Myanmar Turns Away U.S. Cyclone Aid

Junta Claims Assistance Comes "With Strings Attached"; Fears U.S. Wants To Seize Its Oil

(AP)  Myanmar shunned a U.S. proposal for naval ships to deliver aid to cyclone victims on Wednesday, according to state-run media, dimming hopes that the vessels could provide a major boost to relief efforts.

The New Light of Myanmar, a mouthpiece for Myanmar's ruling junta, said that such assistance "comes with strings attached" that are "not acceptable to the people of Myanmar." It cited fears that Washington wants to overthrow the country's government and seize its oil.

The United States, as well as France and Great Britain, have naval vessels loaded with humanitarian supplies off the Myanmar coast, and had been waiting for a green light to deliver them. The article did not say whether the French and British supplies would be allowed.

The state media report said that other U.S. aid airlifted into the country was welcome, an apparent reference to ongoing relief flights, which land in the country about five times a day. American officials are required to hand the aid to Myanmar authorities upon landing in Yangon, from which it is a difficult journey to the Irrawaddy delta.

The four U.S. warships were seen as a major potential boost for the relief effort with the capacity to deliver supplies to inaccessible areas of the delta, with 14 helicopters, two landing craft vessels, two high-tech amphibious hovercraft and about 1,000 U.S. Marines.

The report gave no explanation why the regime was willing to accept aid flown on U.S. planes, with U.S. military personnel on board, but would not allow the warships and helicopters to deliver relief supplies.

Myanmar's xenophobic leaders have long feared an invasion by the United States, a concern that some analysts believe prompted the junta's abrupt decision in 2005 to move the country's capital from Yangon to the remote city of Naypyitaw, which is equipped with bunkers.

Despite Wednesday's announcement, the junta appeared to be slowly relenting to foreign pressure to accept more outside help for an estimated 2.5 million survivors faced with hunger, loss of their homes and potential outbreaks of deadly diseases.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who was headed to Myanmar, said the world body had received permission from the junta to use nine helicopters to carry aid to stranded victims.

"We have received government permission to operate nine WFP (World Food Program) helicopters, which will allow us to reach areas that have so far been largely inaccessible," Ban told reporters in New York on Tuesday before departing for Southeast Asia. His announcement was not immediately confirmed by officials in Myanmar.

"I believe further similar moves will follow, including expediting the visas of (foreign) relief workers seeking to enter the country," Ban said, warning that relief efforts to save survivors of the May 2-3 Cyclone Nargis had reached a "critical moment."

"We have a functioning relief program in place but so far have been able to reach only 25 percent of Myanmar's people in need," he said.

So far, the few foreign aid workers allowed inside the country have been banned from the areas of the worst devastation in the low-lying Irrawaddy delta.

At least 78,000 people were killed in the storm and 56,000 remain missing. European Union nations have warned that Myanmar's junta could be committing a crime against humanity by blocking aid intended for hundreds of thousands of survivors.

Ban arrived in Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand, on Wednesday and was scheduled to fly to Yangon on Thursday. In Myanmar, he was expected to visit areas devastated by the cyclone and to talk with officials and aid workers.

He was also scheduled to attend a meeting of aid donors in Yangon on Sunday. Myanmar, one of the world's poorest nations, claims losses from the disaster exceeded $10 billion.

At U.N. headquarters, Ban welcomed the junta's "recent flexibility" in saying it will allow relief workers from the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations - of which Myanmar is a member - to begin distributing aid.

[beehive21-2009]

The Myanmar government appears paranoid, what are they hiding ?

[al2008-2009]

I*m appalled at the administration*s lack of response to the global warming hurricanes, and cyclones as well. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these cyclones, and mother earth continues to suffer while the administration refuses to go forward and do what*s right for mother earth.
.
How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible regulations into effect? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; he is definitely our best hope.
.
We the people call upon our leaders to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these cyclones and storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms cease. We need action now.

[petro49l]

Rangoon should accept emergency relief. Myanmar needs help recovering from this disaster. Politics and religion has nothing to do with it. The only real problem is saving people from starvation and disease.

[nyeinc]

The caption of CNN video, This is a Critical Moment, May 20, 2008, says, %u201CBefore leaving for Myanmar, U.N. Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon said 25 percent of aid is getting to victims.%u201D This caption is misleading because it implies that the aid has been stolen or wasted and only 25 percent reached to the victims. It is different from saying that %u201Caid has been reaching to only 25 percent of the victims. The latter is what Ban-Ki-moon actually said. Please check and correct this damaging error. I hope that CNN would correct its own mistake and remedy the damage its error, presumed to be unintentional so far, causes.
http:// www. cnn. com/ 2008/ WORLD/ asiapcf/ 05/ 21/ myanmar/ #cnnSTCVideo

[nyeinc]

Burma allows UN helicopters, bans US choppers [and] did express gratitude for supplies already airlifted into Burma by US military aircraft. (The Bangkok Post, May 21, 2008)

[gopsoccermom]

Well get their oil another day.

[nyeinc]

The Burmese government would better help its people by inviting and allowing the disaster assessment teams from ASEAN, World Bank Asian Development Bank, U.S team waiting in Thailand, etc. as soon as possible so that the assessment can be made before the Donor Conference on 25th May. It isn%u2019t better to have the assessment team before the pledging conference? Otherwise, the pledged amounts would be smaller than necessary for Burmese cyclone victims. The Secretary-General of ASEAN emphasized this point. Given the time and efforts demanded for organizing an assessment team, it is better to invite the teams now ready to visit the cyclone-hit areas like U.S team, World Bank team and, to a lesser extent, ASEAN team.

[nyeinc]

It might be a good idea to ask TOTAL and Chevron, as suggested by ASEAN Secretary-General, to help transfer aid from French and U.S. Navy ships to the cyclone-hit regions. TOTAL certainly has more than one helicopter in Burma. At least, the oil-companies can bring the helicopters from the region to help Burmese cyclone victims. Would the French Foreign Minister Kreacher allow TOTAL company to help Burmese cyclone victims?

ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuwan also said a Myanmar cabinet minister told him that French oil giant Total %u2026 was willing to transfer aid and equipment from French and U.S. Navy ships waiting in waters near the former Burma. Minister of Planning and Economic Development Soe Tha "told us Total is going to do the transfer" of aid from the ships, Surin said in an interview with Reuters. %u2026 Total could not immediately be reached for comment. (Grant McCool, Edited by Darren Schuettler and Valerie Lee, Cyclone-hit Myanmar seeks $11 bln in aid %u2013 ASEAN, Reuters, May 21, 2008 10:36am EDT)

[minnick8-2009]

How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible regulations into effect?Posted by AL2008

I don''t understand how more taxes in the U.S.A. are going to stop hurricanes and cyclones? If money is going to stop them, then why doesn''t the treasury just print more of it up?

Al2008, I hate your post about Co2 taxes on every page related to weather.

[obamaslady]

To think that this corrupt military dictatorship could put "secretive junta" BEFORE THE NEEDS of people with no chance of survival is just beyond the imagination! These civilians need help, the help is awaiting permission to deliver assistance, and these b*stards refuse to allow relief and aid - I can only hope and pray there is a special place in h*ll for them and their selfishness! Who cares what name is on the helicopter if it can help the people? What mindless stupidity of the junta - no one wants their country!

[nyeinc]

The European Parliament is threatening to bring the military regime in Myanmar before the International Court of Justice in The Hague for refusing to permit foreign aid organizations to enter the regions affected by cyclone Nargis. It will vote on Thursday on whether to charge the government with crimes against humanity. (European Parliament threatens Myanmar, The Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 21 May 2008 15:23 UTC)

These jokers from Strasbourg, France (or Brussels?) don%u2019t know what they are talking about. Perhaps, they caught the contagious diseases of unrealistic threats from the Burmese regime opponents with whom they came into contact with so often.

[gangesdak]

At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; he is definitely our best hope.
.Posted by AL2008

How wil he cut CO2 pollution by 80%. By wishing and hoping with all the Michael Stivics applauding all around?

[rodartista8]

I guess they don''t trust us.
Would you let Don Corleone help you?

[shawnp1968]

You don''t want our help Myanmar??? Ok.... bye bye!!! Enjoy your disease and dehydration and starvation!!! Hope that works out well for you!!!

[haoli25]

Send Condoleezza over there. They could put a few neck rings on her and have another giraffe woman.

[bobnjersey]

[The New Light of Myanmar, a mouthpiece for Myanmar''s ruling junta, said that such assistance "comes with strings attached" that are "not acceptable to the people of Myanmar." It cited fears that Washington wants to overthrow the country''s government and seize its oil. ]

they have a mouthpiece? we have one of those too ... and you should never trust it.

[nyeinc]

Does CBS kill its reporters if the latter file the reports with less sensational and more accurate headlines like Bangkok Post?

Burma allows UN helicopters, bans US choppers [and] did express gratitude for supplies already airlifted into Burma by US military aircraft. (The Bangkok Post, May 21, 2008)

[nyeinc]

The Burmese government would better help its people by inviting and allowing the disaster assessment teams from ASEAN, World Bank Asian Development Bank, U.S team waiting in Thailand, etc. as soon as possible so that the assessment can be made before the Donor Conference on 25th May. It isn%u2019t better to have the assessment team before the pledging conference? Otherwise, the pledged amounts would be smaller than necessary for Burmese cyclone victims. The Secretary-General of ASEAN emphasized this point. Given the time and efforts demanded for organizing an assessment team, it is better to invite the teams now ready to visit the cyclone-hit areas like U.S team, World Bank team and, to a lesser extent, ASEAN team.

[jen773]

So they don''t want our help. Even if our supplies got in there they wouldn''t go to the people who need them. So forget them, we have people back here who are hungry and would use the supplies. We should take care of our own first.

[michellem99-2009]

Forgive me but I am glad a nation won''t allow aid from America. I am trully sorry they are suffering. By not allowing US aid they are smart in the long run. I never thot I see the day when America is told no thank you from a nation . Thank you.

[gopsoccermom]

I hear its all about Halliburton. I guess they hate America.

[drivelphobe]

Let nature take it''s course. They deserve the government they have and it obviously means thousands will perish. Let the New Light of Myanmar shine brightly.

[nirak2-2009]

Can''t say I blame them for refusing help from the USA which usually has strings attached.

[yongamerica]

The Burmese military dictatorship, being propped up by the Communist Chinese, is getting very little if any aid from their largest supporter. And its not because China doesn''t have a huge cash surplus.

Maybe this disaster can give the Burmese people enough insight and spiritual strength to over come the suppressive tyranny they''ve endured for so many years.

[quetzalcrist]

It is pretty SAD how SHRUB has turned a once
Friendly world so hostile due to his stupidity,
we are now perceived as the Old soviet union once was,
no one trusts us...

[CB_Brooklyn]

How many know there was a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean in September of 2001?

Hurricane Erin was at its largest size, and closest to NYC, on September 11.

A new study from Dr Wood has just been posted. It''s a must read for all those interested in the "black-op" technology that was used on 9/11.

It''s a shame this technology was weaponized and is being used against us instead of for productive purposes:

9/11 Weather Anomalies and Field Effects
by Dr Judy Wood
former Professor of Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University

http://www.drjudywood.com/articles/erin/


One must wonder... why didn''t the media report Hurricane Erin??

[downsteamjim]

It is amazing how many people posting here think that the Junta is right to starve its people. I guess the Pol Pot fan club is going strong.

[on_alert247]

For some of the half-wits posting here that think the military junta''s desire not to accept American aid is based on America''s prestige, let me point out a few facts: 1) The UN chief Ban Ki-Moon had until yesterday not had any of his offers for help answered. He is now personally meeting with the military dictator pleading to have UN help accepted.
2) The junta just recently allowed its Asian neighbors to help
3) China is openly accepting aid from the US and its citizens. My company has already raised $55,000.

[spy-vs-spy_]

Our government might believe in ethnic cleansing? Seeing that they will not go over the heads of this insignificant government to help these people.

[kennergirl]

There was an article in our local paper this morning about this very subject. The columnist wrote, "Why is it so hard for the US to understand that another country doesn''t want our help?" He went on to say that the US has itself refused help from other countries in times of need.

[cultusdeus]

This junta hasn''t cared its people up to now; why should they care about them suddenly because of storm? They haven''t engaged the world before either. Why should they now? Why is anyone remarkedly surprised at their behavior? If they don''t want people''s help, fine let the government suffer the consequences of its own people''s wrath. This may sound heartless but it''s the reality of the situation.

[nothappyatall]

The United States, as well as France and Great Britain, have naval vessels loaded with humanitarian supplies off the Myanmar coast, and had been waiting for a green light to deliver them."

Phux em then, they dont deserve our help, we have PLENTY of our own citizens in THIS country who need and can use that aid, food and supplies, start with those who lost everything from KATRINA.

[trenticus-2009]

STOP TRYING TO SHOVE HELP DOWN THEIR THROAT! S*C*R*E*W EM''! PACK IT UP AND BRING IT HOME! I''LL TAKE SOME OF IT! GEES!

[trenticus-2009]

In all reality.. I feel sorry for the lost souls and suffering of these innocent citizens of a corrupt and unfeeling government!

[trenticus-2009]

AIR-DROP THE STUFF! WHAT ARE THE JUNTA GOING TO DO???? SHOOT SPIT WADS AT YA?

[petro49l]

The People of Myanmar deserve better. The Rangoon Government should allow them the necessary items for after a storm strikes. This is merely a short term offer. There is no need for a political bargain.

[petro49l]

The American Marines only offer relief from a deadly storm. The Government of Myanmar should see the soldiers as aid workers. They are present to deliver medicine, food, water, and other essentials. It is a mission of peace.

[nothappyatall]

The People of Myanmar deserve better. The
Posted by Petro49L

Then let THEM overthrow the Govt, civil war or rise up and deal with their OWN country, we have ours, let them deal with theirs and change it.



STOP TRYING TO SHOVE HELP DOWN THEIR THROAT! S*C*R*E*W EM''''! PACK IT UP AND BRING IT HOME! I''''LL TAKE SOME OF IT! GEES!

Posted by trenticus


AGREED! this is one of the many reasons we are the most hated nation on the planet, we are busy bodies and nosey bodies, we even try to FORCE unwanted ''help'' on other countries and then slam them in the media when they refuse

CHINA''s economy is BOOMING big time, they are closer- let CHINA freaking provide aid to them!!!

[toolmangler-2009]

He went on to say that the US has itself refused help from other countries in times of need.
Posted by kennergirl at 10:23 PM : May 21, 2008



The main difference is that we have what is needed and can (but don''t get it to the people that need it) Take care of our own. It is time to stop helping the world and help our own. When the world comes to its senses then we might open our borders. In all honesty, we don''t need the world. This is simply the truth, if they don''t want us, leave them alone. We will be better for it....

[tngreen]

Myanmar, the next stop on the disaster capitalism tour. One can only imagine the free market "reforms" being demanded in return for aid. So the choice is starve now or starve later. One cannot blame their leaders for doing everything possible to resist accepting Western "aid."