Myanmar junta hands out aid boxes with generals' names

[Bacchus39]

Source: Yahoo

YANGON, Myanmar - Myanmar's military regime distributed international aid Saturday but plastered the boxes with the names of top generals in an apparent effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise.

The United Nations sent in three more planes and several trucks loaded with aid, though the junta took over its first two shipments. The government agreed to let a U.S. cargo plane bring in supplies Monday, but foreign disaster experts still were being barred entry.

Despite international appeals to postpone a referendum on a controversial proposed constitution, voting began Saturday in all but the hardest hit parts of the country. With voters going to the polls, state-run television continuously ran images of top generals including junta leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, handing out boxes of aid at elaborate ceremonies.

"We have already seen regional commanders putting their names on the side of aid shipments from Asia, saying this was a gift from them and then distributing it in their region," said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, which campaigns for human rights and democracy in the country.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080510/ap_on_re_as/myanmar_cyclone

[Waya]

1. Vote for me..........

........ and you may live.....sickening.

[AzDar]

2. Kinda like George W. Bush sending me a letter with his name on it earlier this month,

telling me I would be getting some of China's money, isn't it?

;-)

Solidarity! with the people of Myanmar...they also need to be 'saved' from their 'Government'.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Did they have the

Chevron logo on them too ?

Chevron accused of complicity in junta's brutality in Myanmar

Bangkok (M&C)- The American energy corporation Chevron's partnership with Myanmar's military junta has contributed to the regime's human rights abuses on 'hundreds, if not thousands' of people, said a human rights watchdog Tuesday.

EarthRights International claimed in a report that soldiers guarding a Chevron pipeline that takes natural offshore gas through to Thailand were so brutal as to expose the corporation to 'massive potential liabilities in US courts.'

The report dismisses Chevron's claims that its presence - bringing development projects - benefits the people as a flimsy public relations band-aid.

http://please-help-burma.blogspot.com/2008/04/chevron-accused-of-complicity-in-juntas.html

[Trajan]

4. Wasn't Halliburton also involved in this ?

I could swear that Halliburton and UNOCAL were involved with the construction of an offshore pipeline in Myanmar where a work stoppage by workers was brutally repressed by the Burmese government, and to the benefit of Halliburton and UNOCAL .....

What is to this story ? .....

[dipsydoodle]

6. That was in the '90's

think so anyway : http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Cheney-Myanmar-Pipeline.htm

[KSinTX]

5. At least some supplies are trickling in

Two trucks carrying more than 20 tons of tents and plastic sheets for some 10,000 cyclone victims crossed into the country from northwestern Thailand, said the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

"This convoy marks a positive step in an aid effort so far marked by challenges and constraints," said Raymond Hall, UNHCRs Representative in Thailand. "We hope it opens up a possible corridor to allow more international aid to reach the cyclone victims."

Let's hope there is more of this

[DRoseDARs]

8. ...and they will probably end up being shipped right back out. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3304086

[KSinTX]

9. I'd read that but didn't quite make that connection.

I fear you might just be right! OMG

[Eugene]

7. ...while Myanmar his holding a constitutional referendum.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Despite chaos, Myanmar holding referendum

Ignoring a barrage of criticism, the regime asks voters in most of
the country to OK a new constitution even as it blocks foreign aid.

By Bruce Wallace, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 10, 2008

BANGKOK, Thailand — Still swamped by the chaotic aftermath of last
week's cyclone, Myanmar's military regime pressed ahead with a national
referendum today that it calls a step toward democracy but critics
contend will merely entrench military rule.

The rare opportunity for Myanmar's citizens to vote was scheduled
before Cyclone Nargis slammed into the country's southern delta a
week ago, killing about 23,000 people, according to officials, and
perhaps tens of thousands more. Although many observers expect the
junta has ensured a result in its favor, the government's eagerness
for at least a cloak of democratic legitimacy meant the referendum
proceeded as planned in all but the worst-hit townships and Yangon,
the principal city of the country also known as Burma.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-myanmar10-2008may10,0,3974881.story

[uppityperson]

10. Of course they are, but I'm glad they're handing out food

That is what is most important and I think enough people know enough to realize the propaganda.

[ohio2007]

11. U.S. mulls food drops to devastated Myanmar (Berlin airlift)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States is considering air-dropping aid to victims of the cyclone in Myanmar even without permission from the military government, a U.S. official said Thursday.


snip
The United States has also been pushing for access, pledging $3.25 million and offering to send U.S. Navy ships to the region to help relief efforts. The U.S. military flew six helicopters to a Thai airbase in anticipation of gaining access to the south Asian country to provide aid, two senior military officials told CNN's Barbara Starr.

When pressed on whether food drops would be legal, Luu said a recent U.N. mandate calling for a "responsibility to protect" could pave the way for such action, but he wasn't entirely sure of the legal ramifications.

snip


http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/08/us.myanmar/index.html

Those tinpot dictators really fear the world comming in to look around.....



China Aids Important Ally After Cyclone
China's $1M Donation to Myanmar May Boost Image, But Not Sway Western Critics
http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=4799074&page=1
?
Wonder if North Korea is sending aid ?