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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:01 AM |
Personally, I think it's absolutely terrible that
a) the country was warned several days in advance by several countries that there would be a cyclone. However, the population wasn't informed nor evacuated
b) they won't accept foreign aid. To me it is absolutely incomprehensible that they can deny Red Cross to enter the country with all the help, food, tents etc. they can provide. I guess this just shows how paranoid a dictatorship can become; they don't care about the people of the country, only that their 'image' isn't ruined. GRRR! |
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AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:26 AM |
I agree with you and I'm worried about ppl's situation there.
Yesterday I decided to contact the NGO that are waiting to get visas to offer my help.
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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:29 AM |
| You did? So instead of job interviews, you'd go as a volunteer? |
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AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:32 AM |
Hanne wrote: You did? So instead of job interviews, you'd go as a volunteer?
I decided to contact them but yesterday was a holiday so i didn't ring anyone.
I don't plan to go there but if i can be of any help in Paris i'll be very happy to help.
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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:41 AM |
| Ah, like that. Well I'm sure they need someone to either pack stuff, or to do administrative work or something like that. Plus, it'll look good on your CV ;o) |
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AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:46 AM |
Hanne wrote: Ah, like that. Well I'm sure they need someone to either pack stuff, or to do administrative work or something like that. Plus, it'll look good on your CV ;o)
I feel there's a urgency for us to help them, don't you think ?
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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 7:52 AM |
| Of course I feel there's an urgency to help them, just like there's an urgency to help in Darfur. The major problem in Burma, however, is that the government doesn't allow help so far. As far as I can see, most of the help needed is available, if only the government would let it in! |
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AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 8:05 AM |
Hanne wrote: Of course I feel there's an urgency to help them, just like there's an urgency to help in Darfur. The major problem in Burma, however, is that the government doesn't allow help so far. As far as I can see, most of the help needed is available, if only the government would let it in!
It's like North Korea - both are dictatorships and would rather let their people die than seek help.
This makes me really angry and i fell like throwing up when i listen to the news.
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Ursina Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 8:13 AM |
| just heard in the news that an UN plane was refused to land in Rangoon and turned back . It's incomprehensible |
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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 8:19 AM |
They claim that the country "isn't ready" for foreign help. How can it not be ready?? Didn't they have time enough to remove the evidence of oppression and torture or what??
I feel queasy thinking about it. |
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AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 8:37 AM |
Ursina wrote: just heard in the news that an UN plane was refused to land in Rangoon and turned back . It's incomprehensible
Like I said earlier this whole thing is making me very angry.
Also have you heard news of Aung San Suu Kyi ? |
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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 8:54 AM |
AbsolutPurple wrote:
Also have you heard news of Aung San Suu Kyi ?
I think she lives in Rangoon, which hasn't been affected. But I don't know. |
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Joe Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 8:57 AM |
The reasoning behind the refusal for foreign aid is that this would mean allowing foreign soldiers, to generally from the bulk of the aid workers and rescue parties, onto Burmese soil, supported by military aircrafts for search and rescue. Although I aggree that this is terribly foolish, I've already heard several people say "make he most of it to kick out the régime". If you were behind a dictatorship (and therefore massively paranoid), you'd have second thoughts too.
Lets hope at least the N.G.O. workers will be given visas in the coming days. |
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Hanne Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 9:09 AM |
Joe wrote: The reasoning behind the refusal for foreign aid is that this would mean allowing foreign soldiers, to generally from the bulk of the aid workers and rescue parties, onto Burmese soil, supported by military aircrafts for search and rescue. Although I aggree that this is terribly foolish, I've already heard several people say "make he most of it to kick out the régime". If you were behind a dictatorship (and therefore massively paranoid), you'd have second thoughts too.
Lets hope at least the N.G.O. workers will be given visas in the coming days.
You are most definitely right that that this is the reasoning behind their decision. However, it's still incredibly frustrating knowing that a big part of the population is in deep shit, while the government refuses help for idealistic/personal reasons. But as you say, they're massively paranoid and therefore their reasoning isn't, well, reasonable. |
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AbsolutPurple Posted Fri 09 May, 2008 9:16 AM |
Hanne wrote: Joe wrote: The reasoning behind the refusal for foreign aid is that this would mean allowing foreign soldiers, to generally from the bulk of the aid workers and rescue parties, onto Burmese soil, supported by military aircrafts for search and rescue. Although I aggree that this is terribly foolish, I've already heard several people say "make he most of it to kick out the régime". If you were behind a dictatorship (and therefore massively paranoid), you'd have second thoughts too.
Lets hope at least the N.G.O. workers will be given visas in the coming days.
You are most definitely right that that this is the reasoning behind their decision. However, it's still incredibly frustrating knowing that a big part of the population is in deep shit, while the government refuses help for idealistic/personal reasons. But as you say, they're massively paranoid and therefore their reasoning isn't, well, reasonable.
the same reasonnig goes for North Korea. |
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