The Nation: Burma expels BBC reporter

[NewsBot]

Rangoon - Burma's junta, which has appealed for international aid to cope with the disastrous impact of....

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[LivinLOS]

Jesus, do they understand how this looks..

Also the embassy stayed closed on Monday because it was a Thai holiday !!! I mean huge national disaster but hey, dont let it interfere with your day off hey !!

[ATMwalking]

Actually this would be a good time to invade based on humanitarian reasons. It is the situation where the UN should override a nation's sovereignty to help these people survive.

[Captain]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Actually this would be a good time to invade based on humanitarian reasons. It is the situation where the UN should override a nation's sovereignty to help these people survive.

So how do you propose to do this practically? Send in a UN military force? Agree but there is a difference between theoretical, what can be possible and what is advisable.

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by Captain

So how do you propose to do this practically? Send in a UN military force? Agree but there is a difference between theoretical, what can be possible and what is advisable.

It's been done before but more where it is from a man made conflict causing innocent people to suffer. Here it is a government that is generally regarded as one of the worst unable to respond (or possibly care) about this natural disaster.

If 1,000,000 people are now homeless than that is 1,000,000 that need help right now. A military force is the only ones that can get into a disaster zone and deliver aid. Non-military orgs can follow in after. Just can't wait for Burma to give permission.

[Lightemup]

Send in Rambo, he's been there before...

[lowerpro]

Originally Posted by Captain

So how do you propose to do this practically? Send in a UN military force? Agree but there is a difference between theoretical, what can be possible and what is advisable.

Well I would rather send the boys in here, were they were actually wanted and not IED fodder, than somewhere like the sandy village of rag heads .
The poor Burmese who just want some outside help and fooooking need it , fron this milatary rule with no media no help and an underlying rule of we have it so you do as we say !

[Captain]

I can agree with what you propose, but I think nobody's local government on this board will see it that way. Now they have oil and natural gas, if only ther would be a few Al Qaida guys there.
We have seen a lot happening, from the genocide in Cambodja (till the kmers attacked the Viet minority and Vietnam interfered), Ruanda, Darfour... and no action. Why then go to Birma?
Ther is a big difference between people's feelings/opinions and their gouvernment's actions.
Besides, I haven't seen much objections to the way Birma suppress its people from their closest neighbour (although the old capital Ayutthaya was destroyed by them) ... but maybe some neighbouring colleagues soldiers are faring well with the regime.

[lowerpro]

Originally Posted by Captain

I can agree with what you propose, but I think nobody's local government on this board will see it that way. Now they have oil and natural gas, if only ther would be a few Al Qaida guys there.
We have seen a lot happening, from the genocide in Cambodja (till the kmers attacked the Viet minority and Vietnam interfered), Ruanda, Darfour... and no action. Why then go to Birma?
Ther is a big difference between people's feelings/opinions and their gouvernment's actions.
Besides, I haven't seen much objections to the way Birma suppress its people from their closest neighbour (although the old capital Ayutthaya was destroyed by them) ... but maybe some neighbouring colleagues soldiers are faring well with the regime.

Just imagine the people of the UK watching there forces going in to actually help people selfishly with outcause , without being the USA's little lapdog doing are bit in the southern regions, just to be there,and show are support for the big wheel .Just imagine if we actually made a diffrence without out gain , maybe our country could be proud once again .And not a dirty finger in Bushes sleazy pie ...

[Coolhand]

The United States has long imposed a trade and investment ban on Myanmar, accusing the government of "poor human rights records."

U.S. Navy ships are standing by off Thailand awaiting permission to join relief efforts in cyclone-hit Myanmar, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

"But that's all we can do at this point, is to plan, because we have not received a request from the Burmese (Myanmar's) government," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

The U.S. Navy ships that are ready to leave for Myanmar include the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship that carries 23 helicopters, three landing craft, and a contingent of 1,800 marines, the Pentagon said.

The nearest U.S. navy ships to Myanmar were reportedly a four-and-a-half-day sail away taking part in an exercise in waters in the Gulf of Thailand.

U.S. President George W. Bush made an appeal to Myanmar's government on Tuesday to accept U.S. disaster teams, saying Washington was ready to help more after a devastating cyclone.

"The United States has made an initial aid contribution but we want to do a lot more," Bush told reporters at the White House.

Also on Tuesday, the Bush administration is offering three million U.S. dollars, up from an initial emergency contribution of250,000 dollars, in aide for cyclone-hit Myanmar.

the estimated 1 million people left homeless by Tropical Cyclone Nargis

So the US is offering $3 dollars in aide for every person left homeless.

But they were willing to spend how much per Iraqi citizen under Saddams' rule, $5.000.000?

[marc26]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

So the US is offering $3 dollars in aide for every person left homeless.

But they were willing to spend how much per Iraqi citizen under Saddams' rule, $5.000.000?

that is a ludicrous statement Luke
so far, from what i heard it was more than any other country(and actually, i know just read Britian is giving 9mil)

and completely irrelevant to what aid they are giving to Burma

[lowerpro]

Well all said and done between the uk and us 650 billion for the independece of Iraqi's that dont even like are way of life, thinking ,culture,and really dont give a SHITE ! What ar we doing to the next two three generations of are own , as its not happening to us ,no tax increases no limits on spendings , we are passing it on ,they are so they can keeps on side for now !!!?
War against terrorism what about war against invasion what would you do ?

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

So the US is offering $3 dollars in aide for every person left homeless.

But they were willing to spend how much per Iraqi citizen under Saddams' rule, $5.000.000?

I think the $3million is more like a bribe to get them to open the door to aid. Almost certainly any money donated won't get to the people. Most countries have made it clear that is the reason they are low balling cash donations. But many developed countries (and thailand) wants to get experts over with supplies ASAP.

If I was Thailand I'd be in panic mode. Could be 1,000,000 refugees knocking on the door soon.

[LivinLOS]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

So the US is offering $3 dollars in aide for every person left homeless.

But they were willing to spend how much per Iraqi citizen under Saddams' rule, $5.000.000?

Come on..

Even me would say thats silly.. One the number are (as I understand them) wrong.. Two they are being prevented in giving aid.

As much as I am critical of US foriegn policy.. I am sure given the chance they would have humanitarian boots on the ground right now.. The impact that a force like that could have in a country as screwed as Myanmar would be immense.

The Generals refusing it should be held accountable under international law.

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by Coolhand

So the US is offering $3 dollars in aide for every person left homeless.

But they were willing to spend how much per Iraqi citizen under Saddams' rule, $5.000.000?

The estimated US donations to and after the tsunami in the first year was 1.8 billion. Granted that is was more wide spread, however, as an example the US collective donations in that period was $400 million to Indonesia and $135 million to Sri Lanka.

A lot of that money did not come from the US government, but rather from private and corporate fund raising. Once you get the Americans going (at the private level) it is amazing what can be achieved.
After the tsunami I started a fund raiser among my 110 colleagues with a company matching program and we raised just over $8,000, which all went to a school rebuilding project in Thailand.

The key to a good fundraiser is to motivate while the event is still in the news, unfortunately. In this case the news has been skimpy and there is little or no faith that donations will get to those who need it.

Personally I plan to start a fund raiser as soon as I can find an avenue to do some good (but not before). My goal this time would be to raise about $3,000 as I now work for a smaller company. That would be 0.1% of the stated donations offered by the US .... be real.

If the Burmese government, however, will not let both journalists and relief worker in, the efforts will be near nill.

[inthemode]

In reality the generals in Burma take orders from Bejing. Since China needs their energy and vast forests they are the ones who call the shoots in Burma and they are the ones who pump money into the pockets of the few.
It really dosen't fit China's needs to have a different government in Burma they are doing quite fine with the junta.
There is so much energy and teak and stuff that flow to China from Burma that goes without reporting.

China wouldn't let someone else run Burma.

[Soupdragon]

Originally Posted by inthemode

In reality the generals in Burma take orders from Bejing. Since China needs their energy and vast forests they are the ones who call the shoots in Burma and they are the ones who pump money into the pockets of the few.
It really dosen't fit China's needs to have a different government in Burma they are doing quite fine with the junta.
There is so much energy and teak and stuff that flow to China from Burma that goes without reporting.

China wouldn't let someone else run Burma.

Hit the nail right on the head there.

[Older man]

Originally Posted by MrDK

The estimated US donations to and after the tsunami in the first year was 1.8 billion.

I always wondered where the money went to. I hope it did not go to rich restaurant, bar, disco and hotel owners who got a free cheque to rebuild their places and make more money. I know I am very cynical but I would really be surprised if any of the cash went to the poor people. I have trouble giving cash aid for the simple reason I do not trust it goes to the ones who need it most, I fear it instead goes to "project developers".