BurmaNet News, July 6, 2007

[Editor]

July 6, 2007 Issue # 3241

INSIDE BURMA
Mizzima News: Junta's tirade against student activists – a clear warning
AP: Myanmar frees more activists
IMNA: Killings, torture and relocations start afresh in Southern Burma
Khonumthung News: Troops hawk posters at fancy prices for income
Mizzima News: Military offensive must stop for genuine political solution

ON THE BORDER
Mizzima News: Burmese pastor beheaded in Indian border town

BUSINESS / TRADE
Narinjara News: Bangladesh imports Burmese goods worth $29.53 million in
2005-2006
Mizzima News: Burma green light for privately owned shipping lines
Xinhua: Myanmar pledges sufficient rice production for growing population
Xinhua: Myanmar takes measure to facilitate export of easily rotten goods

HEALTH / AIDS
www.kval.com: Turning art into water - Jennifer Winters

ASEAN
BBC Burmese Service: Chairman of ASEAN caucus on Burma visits US State
Department

REGIONAL
Irrawaddy: Chinese product safety of little concern in Burma

INTERNATIONAL
BBC Burmese Service: British charity wants poor to receive cash aid directly

OPINION / OTHER
Irrawaddy: Burma’s junta needs to help the helpless

____________________________________
INSIDE BURMA

July 6, Mizzima News
Junta's tirade against student activists – a clear warning - Mungpi & Ko Dee

While Burma's prominent student leaders yesterday flatly rejected the
Burmese military junta's charge of manipulating university students to
instigate riots, there is widespread speculation over the regime's motive
behind such an accusation.

The state run newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, on Thursday launched a
tirade against 88 generation students Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and group
and accused them of manipulating Rangoon University students in an attempt
to instigate unrest among them.

The newspaper further said, 88 generation students are jobless and take
funds from abroad in the name of political activity, which however, is
spent in their own interest. It said the former student leaders have been
manipulating Rangoon University students for their personal gains.

However, the students rejected the junta's accusations and urged the
junta's Information Ministry to stop playing the blame-game but start a
genuine, all inclusive dialogue for national reconciliation in Burma.

"The junta does not understand the need for national reconciliation. They
just want to bully the weaker groups," a former political prisoner and
leading student activist, Min Ko Naing told Mizzima,

Another 88 generation student, Jimmy replied to the accusation saying, "At
no time can students be manipulated. All those who have come across lives
of student's will understand that students never succumb to manipulation.
Whatever they do, they do it on their own free will."

While the ruling military junta in the past has periodically published
articles attacking the opposition, critics believe that the recent
accusations against Rangoon based student leaders and border based Burmese
student rebels of the All Burma Students Democratic Front, in two
successive articles in its mouthpiece, might be politically motivated and
hints at the junta's next move against the opposition, especially student
dissidents.

U Nyan Win, spokesperson of the National League for Democracy, Burma's
main opposition political party said the junta's attacks are indicators
that it plans to crackdown on the students group, which the junta sees as
a threat to their political plan of action.

"Whenever, they [the junta] want to crackdown on the NLD, they first
accuse us of having connections with what they call 'destructive
elements.' Now in the article that attacked the students, it said the
students are in touch with the outside world and receive cash assistance.
It is an indication that the junta will crackdown on the students."

The 88 generation students on June 28 released a statement urging the
junta and all political players in Burma to create a political atmosphere,
where there can be an all inclusive dialogue for starting the national
reconciliation process in Burma. The students in the statement had
particularly urged the junta, citing their announcement to reconvene the
last round of National Convention, that it is responsible for creating a
meaningful political atmosphere.

Thailand based Burmese independent analyst, Aung Naing Oo said, the
junta's tirade might have to do with their fear that the students might
attempt to foil the last session of the National Convention.

"Now that the junta is planning to reconvene the last round of the
National Convention, they do not want any opposition," Aung Naing Oo said.

"It is a clear message warning the students, that 'if you step out we will
arrest you'," Aung Naing Oo added.

Meanwhile, the junta in June announced that the final round of the
National Convention will reconvene on July 18 and will be followed by a
referendum and general elections.

The attacks on the ABSDF and 88 generation students on Wednesday and
Thursday respectively are the first of its kind following the junta's
announcement and critics view it as a sign that the junta is planning to
clear the way for its ensuing plans – a referendum and general elections.

In an earlier interview, Nyo Ohn Myint, member of the foreign affairs
committee of the National Council of Union of Burma (NCUB), an exiled
umbrella Burmese political group, told Mizzima that the junta has
alternative plans to conduct a referendum and general elections.

While the junta sounds serious about its next step, there have been
indications that it wants to eliminate all opposition including the
Burmese democracy champion Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

"It has been the practice of the junta to arrest and detain opposition
political party members, who they see as a threat to their plan. This
might be a warning that more is coming," Aung Naing Oo said.

____________________________________

July 6, Associated Press
Myanmar frees more activists

Myanmar's military government has released four more activists who were
detained last May after holding prayer vigils for the release of
pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a spokesman for her party said
Friday.

Three members of the National League for Democracy and one former member
of the party were released Thursday, along with a fifth protester who was
arrested in April for demonstrating against economic hardship, the NLD's
Nyan Win said in a telephone interview.

"With the release of five people on Thursday, five more who participated
in prayer vigils, or who staged protests over economic hardship, remain
under detention," Nyan Win said.

Political rallies are banned in Myanmar, which has been under military
rule since 1962. The current military junta seized power after crushing
pro-democracy protests in 1988.

Myanmar used to be known as Burma, a name that continues to be used by
parties who feel its military government lacks legitimacy.

Suu Kyi's party won a 1990 election, but the ruling generals refused to
let it take power.

Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate who is one of the world's most prominent
political prisoners, has spent almost 12 of the past 18 years in
detention.

____________________________________


July 6, Independent Mon News Agency
Killings, torture and relocations start afresh in Southern Burma - Krak Chan

It smacks of the worst kind of irony laced with brutality. But that is not
uncommon with the Burmese military junta. Though the regime is in a hurry
now, to conclude its constitution drafting National Convention, as a first
step to its seven-point road map for democracy for an ostensible "people's
government", it continues merrily to violate human rights. The Burma Army
soldiers killed a villager, beat up 60 and torched two houses in Ye
township, southern Burma recently.

Villagers in the area are in a Catch-22 situation. If they side with the
Burma Army, the rebel outfits could kill them. If they support the
insurgents there will be swift retribution from the Burmese military.

Troops under the command of No.19 Military Operation Management Command
(MOMC) based in Ye, launched a military offensive against Mon insurgents
in southern Ye township, in Khaw-zar Sub township area. In its wake, it
relocated Bayoun-ngae (Broun in Mon) villagers after assaulting many
villagers, accusing them of supporting the splinter rebel group.

"All of them are here. Stop talking about that now, they will not allow us
to talk about it," said a Han-gan villager, too scared to talk to IMNA.

All the villagers from Bayoun-ngae are fleeing to Han-gan village. They
were ordered not to take anything from their homes by Burmese troops. Many
of them are finding it difficult to find shelter in Han-gan.

Bayoun-ngae village is situated in the southeast and is about one mile
from Han-gan village. The troops from the Light Infantry Battalion No.591
and 583 started moving in to eliminate the rebel outfit led by Nai Bin,
explained a Han-gan villager.

Earlier the Burmese troops clashed with the Mon splinter group on June 26,
and arrested Nai Maw (35). During interrogation the soldiers beat him up
severely for selling pork to the Mon splinter group. After which the
troops launched an operation outside the village and had a gun fight with
Mon rebels. Three of their soldiers were killed and wounded.

Following the clash, the troops accused Bayoun-ngae villagers of
supporting Mon rebels and arrested more than 50 villagers on June 27 and
sent them to Han-gan village where the Tactical Commander is based in Tel
Exchange office.

More than 10 arrested villagers were severely tortured during
interrogation after which all villagers had to pay more than Kyat 20,000
Kyat each to be released. Nai Nyan Tin (50) was the most badly beaten.
After their release, soldiers arrested people in the village again, and
took Kyat 300,000 Kyat from each person.

Many villagers started fleeing on June 30. The abbot of Bayoun-ngae
village escaped to Han-gan village. On July 2 most of villagers fled to
Han-gan.

Seven men, who remained in the villages, went to a temple where Burmese
troops are stationed to sleep at night, but the soldiers beat them up and
destroyed many ports and shelves in the temple.

The soldiers then set fire to two houses in the village, Nai Dit, an
eyewitness said.

On June 3, villagers confirmed that Nai Maw, who was arrested for selling
pork to Mon insurgents, was killed by troops in Dike Rock, between Singu
and Toe Thet Ywe Thit village.

Similarly, the Kabya village headman, Nai Min Tin Aung (47) and a Khaw-zar
villager were also arrested on the accusation of supporting Mon rebels.

According to villagers, they are finding it difficult to live in this
situation. If they support Burmese troops they could be killed by
insurgents and if they support the rebels, they could be killed by Burmese
troop or severely tortured.

____________________________________

July 6, Khonumthung News
Troops hawk posters at fancy prices for income

The Myanmarese Army never suffers from a dearth of ideas to make money on
the side. At a time when people in the country are pummeled by sky
rocketing prices of essential commodities, soldiers are hawking posters
from door to door in Kalay town, Sagaing Division and forcing residents to
buy them at fancy prices.

Army personnel from battalions in Kalay are selling pictures of Jesus
Christ, famous film stars and cartoons in Tahan and Tawpila wards in
Kalay. The soldiers charge Kyat 500 for a poster. In the event of a person
refusing to buy, he is forced to pay Kyat 250 as voluntarily contribution,
a Kalay local said.

"The price they (army) charge is much higher than the rate prevailing in
the local market. If we don't buy, they demand Kyat 250," a Tahan local in
Kalay said.

"It is apparent that the salary they draw is insufficient. Hence they sell
goods like door to door hawkers," he added.

Some people from the Christian community were said to have bought pictures
of Jesus Christ.

Army personnel in uniform have spread out to different wards in Kalay and
walk from door to door selling cartoons, posters of Jesus Christ and
famous film stars. Locals could not determine which battalion the soldiers
belonged given that there are many battalions stationed in Kalay.

"At a time when we are struggling to survive by battling prices of
essential commodities mounting daily, people are being forced to buy such
posters. Such high handedness is unbearable," a local added.

Last year, military authorities in Tedim town in Chin state pressurized
locals to buy calendars for 2007 as a fund raising campaign for the Mother
and Child Care Committee and Chin Women's Affair Committee.

____________________________________

July 6, Mizzima News
Military offensive must stop for genuine political solution: KNU - Than
Htike Oo

If the Burmese military junta is serious about solving the political
problems which besiege the nation, the Burmese Army "should stop attacking
us", the Karen National Union said today.

KNU, the rebel outfit, which has been fighting the military dictatorship
in Burma for over five decades, the longest period of insurgency, said it
had been attacked nearly 2,000 times during a span of just one year.

The KNU, citing a recent survey of deaths and clashes, said, it suffered
nearly 2000 onslaughts during June 2006 to June 2007 and at least 450
Burma Army and 20 members of the Karen National Liberation Army, its armed
wing, died. Another 20 were injured during the conflict.

Pado Man Sha, General Secretary of KNU, said in order to find a genuine
political solution and to initiate a free and fair dialogue, all
offensives must stop forthwith.

"More over they [the junta] should release all political prisoners, and
should not try to control political parties. Then we can start heading
towards political reconciliation. But what is happening is just the
opposite. They are doing whatever they want and launching sporadic
attacks. So, we can see that the junta is not changing its ways" Man Sha
said.

In the latest series of attacks, last night at about 10 p.m. the 907th
battalion of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), which is
frequently reported to have aided the Burma Army in its offensives,
attacked a village, located under the control of the KNLA Brigade 6, which
is based about 10 kilometres from Myawaddy, a Thai-Burmese border town.

While the DKBA's attack was targeted at the KNLA Brigade 6, Man Sha said
there were no members of the KNLA brigade 6 present there.

Since February 2007 till date, the KNU faced at least 20 attacks, where at
least 30 DKBA troops and three KNU soldiers died with three more KNU
members wounded, Man Sha said.

____________________________________
ON THE BORDER

July 6, Mizzima News
Burmese pastor beheaded in Indian border town - Ko Dee

In a ghastly incident, a Burmese pastor was beheaded by an unidentified
group in Churachanpur, Manipur state, India on Thursday.

Pau Za Khen, a Zomi pastor and a Reverend of the Upper Myanmar Evangelical
Lutheran Church, was abducted by four men from his daughter's home on July
4. His beheaded body was found the next day outside the town.

"He was having dinner in his daughter's home when four people came and
asked him to come out saying they had to discuss something with him.
Thereafter his whereabouts remained a mystery. But the next day on July 5,
residents saw his body in a paddy field," a Burmese living in the town
told Mizzima over telephone.

The mutilated body was found only early in the morning, a few yards from a
settlement in Tangnuam village. The pastor's hands were tied at the back
and his head had been separated from the torso and was blind-folded. The
body was found at around 7.30 a.m. on July 5. After identifying the body
an autopsy was conducted in the Churachandpur District Hospital mortuary,
sources added. Later it was handed over to his family members for the last
rites.

Town residents believe that the murder could be the handiwork of a group
of anti-Indian insurgents.

The pastor founded the Khen Maan village, about three miles from the
Indo-Burma border and was the head of the village.

Both the Indian Army and Manipuri rebels used to visit the village.

____________________________________
BUSINESS / TRADE

July 6, Narinjara News
Bangladesh imports Burmese goods worth $29.53 million in 2005-2006

Bangladesh imported Burmese goods worth US $ 29.53 million in the 2005 -
2006 fiscal year, according to an official report.

Main raw material imports by Bangladesh from Burma were fish, shrimp,
paddy, a variety of peas, onion, ginger, soybean, maize, and timber.

Goods worth US $ 5.19 million were imported by Burma from Bangladesh in
the same fiscal. The main goods exported to Burma were medicine, cement,
ironware and tins.

Bangladesh now not only promotes bilateral trade with Burma, but is also
looking to invest in the farming sector. Bangladesh has proposed to lease
Burma's land, offering $8 to $25 for each acre of land.

Burma's neighbour is now looking to enhance bilateral trade to the volume
of US $ 100 million in the 2006 - 2007 fiscal year.

____________________________________

July 6, Mizzima News
Burma green light for privately owned shipping lines

In a move to try and develop and diversify a faltering economy, private
entrepreneurs will soon be allowed to invest and run overseas shipping
lines, according to the Myanmar Times in a Thursday article.

The announcement is said to have been made in Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw) by
Transportation Minister Thein Swe in a meeting with representatives of the
business community.

The announcement comes after the entry of private players into the air
transportation market in 2004 with the arrival of Air Bagan.

However Air Bagan is owned and operated by the Htoo Trading Company. Htoo
Trading, in turn, is owned by Tay Za, who reportedly retains a close
relationship with military officials, including Senior General Than Shwe.

To date, the only Burmese overseas shipping line in operation is the
government owned Myanmar Five Star Lines.

____________________________________

July 6, Xinhua General News Service
Myanmar pledges sufficient rice production for growing population

Myanmar has pledged to produce sufficient rice to meet the growing
population in the years ahead by extending the cultivated area of paddy
and raising per acre yield, a local weekly reported Friday.

The government has worked out program to reach the goal of meeting the
demand of the country's population estimated to increase up to 100 million
in the future from the present 56.5 million, Lieutenant-General Myint Swe,
a high ranking defense official, who met rice traders recently, was quoted
by the Myanmar Times as saying.

According to Myint Swe, in the fiscal year of 2006-07 which ended in
March, Myanmar yielded 30.6 million tons of paddy from 8. 14 million
hectares a paddy fields.

The country targets to increase the paddy output up to 31.5 million tons
out of 8.2 million hectares sown in 2007-08 which began in April, he said.

The country's paddy production grew from 12.6 million tons in 1988-89 to
16.8 million tons in 1993-94, 21 million tons in 2000- 01 and 27.84
million tons in 2005-06, he noted, citing figures.

Myanmar's per capita rice consumption stands 510 kilograms (kg) per year
which are for rural people, while it is 408 kg for urban people, according
to the report.

The annual consumption of rice by the entire country is about 17 million
tons.

With over 70 percent of Myanmar's population being engaged in agricultural
undertakings, the sector represents the mainstay of the country's economy,
contributing 50.1 percent to the national economy and achieving an average
annual growth rate of 9.8 percent during the third five-year plan (2001-02
to 2005-06), according to official statistics.

For the development of the sector, emphasis has been placed to ensure
self-sufficiency and surplus for export.

Statistics indicate that Myanmar exported 182,000 tons of rice in 2004-05,
180,000 tons in 2005-06 and 13,200 tons in the first half (April to
September) of 2006-07.

With an aim to expand cultivable land, private entrepreneurs and companies
are being allowed to reclaim vacant, fallow, virgin and wet lands across
the country's states and divisions.

Out of the total cultivable land of 17.4 million hectares, the net sown
area was 10.8 million hectares or 62 percent which is only 16.1 percent of
the total land area, making that there is vast potential for further
development of the sector.

Along with paddy, Myanmar's other principal crops are known as beans and
pulses, oil crops, cotton, sugarcane and culinary crops.

With triple cropping round the year, Myanmar expects that the production
of rice and other commodities will increase year by year.

Other statistics show that Myanmar exported over 930 million U. S.
dollars' agricultural produces in 2006-07, a sharp increase of 75.4
percent over 2005-06.

____________________________________

July 6, Xinhua General News Service
Myanmar takes measure to facilitate export of easily rotten goods

The Myanmar authorities have taken a fresh measure to facilitate
formalities for export of easily rotten items of marine and agricultural
products by issuing such export license directly at two international
airports, sources with the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday.

Such items of exporting products, to be granted directly by the commerce
authorities at the Yangon and Mandalay international airports starting
this month, cover fish, prawn, fruit and vegetable, the sources said.

Normally, export and import licenses are issued at the new administrative
capital of Nay Pyi Taw since June last year.

One stop service will be jointly rendered to such export at the airports
by the commerce ministry, customs department and the airport security
department, it said.

According to official statistics, Myanmar exported 78,000 tons of fish,
19,500 tons of prawn and 1,700 tons of crab in the fiscal of 2005-06,
while also exporting over 20,600 tons of mango, 16,000 tons of cucumber,
4,000 tons of tamarind, 73,000 tons of watermelon and 3,200 tons of plum
during the year.

Other statistics show that the marine exports of Myanmar hit over 234
million dollars in the fiscal year 2006-07 which ended in March, up 14
percent from 2005-06's 205 million dollars, while the agricultural exports
amounted to over 930 million dollars during the same year, a sharp
increase of 75.4 percent over the previous year.

____________________________________
HEALTH / AIDS

July 6, www.kval.com
Turning art into water - Jennifer Winters

Cathy Bradner is not your typical art collector. As you might expect, she
and her husband Curt's home is filled with original art they brought back
from the South Asian country of Burma, also known as Myanmar. But the art
serves a greater purpose than just beauty; it is literally saving lives.

"Most of the artists, ninety percent we know personally," Cathy says.

The couple discovered art while working in a refugee camp. As they taught
orphans art and vocational skills, they also realized they could make
water filters, allowing them to save lives by creating access to clean
drinking water. Thus "Thirst Aid" was born.

Cathy says 15 million people in Burma rely on surface water as their only
source of water, which is often unclean. Waterborne diseases such as
hepatitis A, typhoid fever and diarrhea are major problems in Burma.

The Bradners make the simple filters with native materials. In the end,
they look like something Cathy compares to a glorified flower pot.

Each system costs $15, a fortune in Burma, but a drop in the bucket for
many Americans. That's where the art comes in.

"By that time we realized the water filtration program really should go
global because there are a billion people on the earth that don't have
access to safe drinking water," Curt Bradner says. "We also started to
realize we had a tremendous body of artists who could produce work that we
sell in the states to help fund our program."

Curt and Cathy are preparing for another trip to Burma, and when they get
there they will live simply, riding bikes for transportation on bringing
back art in their suitcases. Every art piece they buy helps feed a family
and every piece they sell in America helps purchase a filter to keep a
family healthy.

"It really does a fantastic job of raising money," Curt says before Cathy
adds, "It also gets people into our home and we raise awareness because no
one buys art without the story of the artist."

_____________________________________
ASEAN

July 6, BBC Burmese Service
Chairman of ASEAN caucus on Burma visits US State Department

Indonesian House of Representatives member and AIPMC Chairman Djoko Susilo
has met Assistant US Secretary of State Eric John and discussed Burmese
political issues.

Eric John has recently met Burmese Foreign minister and party in Beijing.
Dr Thaung Htun, member of Burmese government in exile attends the meeting
and told the BBC that there is no regime change plan from the US side but
it is striving for national reconciliation in Burma.

____________________________________
REGIONAL

July 6, Irrawaddy
Chinese product safety of little concern in Burma - Shah Paung and Sai Silp

Products from China are growing in popularity in Burma, with little
concern over safety issues expressed in other countries.

A business journalist in Rangoon told The Irrawaddy on Friday that most
people in Burma regularly buy Chinese products because of their cheap
price and growing availability.

“People don't worry whether its quality is good or not," he said. "The
most used products are consuming items, electronic materials and farm
equipment.”

A businessman in Bhamo in Kachin State, about 30 miles from Muse, a
China-Burma border town, said foods or snacks from China are less popular
than brands from Thailand and Burma, but Chinese brand household items
such as clothes, umbrellas, electric lights and mosquito nets are sought
out.

He said some NGOs have held workshops and distributed information saying
the quality of Chinese made products may be below the quality level of
exported products from other countries.

“The Burmese military government has not issued any information on the
impact of Chinese products,” he said.

In June, US authorities issued public warnings about the danger of some
products exported from China, including pet food that has made dogs and
cats ill, dangerous levels of lead paint found in toys and poorly
manufactured vehicle tires.

Recently, the US, Singapore, Japan and other countries in Asia, South
America and Africa recalled a contaminated toothpaste product made in
China.

Chinese officials have moved to show they are taking product safety
concerns seriously. China announced in June that it had closed down 180
food manufacturers that had used industrial chemicals and additives in
their products.

In 2005 in Thailand, authorities warned people to exercise caution in
consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, dried foods and some cosmetics,
which the Thai Department of Agriculture said contained high-risk
chemicals.

In May, the Thai Public Health Department in Chiang Rai Province warned
tourists who planned to cross the border to shop in the market in
Tachilek, Burma, to note a product's quality and production date in
manufactured in China.

In June, the Thai Pollution Control Department tested batteries imported
from China and found that although the price was cheaper than batteries
produced in Thailand, the batteries had a short life and their disposal
could be a health threat to people and the environment, according to a
report in the Thai newspaper Matichon.

Thailand and China signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement in 2003.

____________________________________
INTERNATIONAL

July 5, BBC Burmese Service
British charity wants poor to receive cash aid directly

A British charity, Save the Children, says that conventional ways of
reducing child hunger, such as better education and health services, are
not always the best way to curb childhood malnutrition.

After carrying out research in four countries -- Ethiopia, Tanzania,
Burma, and Bangladesh - Save the Children found that many households
simply don't earn enough money to feed their children properly.

The charity argues that aid donors should give poor families more direct
cash rather than other kinds of help.

Save the Children says there's been too little progress on the Millennium
Development Goal to halve the number of people suffering hunger.

____________________________________
OPINION / OTHER

July 6, Irrawaddy
Burma’s junta needs to help the helpless

Recent reports of flooding in areas of Burma and a deadly tornado that
left hundreds in the former capital Rangoon homeless this month have again
highlighted Burma’s desperate need for effective disaster relief efforts.

While Burma’s ruling Tatmadaw, or armed forces, pats itself on the back
for its management of the country, it is left to countries like Japan and
others to provide financial and material assistance to the country’s
suffering victims.

Some assistance has been meted out by Burma’s ruling junta, though much of
it was reportedly administered through a lottery system.

The tornado that struck Rangoon early this month severely damaged or
destroyed almost 600 homes. Victims of the worst damage say they received
four pyi (8 kg) of rice (donated by a local monastery). Those who lost
their homes were also given 4,000 kyat (US $3). Many of the victims claim
they have received nothing at all.

Families who will need to rebuild their homes say they are being left to
their own devices to acquire the necessary materials for reconstruction.

Residents in western Arakan State, where torrential rains hit earlier this
week, told The Irrawaddy that flooding in Thandwe Township has left the
downtown market, the railway line, the local hospital and several schools
completely under water, while several roads were blocked by water and
debris from landslides. Residents are still waiting for assistance from
the state.

These weather-related tragedies are not simply the result of natural
disasters. Burma lacks basic emergency services and disaster relief
programs, particularly in areas prone to flooding and other natural
calamities.

As the UN’s resident humanitarian coordinator, Charles Petrie, has put it,
many of Burma’s difficulties are the result of “ill-informed and outdated”
socioeconomic policies, neglected social services and the regime’s
“uncompromising attitude.”

But the ruling junta has the power to change such perceptions, in the
international community and among its own citizens.

The government should react quickly and unconditionally to the needs of
victims. Programs must be implemented that give the Burmese people
legitimate options at moments when they are most vulnerable. And
government efforts should be coordinated with non-governmental
organizations to put the needs of disaster victims above ideological
differences and political rivalries.