Demand for the international relief teams be reached in the
Irrawaddy delta and bring the Burmese Military Junta before the
International Court of Justice
The United Nations, the foreign governments and the people of Burma have already
known that about 15,000 people life have lost and 2.5 million lives have been
remained in despair and desperate due to the deadly Cyclone Nargis which was
caused on May 2, 2008, beginning at 6.00pm that stormed in from Haing-gyi Island to
the Irrawaddy delta. Any where in the world, one could see that within 24 hours to 48
hours of such natural disaster, the relief workers, helicopters, vehicles and other
necessities supports are involved actively immediately. But, according to the updated
news media--radio broadcasting, video and photo records-- the cyclone victims in
Burma did not receive adequate aids that left the victims stay in shortage of food,
drinking water, shelter and communicable deceases are assuming the condition
worsen in Burma, and it is hoped that all have known about this.
It is witnessed that the reason that cause the condition worsen of the cyclone victims
in Burma is not because of the ignorance from international communities; but because
of the Burmese military junta's lack of responsibility for its citizens, intentional
ignorance, and concealing the facts and continue to work on to stable its power as a
priority, and thus delaying and blocking in receiving all the incoming aids.
For such intentional acts of the Burmese junta which resulted in killing a group of
people, created in a condition of genocide and is crime against humanity, therefore, it
is earnestly urged the United Nations that mandate the "responsibility to protect" by
sending the international relief forces and by bringing the junta before the
international court of justice. The following are the evidence and items that explain in
details.
Evidence (1): Although the Burmese Junta has received the news early regarding
the cyclone nargis coming-in, they informed the false news to the public and they
did not inform the people to relocate in advance.
It is learnt that regarding the cyclone nargis, since April 26, 2008 the weather
forecasting department of India sent some kind of information to the directorate of
weather forecasting of Burma. On April 28, the cyclone nigris began. On April 30,
according to B. P Yadav, the spoke person of the Indian weather forecasting
department, it is informed to the Burmese authority before 48 hours that there could
be the cyclone with the possibility of 120 miles per hour that could come across the
Irrawaddy delta.
On April 27, 2008, Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, director of Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center, which was founded after the Tsunami in 2004 in Thailand, has informed to the
Burmese authority that the cyclone nargis will be stormed in to Burma.
2
According to Mr. Tun Lwin, the director of Burma' weather forecasting department,
mentioned in Burma's Today website (Burmese news website), that he has sent to the
United Nations with his own signature that the Burmese junta has already known
about the would-be cyclone nargis since May 1, 2008 at about 5:30pm. As of the
letter on May 1 at 5:30pm after, it is mentioned that after the report at 9pm within the
24 hours the cyclone will be getting in to nearby Pathein Township. The letter which
wrote before 7am on May 2 mentioned that according to the weather forecast which
made at 6am on May 2 that the cyclone was about to happen in Haing-gyi Island, with
60 miles per hour -- with central speed 120 miles and with the possibility of raising
the water up to 10-12 feet.
Although the military junta has received the news early on the weather forecasting
and its warning from the neighborhood countries and the department concerned
director Mr. Tun Lwin, in the state-run national newspaper the news with regard to
the cyclone are falsely mentioned. For example, the newspaper which was published
on May 1, on the weather forecast of "Nay-Pyi-Daw May 30" it is mentioned that
"according to the weather forecast and measure at today Myanmar standard time
5:30pm, the cyclone which is happening in the ocean of Bangladesh, is heading to the
South-West of Pathein which is 480 miles distance away to ocean. That cyclone has
not been forceful during the period of 6 hours and gradually moved to the North-East.
And, that cyclone has not been forceful during the period of 12 hours and continued to
slowly moving to the North-East…" Due to the cyclone, there will be raining
shatteringly in Arakan State, Mon State, Karen State, Kayah State, Irrawaddy
Division, Rangoon Division and Pegu Division and raining in a few particular places
of Tanninsari Divisiona and Shan State. There could be some storms, raining and
cause big wave. While raining hard, the storm speed could be 40-45 miles per hour. It
was the false news, indeed.
The residents of Rangoon witnessed that after the cyclone nargis stormed in to Hainggyi
Island they have had a chance to see the warning of the cyclone from the
television. By the time of knowing of such warning, the cyclone affected areas such as
Laputta and other places have been already wiped out by the storm and the water
wave.
Moreover, although the news on the cyclone warning was being informed before 48
hours, the military junta neither gave any protection nor provided the safety for those
people who resided in the affected areas, neither for the emergency nor the assistance
for the immediate relocation, said the local people.
It is assumed that by broadcasting the truth news of the cyclone would create people
gathering and thus disturbance to the referendum which was set to held on May 10,
which was the main plan of the junta. The military junta is always afraid of people
gathering. Therefore, the junta could have been made the false news on the cyclone.
In other words, therefore, according to the above mentioned, it is assured that the
military junta has made it in order to confirm and held their plan-constitutional
referendum by intentionally ignoring the facts and the lives of hundreds of thousands
of the cyclone victims. Due to such failed to release the truth news on cyclone and
neglect to provide the emergency relief and relocate the cyclone victims, about the
lost of about 150,000 people lives and has caused 250,000 people lives despair and
3
homeless were rather because of the military junta's lack of responsibility and
international ignorance than the natural disaster was the main cause.
Evidence (2): Despite the relief works are not immediately activated, the
constitutional referendum was held by force without any postponement
When the natural disaster happened anywhere in the world, within 24 to 48 hours the
relief workers try to reach the affected areas, to discover the dead body, to save who
are in danger, provide the safety and shelter camps for those who are survived; but in
case of Burma the military authority has neither provided nor assisted anything to the
cyclone victims for someday. The scenes have been seen in the media in which the
cyclone victims narrated their sad stories and share their experiences to the reporters.
The residents of Rangoon and other cyclone survivors from different places of
Irrawaddy could see the appearance and artificial greetings of the Prime Minister Lt.
General Thein Sein, and his fade encouragement in the television on May 4 and 5.
On the next days, only the pictures of the soldiers who were cutting off the uprooted
trees, cleaning the streets and the army generals roaming around the city have been
broadcasted, and the acknowledgement or coverage of the relief works are not
mentioned. The soldiers cleaned the streets for the convenient of driving through the
military vehicles and then the rest of sanitation works are done by the local people
and monks on the basis of self reliance. The cyclone survivors were survived by the
assistance and donation from the local people at the very beginning stage.
The Burmese junta was not only providing anything to the cyclone victims, but also
did not postpone its constitutional referendum and held forcefully on May 10 as they
have planned. Only the cyclone affected areas in the towns in the Irrawaddy and some
places in Rangoon have been postponed to May 24. With regard to that tragedy event,
the U.N secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-moon expressed that "it is very a sad thing for
the people of Burma for such tragedy event. At the same time, it is recorded of the
ruling military junta's decision to hold for the referendum." The military junta has
been trying to work on the planed referendum for the stability of their power instead
of providing the emergency relief effectively that caused the victims whose lives are
lost and miserable due to the shortage of food and drinking water daily. Therefore, it
is assured that several local victims live have lost even after the cyclone because of
the ignorance and lack of responsibility by the Burmese military junta.
Evidence (3): The refusal of the international relief workers; misusing the
international aids and switching the donated materials with the bad quality
product
While 2.5 millions of the cyclone victims are terribly suffering and hungry for food,
drinking water and sheltering, those who relief workers and humanitarian assistance
have had to wait for such a long time for the approval from the military authority.
Until May 8, the cyclone victims did not receive any assistance from any foreign
governments, including the United Nations, except for the aids that donated directly
through the local people. Since the U.N has not been so satisfied with the junta'
administration over the relief fund and other aids which were donated by the foreign
countries, the U.N has asked the military authority to be delivered the aids to the
victims by the U.N itself. But the military authority has refused it.
4
While there was a debate going on between the military authority and the foreign
governments over the humanitarian aids, the military authority refused to accept the
World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of which the
relief airplane had already arrived in the airport in Rangoon on May 8 and 9,
respectively. But, interestingly, the food packages which are sealed with the WFP
logo are found in market in Rangoon on May 12. It is witnessed that the donated food
from foreign countries such as biscuits, dry noodle from Thailand are switched with
the products of the military government.
There was a meeting, of Rangoon division regiment light infantry on May 7, between
Army General Myint Swe and rice traders regarding the assistance for the cyclone
victims. After the meeting, it was found that the good qualities of rice which are
donated from the international community are switched with local rice which are bad
quality and delivered it to the victims.
On May 17, two weeks after the cyclone nargis, the military authority announced that
the list of dead toll was 77738, 55917 people were still missing and 19359 people
wounded. In the meantime, French Navy--Le Mistral (which was 13 miles distance
from seashore), the U.S's 3 Navies led by USS Essex ( 60 miles distance) and Britain
Naval--HMS Webminster (12 miles distance) were stand by to assist the victims.
But the military authority refused to those relief navies. Although the relief navies of
the U.S. and British had already returned back, the relief workers are being disturbed
and blocked by the military authority by any means.
Such acts of refusing the international humanitarian aids and misusing the donated
materials are obstacle to reach to the victims. In comparing, that an innocent person
who is shot by the AK-47 gun or an obstacle to the humanitarian aids that caused
hunger to death may be basically implied to the U.N.' "Responsibility to Protect".
Therefore, it is demanded that the international humanitarian aid forces be intervened
in Burma immediately.
Evidence (4): Pending the relief by receiving the U.N Secretary General and the
People of Burma dwindling hopes on the United Nations
Taking this tragedy event as an opportunity while people are suffering from the
cyclone nargis, and instead of providing the relief emergency as the priority, the
military authority have been attentively working on the constitutional referendum.
The military authority somewhat concerned the raising death tolls and at the same
time they were aware of the relief navies, which were approaching near the delta. It
created them the fear of the intervention made by the International Community based
on the ground of humanitarian. Therefore, the U.N Secretary General was allowed to
stop by some of the affected areas immediately.
Priority to his visit to Burma, although the U.N Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon
has been trying to reach to the Snr. General Than Shwe by telephone three times there
was no response at all. And, Snr. General Than Shwe did not pay attention to the
5
cyclone victims. He has been made the so-called visit to the cyclone affected areas on
May 19-20, just before Mr. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma. According to the
military-run national television channel, it is realized that Snr. General Than Shwe
had been greeted to the fake cyclone victims. It was a make-up show.
While Mr. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma, he trip was planed and brought to meet
with the fake cyclone victims. It was a deception. Snr. General Than Shwe gave a
promise to Mr. Ban Ki-moon that the international humanitarian aids will not be
restricted and will be allowed to work freely in Burma. But, since after Mr. Ban Kimoon
went back there were no freedom of movement for the international relief
workers and instead they are being disturbed by the soldier, police and members of
USDA.
In reality, the military authority neither wanted any humanitarian assistance which
would lead by the United Nations nor was the reason that they had allowed Mr. Ban
Ki-moon, but because to lessen the pressure from the international community.
Whenever the U.N intervened on whatever of the Burmese junta's inhumanly acts, for
almost 20 years now, that the Burmese people have been felt some kind of dejected.
Therefore, the cyclone victims were not so warmly feel well because they assumed
that hindered the intervention by the international humanitarian forces, realizing the
visiting schedule for the Mr. Ban Ki-moon was a trap.
There are some certain reasons why Burmese people are not happy (dwindling hopes)
with the United Nations. It was because, as of the responses from the United Nations,
that in every political movement in Burma after 1988 the Burmese people really
hoped that the positive actions from the United Nations on Burma would be reached.
But it is seemed weak and inactive.
In April 2000, former U.N Secretary General Kofi Anan appointed Mr. Razali Ismail
as U.N special envoy to Burma. Mr.Razali had been to Burma 12 times. Although he
had engaged a trust building and dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and the
military junta two times, later he became the puppet of the junta and his mission was
not successful. Moreover, the Burmese people distrusted on Mr. Razali as he had been
associated personally with the junta for his own business and other joint ventures.
While Mr. Paolo Sergio Pinheiro who is the representative of the U.N Commission on
Human Rights to Burma, visited the Insein prison in Burma and met with some
political prisoners, the military intelligence secretly tape recorded him. For the U.N
had failed to take action on such improper act on the U.N' mission and activities has
caused the Burmese people's hope on the U.N become less and less.
Mr. Kofi Anan appointed Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, after Mr. Razali resignation, for U.N
special envoy to Burma. Although Mr. Gambari had been visited five times to Burma,
there were no effective efforts for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and political
prisoners. He was incapable of creating the substantive dialogue between Aung San
Suu Kyi and the military junta. He rather became the puppet that sank in the traps of
the junta. Again, therefore, this is the reason that the Burmese people lack of trust on
the U.N special envoy on Burma.
6
The people in Burma were so hopefully expected as they heard the news that Mr.
Gambari would come to Burma during the people demonstration against the junta in
September 2007. But nothing particular response came out of Mr. Gambari visit and
after his returned to U.N. The torture and killed by the military junta has still been
remained. The U.N action on Burma was so weak, also this time.
The U.N. should be working on as one of the main tasks in following the promise of
Snr. General Than Shwe to Mr. Ban Ki-moon which was given on May 23 that "all
international relief workers will be allowed to Burma." But that agreement does not
seem to be materialized. For Burmese people, it is meant that the visit of Mr. Ban Kimoon
to Burma supported the military authority's plan as it's blocked the international
intervention on Burma on the ground of humanitarian aid in which was the Burmese
people's hopes. Therefore, the Burmese people are not happy with his visit to Burma.
On the other side, the U.N's initiative and mediation could be considered that delayed
in receiving the emergency relief by the needy victims or supported the junta's
intentional ignorance on the cyclone victims. Therefore, it is earnestly demanded that
the U.S, Britain, France and Germany which could effectively support and provide the
relief assessment in Burma should immediately send the emergency relief forces to
Burma.
Evidence (5): In the condition of Genocide and Crime against Humanity and
other concerns
(5.1) Human rights violations
There was a report on human rights on cyclone victims which was published by
Amnesty International after a month of the event. In that report, it is mentioned that
the cyclone victims were evicted from the shelter camp by force, restriction on
traveling, in order to build the polling-booth the cyclone victims are evicted by force
from the shelter camp, also from the monestary, which mentioned such cases of 30.
Some of those cases were as following.
On May 23 in Shwe-pauk-kan Township, the cyclone victims were evicted by telling
them that the school will re-open soon and thus were given 7000 kyats to some
people. On May 19, there were 30 people fear to drown due to the boat capsize, all of
them were cyclone victims as they were forced to return back in Bo-galay Township.
Beginning from May 19, the victims were forced to relocate in Myoung-mya, Ma-Oobin,
Phra-pon, Laputta Townships. In Kawh-mu Township, some cyclone victims who
were asking for the aids were prohibited.
(5-2) Threatening to local donators and arresting the vehicles
In the early stage, the cyclone victims were mostly survived by the support of the
local community. Later, those individual and local donator's works were disturbed and
blocked by the military authority. On May 25, about twenty vehicles which were
returned back from Pathein Township, who helped the cyclone victims, were arrested
by the military authority on the ground that they had broke the laws.
7
Because of such restrictions for traveling and for the voluntary relief works, the
numbers of the cyclone survivors who were died of communicable deceases were
increased and also shortage of food and nutrition. In addition, Zaganar the comedian
who has been devotedly working on the relief was recently arrested by the military
authority without any reason.
(5-3) The cyclone surviving orphanage children are forced to recruit to Army
The UNICEF built over 50 camps particularly for the cyclone surviving children.
However, according to the local relief workers in Laputta, Phra-pon and Bo-galay
Townships, those surviving children who are inaccessible to the camps were taken to
the army recruiting center. "According to the Radio Free Asia news on June 5, some
of the children, who are orphanage age between 14-15 years, are disappeared. It is
assumed that they were sent to regiment infantry no. 66."
(5-4) International Relief Workers
Snr. General Than Shwe promised that the relief experts from foreign countries will
be allowed to travel freely in Burma when meeting Mr. Ban Ki-moon. In contrast, in
preparing to travel to the Irrawaddy delta from Rangoon, the foreigner relief workers
are experiencing with different layers of red tape bureaucrat of the military authority
that created the relief workers feel uncomfortable, said Mr. Ky Luu.
Similarly, the Radio Free Asia also reported that "It has been over 35 days. There are
still bureaucrat that slows the process and preparation to travel to the delta. As we
know, about 50% the cyclone survivors do not receive yet the humanitarian aid.
(5-5) The cyclone victims are forced to labor
While the cyclone victims were terribly suffering and were in dire need of food and
drinking water, the military authority forced to labor them for making airfield for
landing the military helicopter in the villages in the Irrawady delta. Such the army
infantry regiment no.66 which is stationed at Ka-don-ka-nih village of Bo-galay
Township was not helpful but rather the cyclone victims were suffered because of the
force labor. Moreover, while the parents were searching for their missing children and
other relatives they were asked to work with a very few minimum wages, said one
witness of the relief worker.
(5-6) Starving and deceases are spreading because of lack of relief assessment
One of the local people from Maw-gyan Township from Irrawaddy mentioned that
some people are died of dysentery, diarrhea and related deceases as the results of the
people there had to eat the wet and polluted rice.
8
Maung Pho Nge, 7 year and Daw Tin Yee, age over 50 years died of diarrhea who
resided at Ka-na-soh village, and in Myint-to, Shwe-zin-yaw, Paung-hin-choung
villages the people were suffering from the diarrhea widely, the Voice of America
(VOA) reported on June 9, 2008.
Right after a week ago of the cyclone nargis, Action against Hunger (Action Contre la
Faim--ACF) stated that the cyclone survivors were suffering from the shortage of
nutrition and food. Those survivors had to find out their own food and also to cook for
it. About 75% people there had to consume polluted water, 96% of their toilets were
destroyed.
(5-7) The death bodies are not buried well and the crime rate may increase
It is found that the cyclone survivors were searched for the lost one. The death bodies
were ordered to throw away, not allowing anyone to approach the death body. For
those who wanted to find out the body of their relatives or dear one had to find out
secretly at night time.
Out of many, more than fifteen cyclone victims were shot to dead by the soldier in
Bo-galay Township. The soldiers took away the jewelleries from the death bodies.
Now many death bodies are floating around Ta-Thon district of Mon State and also at
the seashore. Some of the rotten death bodies remained in the wells and canals. The
decease will spread widely soon. The victims who are most suffering are in the areas
of where the ethnic Karen nationalities are inhabitant.
In 1990s, where there were the conflicts and combats between the Karen nationalities
and the military authority in Bo-galay, the military authorities cruelly tortured and
killed several innocent Karen people. It is obvious that when this tragedy event of
cyclone nargis stormed in to Irrawaddy delta where these Karen people are living, the
military authority had intentionally ignored to provide the emergency relief for the
cyclone victims. Such ignorance could be considered in a condition of genocide. For
the military junta, it could be an unfinished combat and revenge.
Our demands
All in all as mentioned above, despite the emergency relief was in dire needed, the
military junta has been keeping and continuously working on the stability of its power
as the first priority than providing any assistance to the cyclone victims. One could
clearly see that the military junta has created, blocked and tried to control the
humanitarian aids and its workers, and hide the cyclone victims so that the
international community cannot find them.
The military authority's lack of responsibility and intentional ignorance, concealing
the facts and reality, dedicated to the stability of power, controlling and blocking the
humanitarian aids and its workers imply "crime against humanity" and set in a
condition of genocide.
9
Therefore, we earnestly would like to urge that the United Nations must response to
such condition under the mandate of "responsibility to protect" for those cyclone
victims, by sending the international emergency forces to Burma and bringing the
military authorities before the international court of justice.
Sd/-
Respectfully requested,
Under the mandate of the Elected People's Representatives
Of the 1990 general elections
PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
APPEALING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
TO INTERVENE FORCEFULLY AND SAVE
THE NARGIS CYCLONE VICTIMS
Date: 16th June 2008
To
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Khun Myint Tun
Member of Parliament
Thaton Constituency -1
NLD
U Hla Oo
Member of Parmiliament
Kyut Taga Constituency- 1
NLD
Naing Thoung Shein
Member of Parmiliament
Kawkareik Contituency-2
MNDF
NLD = National League for Democracy
MNDF = Mon National Democratic Front
Irrawaddy delta and bring the Burmese Military Junta before the
International Court of Justice
The United Nations, the foreign governments and the people of Burma have already
known that about 15,000 people life have lost and 2.5 million lives have been
remained in despair and desperate due to the deadly Cyclone Nargis which was
caused on May 2, 2008, beginning at 6.00pm that stormed in from Haing-gyi Island to
the Irrawaddy delta. Any where in the world, one could see that within 24 hours to 48
hours of such natural disaster, the relief workers, helicopters, vehicles and other
necessities supports are involved actively immediately. But, according to the updated
news media--radio broadcasting, video and photo records-- the cyclone victims in
Burma did not receive adequate aids that left the victims stay in shortage of food,
drinking water, shelter and communicable deceases are assuming the condition
worsen in Burma, and it is hoped that all have known about this.
It is witnessed that the reason that cause the condition worsen of the cyclone victims
in Burma is not because of the ignorance from international communities; but because
of the Burmese military junta's lack of responsibility for its citizens, intentional
ignorance, and concealing the facts and continue to work on to stable its power as a
priority, and thus delaying and blocking in receiving all the incoming aids.
For such intentional acts of the Burmese junta which resulted in killing a group of
people, created in a condition of genocide and is crime against humanity, therefore, it
is earnestly urged the United Nations that mandate the "responsibility to protect" by
sending the international relief forces and by bringing the junta before the
international court of justice. The following are the evidence and items that explain in
details.
Evidence (1): Although the Burmese Junta has received the news early regarding
the cyclone nargis coming-in, they informed the false news to the public and they
did not inform the people to relocate in advance.
It is learnt that regarding the cyclone nargis, since April 26, 2008 the weather
forecasting department of India sent some kind of information to the directorate of
weather forecasting of Burma. On April 28, the cyclone nigris began. On April 30,
according to B. P Yadav, the spoke person of the Indian weather forecasting
department, it is informed to the Burmese authority before 48 hours that there could
be the cyclone with the possibility of 120 miles per hour that could come across the
Irrawaddy delta.
On April 27, 2008, Dr. Bhichit Rattakul, director of Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center, which was founded after the Tsunami in 2004 in Thailand, has informed to the
Burmese authority that the cyclone nargis will be stormed in to Burma.
2
According to Mr. Tun Lwin, the director of Burma' weather forecasting department,
mentioned in Burma's Today website (Burmese news website), that he has sent to the
United Nations with his own signature that the Burmese junta has already known
about the would-be cyclone nargis since May 1, 2008 at about 5:30pm. As of the
letter on May 1 at 5:30pm after, it is mentioned that after the report at 9pm within the
24 hours the cyclone will be getting in to nearby Pathein Township. The letter which
wrote before 7am on May 2 mentioned that according to the weather forecast which
made at 6am on May 2 that the cyclone was about to happen in Haing-gyi Island, with
60 miles per hour -- with central speed 120 miles and with the possibility of raising
the water up to 10-12 feet.
Although the military junta has received the news early on the weather forecasting
and its warning from the neighborhood countries and the department concerned
director Mr. Tun Lwin, in the state-run national newspaper the news with regard to
the cyclone are falsely mentioned. For example, the newspaper which was published
on May 1, on the weather forecast of "Nay-Pyi-Daw May 30" it is mentioned that
"according to the weather forecast and measure at today Myanmar standard time
5:30pm, the cyclone which is happening in the ocean of Bangladesh, is heading to the
South-West of Pathein which is 480 miles distance away to ocean. That cyclone has
not been forceful during the period of 6 hours and gradually moved to the North-East.
And, that cyclone has not been forceful during the period of 12 hours and continued to
slowly moving to the North-East…" Due to the cyclone, there will be raining
shatteringly in Arakan State, Mon State, Karen State, Kayah State, Irrawaddy
Division, Rangoon Division and Pegu Division and raining in a few particular places
of Tanninsari Divisiona and Shan State. There could be some storms, raining and
cause big wave. While raining hard, the storm speed could be 40-45 miles per hour. It
was the false news, indeed.
The residents of Rangoon witnessed that after the cyclone nargis stormed in to Hainggyi
Island they have had a chance to see the warning of the cyclone from the
television. By the time of knowing of such warning, the cyclone affected areas such as
Laputta and other places have been already wiped out by the storm and the water
wave.
Moreover, although the news on the cyclone warning was being informed before 48
hours, the military junta neither gave any protection nor provided the safety for those
people who resided in the affected areas, neither for the emergency nor the assistance
for the immediate relocation, said the local people.
It is assumed that by broadcasting the truth news of the cyclone would create people
gathering and thus disturbance to the referendum which was set to held on May 10,
which was the main plan of the junta. The military junta is always afraid of people
gathering. Therefore, the junta could have been made the false news on the cyclone.
In other words, therefore, according to the above mentioned, it is assured that the
military junta has made it in order to confirm and held their plan-constitutional
referendum by intentionally ignoring the facts and the lives of hundreds of thousands
of the cyclone victims. Due to such failed to release the truth news on cyclone and
neglect to provide the emergency relief and relocate the cyclone victims, about the
lost of about 150,000 people lives and has caused 250,000 people lives despair and
3
homeless were rather because of the military junta's lack of responsibility and
international ignorance than the natural disaster was the main cause.
Evidence (2): Despite the relief works are not immediately activated, the
constitutional referendum was held by force without any postponement
When the natural disaster happened anywhere in the world, within 24 to 48 hours the
relief workers try to reach the affected areas, to discover the dead body, to save who
are in danger, provide the safety and shelter camps for those who are survived; but in
case of Burma the military authority has neither provided nor assisted anything to the
cyclone victims for someday. The scenes have been seen in the media in which the
cyclone victims narrated their sad stories and share their experiences to the reporters.
The residents of Rangoon and other cyclone survivors from different places of
Irrawaddy could see the appearance and artificial greetings of the Prime Minister Lt.
General Thein Sein, and his fade encouragement in the television on May 4 and 5.
On the next days, only the pictures of the soldiers who were cutting off the uprooted
trees, cleaning the streets and the army generals roaming around the city have been
broadcasted, and the acknowledgement or coverage of the relief works are not
mentioned. The soldiers cleaned the streets for the convenient of driving through the
military vehicles and then the rest of sanitation works are done by the local people
and monks on the basis of self reliance. The cyclone survivors were survived by the
assistance and donation from the local people at the very beginning stage.
The Burmese junta was not only providing anything to the cyclone victims, but also
did not postpone its constitutional referendum and held forcefully on May 10 as they
have planned. Only the cyclone affected areas in the towns in the Irrawaddy and some
places in Rangoon have been postponed to May 24. With regard to that tragedy event,
the U.N secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-moon expressed that "it is very a sad thing for
the people of Burma for such tragedy event. At the same time, it is recorded of the
ruling military junta's decision to hold for the referendum." The military junta has
been trying to work on the planed referendum for the stability of their power instead
of providing the emergency relief effectively that caused the victims whose lives are
lost and miserable due to the shortage of food and drinking water daily. Therefore, it
is assured that several local victims live have lost even after the cyclone because of
the ignorance and lack of responsibility by the Burmese military junta.
Evidence (3): The refusal of the international relief workers; misusing the
international aids and switching the donated materials with the bad quality
product
While 2.5 millions of the cyclone victims are terribly suffering and hungry for food,
drinking water and sheltering, those who relief workers and humanitarian assistance
have had to wait for such a long time for the approval from the military authority.
Until May 8, the cyclone victims did not receive any assistance from any foreign
governments, including the United Nations, except for the aids that donated directly
through the local people. Since the U.N has not been so satisfied with the junta'
administration over the relief fund and other aids which were donated by the foreign
countries, the U.N has asked the military authority to be delivered the aids to the
victims by the U.N itself. But the military authority has refused it.
4
While there was a debate going on between the military authority and the foreign
governments over the humanitarian aids, the military authority refused to accept the
World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) of which the
relief airplane had already arrived in the airport in Rangoon on May 8 and 9,
respectively. But, interestingly, the food packages which are sealed with the WFP
logo are found in market in Rangoon on May 12. It is witnessed that the donated food
from foreign countries such as biscuits, dry noodle from Thailand are switched with
the products of the military government.
There was a meeting, of Rangoon division regiment light infantry on May 7, between
Army General Myint Swe and rice traders regarding the assistance for the cyclone
victims. After the meeting, it was found that the good qualities of rice which are
donated from the international community are switched with local rice which are bad
quality and delivered it to the victims.
On May 17, two weeks after the cyclone nargis, the military authority announced that
the list of dead toll was 77738, 55917 people were still missing and 19359 people
wounded. In the meantime, French Navy--Le Mistral (which was 13 miles distance
from seashore), the U.S's 3 Navies led by USS Essex ( 60 miles distance) and Britain
Naval--HMS Webminster (12 miles distance) were stand by to assist the victims.
But the military authority refused to those relief navies. Although the relief navies of
the U.S. and British had already returned back, the relief workers are being disturbed
and blocked by the military authority by any means.
Such acts of refusing the international humanitarian aids and misusing the donated
materials are obstacle to reach to the victims. In comparing, that an innocent person
who is shot by the AK-47 gun or an obstacle to the humanitarian aids that caused
hunger to death may be basically implied to the U.N.' "Responsibility to Protect".
Therefore, it is demanded that the international humanitarian aid forces be intervened
in Burma immediately.
Evidence (4): Pending the relief by receiving the U.N Secretary General and the
People of Burma dwindling hopes on the United Nations
Taking this tragedy event as an opportunity while people are suffering from the
cyclone nargis, and instead of providing the relief emergency as the priority, the
military authority have been attentively working on the constitutional referendum.
The military authority somewhat concerned the raising death tolls and at the same
time they were aware of the relief navies, which were approaching near the delta. It
created them the fear of the intervention made by the International Community based
on the ground of humanitarian. Therefore, the U.N Secretary General was allowed to
stop by some of the affected areas immediately.
Priority to his visit to Burma, although the U.N Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon
has been trying to reach to the Snr. General Than Shwe by telephone three times there
was no response at all. And, Snr. General Than Shwe did not pay attention to the
5
cyclone victims. He has been made the so-called visit to the cyclone affected areas on
May 19-20, just before Mr. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma. According to the
military-run national television channel, it is realized that Snr. General Than Shwe
had been greeted to the fake cyclone victims. It was a make-up show.
While Mr. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Burma, he trip was planed and brought to meet
with the fake cyclone victims. It was a deception. Snr. General Than Shwe gave a
promise to Mr. Ban Ki-moon that the international humanitarian aids will not be
restricted and will be allowed to work freely in Burma. But, since after Mr. Ban Kimoon
went back there were no freedom of movement for the international relief
workers and instead they are being disturbed by the soldier, police and members of
USDA.
In reality, the military authority neither wanted any humanitarian assistance which
would lead by the United Nations nor was the reason that they had allowed Mr. Ban
Ki-moon, but because to lessen the pressure from the international community.
Whenever the U.N intervened on whatever of the Burmese junta's inhumanly acts, for
almost 20 years now, that the Burmese people have been felt some kind of dejected.
Therefore, the cyclone victims were not so warmly feel well because they assumed
that hindered the intervention by the international humanitarian forces, realizing the
visiting schedule for the Mr. Ban Ki-moon was a trap.
There are some certain reasons why Burmese people are not happy (dwindling hopes)
with the United Nations. It was because, as of the responses from the United Nations,
that in every political movement in Burma after 1988 the Burmese people really
hoped that the positive actions from the United Nations on Burma would be reached.
But it is seemed weak and inactive.
In April 2000, former U.N Secretary General Kofi Anan appointed Mr. Razali Ismail
as U.N special envoy to Burma. Mr.Razali had been to Burma 12 times. Although he
had engaged a trust building and dialogue between Aung San Suu Kyi and the
military junta two times, later he became the puppet of the junta and his mission was
not successful. Moreover, the Burmese people distrusted on Mr. Razali as he had been
associated personally with the junta for his own business and other joint ventures.
While Mr. Paolo Sergio Pinheiro who is the representative of the U.N Commission on
Human Rights to Burma, visited the Insein prison in Burma and met with some
political prisoners, the military intelligence secretly tape recorded him. For the U.N
had failed to take action on such improper act on the U.N' mission and activities has
caused the Burmese people's hope on the U.N become less and less.
Mr. Kofi Anan appointed Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, after Mr. Razali resignation, for U.N
special envoy to Burma. Although Mr. Gambari had been visited five times to Burma,
there were no effective efforts for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and political
prisoners. He was incapable of creating the substantive dialogue between Aung San
Suu Kyi and the military junta. He rather became the puppet that sank in the traps of
the junta. Again, therefore, this is the reason that the Burmese people lack of trust on
the U.N special envoy on Burma.
6
The people in Burma were so hopefully expected as they heard the news that Mr.
Gambari would come to Burma during the people demonstration against the junta in
September 2007. But nothing particular response came out of Mr. Gambari visit and
after his returned to U.N. The torture and killed by the military junta has still been
remained. The U.N action on Burma was so weak, also this time.
The U.N. should be working on as one of the main tasks in following the promise of
Snr. General Than Shwe to Mr. Ban Ki-moon which was given on May 23 that "all
international relief workers will be allowed to Burma." But that agreement does not
seem to be materialized. For Burmese people, it is meant that the visit of Mr. Ban Kimoon
to Burma supported the military authority's plan as it's blocked the international
intervention on Burma on the ground of humanitarian aid in which was the Burmese
people's hopes. Therefore, the Burmese people are not happy with his visit to Burma.
On the other side, the U.N's initiative and mediation could be considered that delayed
in receiving the emergency relief by the needy victims or supported the junta's
intentional ignorance on the cyclone victims. Therefore, it is earnestly demanded that
the U.S, Britain, France and Germany which could effectively support and provide the
relief assessment in Burma should immediately send the emergency relief forces to
Burma.
Evidence (5): In the condition of Genocide and Crime against Humanity and
other concerns
(5.1) Human rights violations
There was a report on human rights on cyclone victims which was published by
Amnesty International after a month of the event. In that report, it is mentioned that
the cyclone victims were evicted from the shelter camp by force, restriction on
traveling, in order to build the polling-booth the cyclone victims are evicted by force
from the shelter camp, also from the monestary, which mentioned such cases of 30.
Some of those cases were as following.
On May 23 in Shwe-pauk-kan Township, the cyclone victims were evicted by telling
them that the school will re-open soon and thus were given 7000 kyats to some
people. On May 19, there were 30 people fear to drown due to the boat capsize, all of
them were cyclone victims as they were forced to return back in Bo-galay Township.
Beginning from May 19, the victims were forced to relocate in Myoung-mya, Ma-Oobin,
Phra-pon, Laputta Townships. In Kawh-mu Township, some cyclone victims who
were asking for the aids were prohibited.
(5-2) Threatening to local donators and arresting the vehicles
In the early stage, the cyclone victims were mostly survived by the support of the
local community. Later, those individual and local donator's works were disturbed and
blocked by the military authority. On May 25, about twenty vehicles which were
returned back from Pathein Township, who helped the cyclone victims, were arrested
by the military authority on the ground that they had broke the laws.
7
Because of such restrictions for traveling and for the voluntary relief works, the
numbers of the cyclone survivors who were died of communicable deceases were
increased and also shortage of food and nutrition. In addition, Zaganar the comedian
who has been devotedly working on the relief was recently arrested by the military
authority without any reason.
(5-3) The cyclone surviving orphanage children are forced to recruit to Army
The UNICEF built over 50 camps particularly for the cyclone surviving children.
However, according to the local relief workers in Laputta, Phra-pon and Bo-galay
Townships, those surviving children who are inaccessible to the camps were taken to
the army recruiting center. "According to the Radio Free Asia news on June 5, some
of the children, who are orphanage age between 14-15 years, are disappeared. It is
assumed that they were sent to regiment infantry no. 66."
(5-4) International Relief Workers
Snr. General Than Shwe promised that the relief experts from foreign countries will
be allowed to travel freely in Burma when meeting Mr. Ban Ki-moon. In contrast, in
preparing to travel to the Irrawaddy delta from Rangoon, the foreigner relief workers
are experiencing with different layers of red tape bureaucrat of the military authority
that created the relief workers feel uncomfortable, said Mr. Ky Luu.
Similarly, the Radio Free Asia also reported that "It has been over 35 days. There are
still bureaucrat that slows the process and preparation to travel to the delta. As we
know, about 50% the cyclone survivors do not receive yet the humanitarian aid.
(5-5) The cyclone victims are forced to labor
While the cyclone victims were terribly suffering and were in dire need of food and
drinking water, the military authority forced to labor them for making airfield for
landing the military helicopter in the villages in the Irrawady delta. Such the army
infantry regiment no.66 which is stationed at Ka-don-ka-nih village of Bo-galay
Township was not helpful but rather the cyclone victims were suffered because of the
force labor. Moreover, while the parents were searching for their missing children and
other relatives they were asked to work with a very few minimum wages, said one
witness of the relief worker.
(5-6) Starving and deceases are spreading because of lack of relief assessment
One of the local people from Maw-gyan Township from Irrawaddy mentioned that
some people are died of dysentery, diarrhea and related deceases as the results of the
people there had to eat the wet and polluted rice.
8
Maung Pho Nge, 7 year and Daw Tin Yee, age over 50 years died of diarrhea who
resided at Ka-na-soh village, and in Myint-to, Shwe-zin-yaw, Paung-hin-choung
villages the people were suffering from the diarrhea widely, the Voice of America
(VOA) reported on June 9, 2008.
Right after a week ago of the cyclone nargis, Action against Hunger (Action Contre la
Faim--ACF) stated that the cyclone survivors were suffering from the shortage of
nutrition and food. Those survivors had to find out their own food and also to cook for
it. About 75% people there had to consume polluted water, 96% of their toilets were
destroyed.
(5-7) The death bodies are not buried well and the crime rate may increase
It is found that the cyclone survivors were searched for the lost one. The death bodies
were ordered to throw away, not allowing anyone to approach the death body. For
those who wanted to find out the body of their relatives or dear one had to find out
secretly at night time.
Out of many, more than fifteen cyclone victims were shot to dead by the soldier in
Bo-galay Township. The soldiers took away the jewelleries from the death bodies.
Now many death bodies are floating around Ta-Thon district of Mon State and also at
the seashore. Some of the rotten death bodies remained in the wells and canals. The
decease will spread widely soon. The victims who are most suffering are in the areas
of where the ethnic Karen nationalities are inhabitant.
In 1990s, where there were the conflicts and combats between the Karen nationalities
and the military authority in Bo-galay, the military authorities cruelly tortured and
killed several innocent Karen people. It is obvious that when this tragedy event of
cyclone nargis stormed in to Irrawaddy delta where these Karen people are living, the
military authority had intentionally ignored to provide the emergency relief for the
cyclone victims. Such ignorance could be considered in a condition of genocide. For
the military junta, it could be an unfinished combat and revenge.
Our demands
All in all as mentioned above, despite the emergency relief was in dire needed, the
military junta has been keeping and continuously working on the stability of its power
as the first priority than providing any assistance to the cyclone victims. One could
clearly see that the military junta has created, blocked and tried to control the
humanitarian aids and its workers, and hide the cyclone victims so that the
international community cannot find them.
The military authority's lack of responsibility and intentional ignorance, concealing
the facts and reality, dedicated to the stability of power, controlling and blocking the
humanitarian aids and its workers imply "crime against humanity" and set in a
condition of genocide.
9
Therefore, we earnestly would like to urge that the United Nations must response to
such condition under the mandate of "responsibility to protect" for those cyclone
victims, by sending the international emergency forces to Burma and bringing the
military authorities before the international court of justice.
Sd/-
Respectfully requested,
Under the mandate of the Elected People's Representatives
Of the 1990 general elections
PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
APPEALING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
TO INTERVENE FORCEFULLY AND SAVE
THE NARGIS CYCLONE VICTIMS
Date: 16th June 2008
To
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Khun Myint Tun
Member of Parliament
Thaton Constituency -1
NLD
U Hla Oo
Member of Parmiliament
Kyut Taga Constituency- 1
NLD
Naing Thoung Shein
Member of Parmiliament
Kawkareik Contituency-2
MNDF
NLD = National League for Democracy
MNDF = Mon National Democratic Front
