Nargis One Year On

The real disaster in Burma is the military dictatorship

Cyclone Nargis - One Year Anniversary

Cyclone Nargis One Year On On May 2nd, 2008 Cyclone Nargis struck Burma killing 140,000 people and another 2.4 million were severely affected. Despite the devastation and urgent humanitarian need, the Burmese military regime would not allow the outpouring of aid from around the world into Burma and refused to allow foreign aid workers into the country. One week after nargis, while still in shock and trying to support those devastated by the cyclone, the country was forced to polls for a referendum on a proposed constitution drafted by the military dictatorship. The constitution’s sole aim is to further entrench the military into power in Burma. Only after the junta had secured their constitution and much international pressure from the global community, did they allow aid and aid workers into the country. But by then for many it was too late. Even then, the military junta continued to thwart aid efforts and have made the people’s suffering worse. They have made receiving aid conditional on paying military officers and local authorities, or providing forced labour for “reconstruction” projects. Money and crops have been extorted in non-cyclone affected areas to fund Nargis relief efforts. Moreover, there are widespread reports that the Burmese military regime has misappropriated aid. Since Nargis struck the Burmese military regime has said that aid needs to be channelled through them and have promoted themselves as key to rebuilding the country. However, there are very few signs that the military regime is actually assisting in rebuilding critical infrastructure. For example, if the junta’s current efforts to rebuild destroyed and severely damaged houses were to continue at its current rate, it would take them over 100 years to replace all the houses.

The Burmese military dictatorship has the capacity to help but chooses not to. The UN, ASEAN and Burma’s junta are calling for US$690.5 million from the international community for reconstruction work. However, Burma has extensive foreign reserves amounting to an estimated US$3 – 4 billion, which could easily cover the reconstruction work. Why are these reserves not being used to support cyclone victims and for reconstruction projects? Because helping the people of Burma is not a priority or even a second thought for Burma’s military dictators. The real disaster in Burma is the military dictatorship. Burma Campaign Sydney encourages you to stand in solidarity with Burma’s cyclone survivors.

Take easy and effective steps to make a difference • • • •

Become a Burma Campaign Australia supporter at www.aucampaignforburma.org Discuss Cyclone Nargis and the junta’s response with your local MP, in a letter or a meeting Talk to your friends about Cyclone Nargis and the junta’s re sponse Pass this booklet to your friends

Cyclone Nargis Chronology: April 26th – Burma receives first advisory from the Indian Metrological Department about Nargis April 27th – Burma’s Metrology and Hydrology department posted a warning on their website April 30th – Burma received detail information from the Indian Metrological Department about Nargis and its routes May 2nd – in the afternoon State-run media in Burma released the first warn ing 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 to distribute it themselves - Canadian House of Commons passed a unanimous resolution con demning the junta’s 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 to encourage the junta to let aid into the country, the junta says they 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 military regime to allow aid workers into the country regardless of nationality, however, no military from other countries is allowed in. May 24th – people in the cyclone affected areas voted on the constitution – passed with 92% approval

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 Nargis relief work June 12th – Tin Tin Cho, Wai Lin Aung, Yin Yin Wyne, Ni Mo Hlaing and Myat Thu 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 Tun were 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 and Zaw 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 dis torted money exchange mechanism used in Burma; this was later revised 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 having enough domestic rice Feb 9th, 2009 – Tripartite Core Group release a report calling for US$690.5 million from the international community to support recon struction work, despite Burma have billions in foreign reserves.

Humanitarian Impacts and Issues: •

Severe damage to food and fresh water sup plies. 240,000 people are still relying on drinking water being delivered one year after the storm; • Severe damage to buildings and infrastruc ture, including homes schools, hospitals, roads and waterways. Half a million people still live in basic shelters a year later; • Concerns over rising health issues and epidemics due to unsanitary 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 receiving more 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 or not; and • Days after Cyclone Nargis, whilst aid was still being se verely restricted, the military regime was exporting much needed rice to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Economic Impact • • • • •

Fishing industry has been hard hit, with loss of income, as well as loss of boats and fishing equipment. Only 10% of lost boats have been replaced; Two million acres of Burma’s most fertile rice paddy have been turned into salt contaminated waste land. Restora tion of fertility is difficult and expensive; UN Food and Agricultural Organisation estimated that Cy clone Nargis affected 65% of rice paddy fields in Burma; So far only 0.6% of irrigation systems and dykes in the affected 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.

A year after Cyclone Nargis killed 140,000 people and left over 1 million homeless in Burma, thousands of cyclone survivors are struggling every day to meet their basic needs. In the wake of the Burma’s worst natural disaster the military forced their self-serving undemocratic constitution upon the people through a sham referendum. Only when the referendum was over did the military junta allow international aid in. By then it was too late for many.

The real disaster in Burma is the military dictatorship.

c/- The Burma Office Labor Council Building Suite 6, Level 8 377-383 Sussex Street, NSW, 2000 02 9264 7694 [email protected] www.aucampaignforburma.org