in to witness where and how the emergency items are being used for their own personnel rather than the citizens in the path of destruction, then they have a public relations catastophe on their hands as well as a humanitarian one. PRIDE

britstarfan wrote:

morgram - May 10, 2008 - 07:34 AM
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Harry_Mudd wrote:

Damn straight, Harry.

Debb - May 13, 2008 - 01:59 AM
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Burma. or Myanmar if you prefer, has an army of at least 400,000 strong.

That's bigger than the population of some countries ... ie. Bahamas.

Feeding a military that large comes at the expense of the citizens; whether its peacetime, wartime, or natural disaster.