Sichuan vs Burma/Myanmar.
Channel 8 has just organized a charity program specially to raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake. If you've noticed, Sichuan news always came first, on tv news and on newspapers. The Sichuan earthquake has a wider coverage, with more images, videos, and articles. Most Singaporeans I know have been blogging and talking about the Sichuan earthquake and how it has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
What about Myanmar?
Some facts:
China's deathtoll: 65,000 (as of May 26)
Myanmar's deathtoll: 134,000 dead or missing (as of May 26)
China: open to international aid.
Myanmar: has been rejecting foreign aid. Has only agreed to let foreign aid in late last week. Will they keep to their word? History doubts it. UN says that only 1/4 of cyclone victims has received aid.
By "aid," it means this:
"One told us that the government's aid effort, praised in the state media as a rousing success, amounted to a choice of one small packet of noodles or one egg per family per day." Taken here.
Myanmar is one of the most closed-up countries in the world. The ruling military junta has been oppressive, even after the cyclone struck. Checkpoints prevented aid from reaching the worst-hit areas. In return for access, some aid workers have to bribe soldiers with their aid supply. Aid surrendered to soldiers have little possibility of reaching the victims.
In areas hit by the cyclone, most victims are left to fend for themselves. They are expected to rebuild homes, roads, and basically their lives. Sometimes the junta would hire citizens to rebuild roads, and PAY them a packet of AID with World Food Program logo printed on them.
Amidst such a huge disaster, not mentioning the government's horrendous negligence, the ruling junta had the cheek to conduct a vote on the new Constitution which will "prolong their rule by, among other things, allotting 25 percent of parliamentary seats to the military" (taken here). Most citizens did not even see the ballots; they were marked out for them by those associated with the ruling junta.
While the citizens battle malnutrition, disease and shelter problems, the ruling junta remains concerned ONLY with securing political rule and showcasing to the world a facet of control.
We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis unfolding itself. As French ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert warned, “a true crime against humanity.” Are we going to remain nonchalant about it?
Channel 8 has just organized a charity program specially to raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake. If you've noticed, Sichuan news always came first, on tv news and on newspapers. The Sichuan earthquake has a wider coverage, with more images, videos, and articles. Most Singaporeans I know have been blogging and talking about the Sichuan earthquake and how it has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
What about Myanmar?
Some facts:
China's deathtoll: 65,000 (as of May 26)
Myanmar's deathtoll: 134,000 dead or missing (as of May 26)
China: open to international aid.
Myanmar: has been rejecting foreign aid. Has only agreed to let foreign aid in late last week. Will they keep to their word? History doubts it. UN says that only 1/4 of cyclone victims has received aid.
By "aid," it means this:
"One told us that the government's aid effort, praised in the state media as a rousing success, amounted to a choice of one small packet of noodles or one egg per family per day." Taken here.
Myanmar is one of the most closed-up countries in the world. The ruling military junta has been oppressive, even after the cyclone struck. Checkpoints prevented aid from reaching the worst-hit areas. In return for access, some aid workers have to bribe soldiers with their aid supply. Aid surrendered to soldiers have little possibility of reaching the victims.
In areas hit by the cyclone, most victims are left to fend for themselves. They are expected to rebuild homes, roads, and basically their lives. Sometimes the junta would hire citizens to rebuild roads, and PAY them a packet of AID with World Food Program logo printed on them.
Amidst such a huge disaster, not mentioning the government's horrendous negligence, the ruling junta had the cheek to conduct a vote on the new Constitution which will "prolong their rule by, among other things, allotting 25 percent of parliamentary seats to the military" (taken here). Most citizens did not even see the ballots; they were marked out for them by those associated with the ruling junta.
While the citizens battle malnutrition, disease and shelter problems, the ruling junta remains concerned ONLY with securing political rule and showcasing to the world a facet of control.
We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis unfolding itself. As French ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert warned, “a true crime against humanity.” Are we going to remain nonchalant about it?
发贴者：me-myself-i 时间
1:57 下午
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