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The real disasterin Burma

is themilitary

dictatorship

Cyclone Nargis - One Year Anniversary

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Cyclone NargisOne Year On

On May 2nd, 2008 Cyclone Nargis struck Burma killing 140,000 people

and another 2.4 million were severely affected. Despite thedevastation and urgent humanitarian need, the Burmese military regimewould not allow the outpouring of aid from around the world into Burmaand refused to allow foreign aid workers into the country.

One week after nargis, while still in shock and trying to support thosedevastated by the cyclone, the country was forced to polls for areferendum on a proposed constitution drafted by the military

dictatorship. The constitutions sole aim is to further entrench themilitary into power in Burma. Only after the junta had secured theirconstitution and much international pressure from the globalcommunity, did they allow aid and aid workers into the country. But bythen for many it was too late.

Even then, the military junta continued to thwart aid efforts and havemade the peoples suffering worse. They have made receiving aid con-

ditional on paying military ofcers and localauthorities, or providing forced labour forreconstruction projects. Money and cropshave been extorted in non-cyclone affectedareas to fund Nargis relief efforts. Moreover,there are widespread reports that theBurmese military regime hasmisappropriated aid.

Since Nargis struck the Burmese militaryregime has said that aid needs to bechannelled through them and havepromoted themselves as key to rebuildingthe country. However, there are very fewsigns that the military regime is actuallyassisting in rebuilding critical infrastructure.For example, if the juntas current effortsto rebuild destroyed and severely damagedhouses were to continue at its current rate,it would take them over 100 years to replace all the houses.

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The Burmese military dictatorship has thecapacity to help but chooses not to. TheUN, ASEAN and Burmas junta are callingfor US$690.5 million from theinternational community for

reconstruction work. However, Burmahas extensive foreign reserves amountingto an estimated US$3 4 billion, whichcould easily cover the reconstructionwork. Why are these reserves not beingused to support cyclone victims and forreconstruction projects? Becausehelping the people of Burma is not a

priority or even a second thought forBurmas military dictators.

The real disaster in Burma is the

military dictatorship.

Burma Campaign Sydney encouragesyou to stand in solidarity with Burmascyclone survivors.

Take easy and effective steps to make a difference

Become a Burma Campaign Australia supporter atwww.aucampaignforburma.org

Discuss Cyclone Nargis and the juntas response with your localMP, in a letter or a meeting

Talk to your friends about Cyclone Nargis and the juntas response

Pass this booklet to your friends

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Cyclone Nargis Chronology:

April 26th Burma receives rst advisory from the Indian

Metrological Department about Nargis

April 27th Burmas Metrology and Hydrology department posted a warningon their website

April 30th Burma received detail information from the Indian MetrologicalDepartment about Nargis and its routes

May 2nd in the afternoon State-run media in Burma released the rst warning of Cyclone Nargis

May 2nd/3rd - Cyclone Nargis Struck

May 9th Burmese military regime said they would receive aid, such as food,medicine and other supplies, as well as cash; however, they had todistribute it themselves

- Canadian House of Commons passed a unanimous resolution condemning the juntas actions

May 10th Burmese military junta hold a referendum on their constitution passed with 92% approval

May 11th US and UK Ambassadors to Thailand plan to visit Burma toencourage the junta to let aid into the country, the junta saysthey are not ready to accept people at this time

May 16th Burmese UN representative accused France of sending war ships

May 19th Military junta agrees to allow aid from ASEAN into the country

May 21st aid from ASEAN reaches Burma

May 23rd Ban Ki-moon negotiates and agreement with the militaryregime to allow aid workers into the country regardlessof nationality, however, no military from other countriesis allowed in.

May 24th people in the cyclone affected areas voted on the constitution passed with 92% approval

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Late May Burmese military junta issued a ban on exporting rice

June 4th Zarganar was arrested for Nargis relief work

June 5th International military ships carrying aid that have gathered near

Burma, leave without giving any aid

June 10th Emit Khaing Oo and Kyaw Kyaw Thant were arrested for Nargisrelief work

June 12th Tin Tin Cho, Wai Lin Aung, Yin Yin Wyne, Ni Mo Hlaing and MyatThu were arrested for Nargis relief work

June 13th Thet Zaw, Tin Maung Ye and Thant Zin Aung were arrested for

Nargis relief work

June 14th Aung Kyaw San, Nay Win, Phyo Phyo Aung and Shein Yazar Tunwere arrested for Nargis relief work

June 15th Phone Pyeit Kywe was arrested for Nargis relief work

June 23th 729,000 cyclone survivors had received a food ration card andZaw Naing was arrested for Nargis relief work

June Thiegi Oo and Cho Cho Tin were arrested for Nargis relief work

Late July UN announced that US$10 million had been lost due to the distorted money exchange mechanism used in Burma; this was laterrevised to US$1.56 million

August 27th Nyan Tun was arrested for Nargis relief work

October 22nd rice export ban lifted, despite concerns over Burma not havingenough domestic rice

Feb 9th, 2009 Tripartite Core Group release a report calling for US$690.5million from the international community to support reconstruction work, despite Burma have billions in foreignreserves.

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Humanitarian Impacts and Issues:

Severe damage to food and fresh water supplies. 240,000 people are still relying on

drinking water being delivered one year afterthe storm; Severe damage to buildings and infrastruc

ture, including homes schools, hospitals,roads and waterways. Half a million peoplestill live in basic shelters a year later;

Concerns over rising health issues and epidemics due tounsanitary conditions and contaminated drinking water

supplies; Misappropriation of aid by the Burmese military junta and

ridiculous exchange rates, resulting in loss of aid dollars; Unfair distribution of aid, with community near military

bases, or where military personnel are from receivingmore assistance than other communities;

No transparency or accountability of aid dollars being used

in Burma; Severe restrictions on aid workers, where they could travel

to, how they could reach the people, etc; Military regime recently re- imposed strict restrictions on

visas for foreign aid workers; Local individuals and aid groups have been harassed,

threatened and 21 people have been arrested for initiating

much needed relief efforts; Dead bodies were not properly disposed of; Cyclone survivors in relief camps have been forced to

leave, regardless of whether they had a home to go to ornot; and

Days after Cyclone Nargis, whilst aid was still being severely restricted, the military regime was exporting muchneeded rice to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

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Economic Impact

Fishing industry has been hard hit, with loss of income, aswell as loss of boats and shing equipment. Only 10% of

lost boats have been replaced; Two million acres of Burmas most fertile rice paddy havebeen turned into salt contaminated waste land. Restoration of fertility is difcult and expensive;

UN Food and Agricultural Organisation estimated that Cyclone Nargis affected 65% of rice paddy elds in Burma;

So far only 0.6% of irrigation systems and dykes in theaffected area have been repaired, reducing future agricul

tural crops; and Burmese military junta estimate an economic loss of

US$10 billion due to Cyclone Nargis.

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The real disaster in Burmais the

military dictatorship.

c/- The Burma OfceLabor Council Building

Suite 6, Level 8377-383 Sussex Street, NSW, 2000

02 9264 7694burma.campaign.sydney@gmail.com

www.aucampaignforburma.org

A year after Cyclone Nargis killed 140,000 people and left over 1million homeless in Burma, thousands of cyclone survivors are

struggling every day to meet their basic needs.

In the wake of the Burmas worst natural disaster the military forced

their self-serving undemocratic constitution upon the people through asham referendum.

Only when the referendum was over did the military junta allow

international aid in.

By then it was too late for many.