Good call, Minister Yeo

Countries must accept autonomy of Myanmar, China when extending help
By Channel NewsAsia's China Bureau Chief Maria Siow | Posted: 17 May 2008 2203 hrs

BEIJING : Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo has said that even as regional countries extend a helping hand to Myanmar and China, they have to accept the autonomy of these countries.

That is because only they know their internal situations better.

Mr Yeo was speaking to reporters at the end of an eight-day official visit to North Korea and China on Saturday.

Even though the disasters in China and Myanmar were of comparable magnitude, Mr Yeo noted that any outside assistance can only be supplementary.

Thus, even though reports coming out from Myanmar were troubling, neighbouring countries must wait for the Myanmar government to indicate what further assistance is needed.

Mr Yeo said, "Many western countries feel that much more should be done and perhaps it should be forced on them, but I don't see how these can be done, because if you try to do that, you make the situation worse and (this) will only increase the suffering of the people in Myanmar."

On China's response to the Sichuan earthquake, Mr Yeo said Beijing was completely on top of the situation.

He said, "Watching first Premier Wen (Jiabao) and President Hu (Jintao) expressing solidarity to the Sichuan people, urging rescue workers on, giving hope to those anxiously waiting for friends and relatives, I believe they will emerge stronger, more united, more resilient from the quake."

But Mr Yeo also noted that China will have to depend on its own efforts, adding it may not necessarily be useful to have too many foreign aid workers in the country.

Yes, Minister Yeo, because the Burmese government has obviously shown much aplomb and concern for its citizens by stealing aid meant for the victims. By this rationale, a higher fatalities estimate is just like the high score for a video game - the more, the merrier. This is the same government whose incredible knowledge of its internal situation has led it to prioritise a referendum over national disaster. This is the same government that is ultimately allowing more of its people to die through inaction under a shroud of secrecy, firstly by not sending out adequate warning, and now by denying aid organisations access to disaster areas.

Funny how this can be construed as a sovereignty issue, when this is patently a humanitarian crisis. Short of not getting aid and denying from thirst, hunger, water-borne diseases, how exactly can things get worse for the people of Myanmar? Hmn, I don't know. Perhaps what Minister Yeo alludes to is the upbeat possibility that by the time the aid workers get through to the disaster areas, there's no need to administer any aid at all.

No need for a search and rescue mission if all you need to do is wait for a week or two and let things turn into a retrieve and record mission. At least the body count should be accurate.

Welcome to the Jungle

While Rangoon still struggles to recover from Cyclone Nargis that hit Myanmar/Burma's coastal regions, there seems to be little mention of Naypyidaw, the happily new and shining capital that the Burmese junta built. As the southern states in Burma languish from the ineptitude of the Burmese army, one has to wonder the true extent of the damage done by the cyclone. Some estimates state that the death toll could soar to 100,000 if aid isn't given to those who need it.

For people in the worst-hit areas, perhaps aid is already too late. Though the first trickle of relief from the UN has finally arrived, there aren't enough qualified people from the pertinent organisations to direct the aid and ensure that it reaches disaster areas of the highest priority. For the unfortunate victims of Cyclone Nargis, I think it's too little too late as they contend with a lack of food, water and shelter.

Surely the junta, tucked away in their lofty capital in the jungles, should assume the heaviest of responsibilities. Their distrust of foreign powers has cost many, many lives, and as they sit around in their macho uniforms twiddling their thumbs, more will perish. Sadly, I think cyclone Nargis might have done the junta more good than disservice, especially when you consider that the areas hit and the people affected.

Cyclone Nargis swept through the low-lying states, and Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago Divisions and Mon and Kayin States. The Kayin and Ayeyarwady states have large numbers of Karen, of whom are considered the most abject ethnic group in Burma (which says quite a lot for a regime used to shooting monks). It would come as a big surprise to anyone if the Junta were to get misty-eyed over the loss of the same people who've formed rebel groups to combat the government in their over-eager oppression. Then again, if you consider that the junta haven't gained much popularity since the free elections in 1990 (that they resoundingly lost), a higher death toll would automatically translate to a more better polling result for them.

Furthermore, with the upcoming constitutional referendum on May 24th, it's reasonable to expect the junta to encourage people to forget about silly things like the Burmese constitution and deal with more pressing issues like fighting off infection, disease, starvation and... figuring out how bury the bloated corpses of your neighbours. For the people of Burma, there is little hope for their future, and even less respite as the junta rule with a disaffected hand from their jungled city.

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For those who are interested in learning more about this disaster and how you can help, please visit http://www.irrawaddy.org , http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk or contact your local UN office to find out what you can do.