Referendum during a national disaster

Photo Sen. Gen. Than Shwe from News Today

The referendum in Burma (the country whose military dictators choose to call Myanmar) went ahead on Saturday, and thanks to soldiers with guns ensuring that people not only obeyed the law by voting, but could not vote “NO”. The military who rule the country were pleased, their state media which gives little coverage to the cyclone disaster which has already killed tens of thousands reported a “massive turnout” and said that polling stations were kept open longer to deal with the queues.

Meanwhile Radio Netherlands reports:

The relief effort is still facing difficulties, largely because
Myanmar’s military rulers is continuing to bar foreign aid agencies.
Local doctors say the situation is chaotic: hospitals are overcrowded
and medicine is in very short supply.

There are also reports that:

The generals appeared on TV handing out boxes on which, in a clumsy
publicity stunt, they stamped their own names over those of the
original donors.

I guess as Ruth writes the only “good news is that because foreign aid workers are prohibited from helping, the local churches are the ones being resourced to help their own communities.” Which is not only a sensible approach in the circumstances, but a much more development-friendly policy.

Cyclone relief

Ruth Corlett (Partners) wrote:

Here’s the latest we heard today from one of our colleagues working in Rangoon:

1. Foreign aid workers found helping people in public are being detained and their organisations threatened with being shut down.
2. Foreign aid workers are not allowed to meet planes arriving with aid supplies, instead the Burmese Army are unloading the supplies and taking it off to unknown destinations (some say to sell for profit)
3. The US has apparently threatened to airdrop aid (without waiting for official permission) into affected areas. Burma Army has said they will shoot at planes flying illegally
4. There are already reports of scattered civil unrest and looting in downtown Yangon.
5. We have heard that the main sea port is inaccessible due to the fact that over 20 large ships sank in the channel. This is problematic because this is the primary conduit for fuel. There is concern among relief agencies that fuel and food shortages are real possibilities. However, the general population seems unaware of this potentially grave issue.
6. If food scarcity and shortage does occur, there is a real
   possibility of wide-spread civil unrest. The US embassy is recommending that all non-essential personnel evacuate the country immediately because of this concern.
7. The general population is very angry towards the government and it’s anemic response to the disaster.

As we bring relief assets to the orphanages and churches with whom we partner, we will not only be helping them but also providing them with the necessary resources to help their immediate communities.

May the Power of Good win over the Power of Evil… and soon.

In the circumstances, it seems that aid that reaches Burma by the back door is safer and more effective than aid through normal official channels. From all the evidence it is urgent that aid arrives quickly.

Here’s what Ruth reports that Partners have already been doing:

• Thursday night we sent a truck to Rangoon with 500 boxes of Vitameal (high protein meals) and 100 rolls of plastic sheeting (for shelter)
• Right now, shipping items in by land is the only way we can get relief supplies to those who need them.
• Sent $5,000 and a Satellite phone to Rangoon via a trusted courier on Thursday to an American Dr we are connected with who is able to get help to those who need it, and will be meeting with him in Chiang Mai on Sunday to find out exactly what is needed and how we can respond further.
• Today (Friday) and over the weekend we will be meeting with Karen pastors to assist us in the distribution of resources inside Burma. In the delta region hit worst, half of those effected are Karen, and the church there is very strong so we are keen to provide the resources to the local church leaders to help their own people.
• Also, today we will be meeting with individuals that can assist us with securing rice to send into affected areas as well.

Pray with us that the help and resources these suffering people need will get through…..past the heartless ones in power.

In the circumstances it sounds as if the best thing to do with money raised on Sunday 18th is to send it to cyclone relief via Partners, rather than to try to help the IDP school. We will get books to the school later. So, if you are thinking of inviting friends to the party – and do invite people, they do not need to know me to come to the party! – tell them the money raised will go to cyclone relief, and that it will actually get to the people who need it, rather than getting ripped off like the official aid that goes through Rangoon. (The NZ Herald and other news agencies are reporting that aid was being unloaded by soldiers and transported to unknown destinations, perhaps to be sold by army officers.)

Photos from TZA on Flickr

Cyclone and the refugee camps

A statement from the TBBC (Thailand Burma Border Consortium – the organisation that runs the camps) dated the 7th says:

The refugee camps haven’t been directly affected by the cyclone and the damages are minor. TBBC have had reports on a few houses washed away in Mae La camp due to heavy rain. Although Mon and Karen States were declared as disaster areas by SPDC, initial reports from our partners suggest that there have been no significant problems in the conflict areas. This is however subject to confirmation as no reports have yet been received from one or two vulnerable areas.

Cyclone Nargis

Tropical cyclone Nargis hit much of Burma on Saturday, at first it sounded as if only Yangon (Rangoon) was badly affected, and the death toll was estimated at 10,000. As time passed it became clear that the cyclone had pushed much further east. Quickly even the Myanmar military government declared the Irrawaddy delta, the Pegu Division and Mon and Karen States disaster zones.

As the biggest city, and the easiest place to get information, most of the coverage has focused on the effects of the storm in the city. The military government is being slow to permit International aid agencies into the country to assess the needs and provide assistance. Meanwhile the official death figures continue to rise, and patchy reports from more distant areas suggest it will be considerably higher than the 22,500 announced yesterday by the government.

I have not so far managed to find any news that directly indicates the impact of the cyclone on the Karen people, though the fact that Karen State was listed by the government as one of the disaster areas does not bode well. It is urgent that aid reach affected areas quickly. However, the situation is complicated by the government’s determination to go ahead with the controversial referendum on Saturday on a new constitution drafted by the military dictators. The 47 areas worst hit by the storms will be exempted from Saturday’s vote, and will vote on 24 May.

As mismanagement and corruption in the administration continue to impact relief efforts there is also a danger that the Junta’s fear of impartial observers may cause further delay in granting visas. The Irrawaddy News reports Aung Naing Oo, a Burmese political analyst, as saying that: “The ruling generals don’t want to see many international
agencies, aid workers or rescue teams near the referendum or during the
referendum.”

This is a situation where your prayers are needed!