tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137997322301347949.post3134357914239277237..comments2023-07-04T06:58:32.627-04:00Comments on View on the News: Get out of the way ... or elseMoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612323587459830074noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137997322301347949.post-83478524195139963772008-05-10T10:40:00.000-04:002008-05-10T10:40:00.000-04:00A Saturday update on the aid situation in Myanmar ...A Saturday update on the aid situation in Myanmar (Burma):<BR/>The country's military dictators are starting to allow in more outside assistance but are still blocking foreign aid workers who could help assess needs and get relief to those who most need it. But, obviously, that is not the junta's primary concern, as evidenced by this report from the Associated Press this morning:<BR/><BR/>YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's military regime distributed international aid Saturday but plastered the boxes with the names of top generals in an apparent effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise. <BR/>The United Nations sent in three more planes and several trucks loaded with aid, though the junta took over its first two shipments. The government agreed to let a U.S. cargo plane bring in supplies Monday, but foreign disaster experts still were being barred entry.<BR/>Despite international appeals to postpone a referendum on a controversial proposed constitution, voting began Saturday in all but the hardest hit parts of the country. With voters going to the polls, state-run television continuously ran images of top generals including junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, handing out boxes of aid at elaborate ceremonies.<BR/>"We have already seen regional commanders putting their names on the side of aid shipments from Asia, saying this was a gift from them and then distributing it in their region," said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, which campaigns for human rights and democracy in the country.<BR/>"It is not going to areas where it is most in need," he said in London.Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472711158045753698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137997322301347949.post-73575150335112038262008-05-09T17:04:00.000-04:002008-05-09T17:04:00.000-04:00If they don't want foreign media in their country,...If they don't want foreign media in their country, that's their business and not worth fighting over, but when potentially hundreds of thousands of people could starve or die of preventable diseases, that's where I would draw the line.Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10472711158045753698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137997322301347949.post-38996376136598054762008-05-09T16:32:00.000-04:002008-05-09T16:32:00.000-04:00I'd heard in another report that prior to the gove...I'd heard in another report that prior to the government siezing a shipment and turning others away that one of the shipments arrived with an unauthorized search-and-rescue team and media representatives on board. <BR/><BR/>While I certainly don't agree with the Myanmar government standing in the way, we Westerners certainly aren't helping our case any by sending unauthorized people and expecting to just be welcomed with open arms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com