Burmese junta dooming its citizens with aid refusal

The Burmese junta's decision to block foreign search and rescue teams after the deadly cyclone is tantamount to a death sentence for thousands of people who are unreachable or trapped in areas surrounded by floating dead bodies and without food and shelter.

Cholera, malaria and dengue are sure to spread in these conditions. It seems that international patience is fast wearing thin for the Burmese junta's indifference to humanitarian assistance in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

Frustrations to get things moving are so great that Bernard Kouchner, France's foreign minister and the founder of Doctors Without Borders, said that the UN should consider forcing aid on Burma if the junta doesn't accept it. "We are seeing at the United Nations if we can't implement the responsibility to protect, given that food, boats and relief teams are there, and obtain a United Nations resolution, which authorises the delivery and imposes this on the Burmese government," he told reporters in Paris.

 The concept of "responsibility to protect" was recognised by the United Nations in 2005. Accordingly, if a government fails in its responsibility to protect its citizens, either willingly or unwillingly, humanitarian intervention can follow, even if this means intervention that violates national sovereignty.

Most recently, an American official, Ky Luu, director of the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, raised eyebrows by saying that an airdrop without the approval of the Burmese junta was one option being considered, as it continued to stall on accepting assistance from the United States. However, Defence Secretary Robert Gates quickly shot the idea down saying that he couldn't imagine it happening.

It would be absurd for the Burmese junta not to take advantage of the US's enormous ability to deliver aid quickly, which it demonstrated after the 2004 tsunami.

For now, the junta's first priority should be to help the people in devastated areas as soon as possible and abandon its constitutional referendum for the moment. The junta should also bear in mind that by failing to act quickly and decisively, thousands of additional lives may be lost unnecessarily when the means and ways to prevent that loss are available within easy reach. Consequently, the junta is going to be held responsible and guilty by the international community for its failed judgement and playing God with the lives of the unfortunate suffering people of the cyclone devastated areas.

Sai Wansai

Bangkok

Bangkok must step up and start airdrops if necessary

The human tragedy in Burma continues to focus on the continued lack of action on the part of the junta to provide basic emergency services, food and shelter for the millions affected by Cyclone Nargis. Humanitarian efforts are being thwarted from every direction by dictators dedicated to holding on to their power base by any means necessary.

Meanwhile more Burmese will die while humanitarian aid is refused and thousands of aid workers are refused entry into the county.

Thailand should do more to cajole or force its neighbour to allow relief efforts. Thailand should airdrop essential supplies into Burma to be used for the rescue of thousands of children, women and men currently dying at the hands of their government.

Is it just me, or is it odd that the dictators in Burma will readily accept cash - but not food, clean water, medical supplies or temporary shelter along with aid workers to participate in rescue operations?

David Barkdull

Bangkok

     send us your views in an instant!

E-mail your opinion, with 'Letters to the Editor' in

the subject box, to:

letters@nationgroup.com