We are certainly lucky to be Malaysian.

And no, it’s because we are so muhibbah, or because we are an independent nation, or even because we have oil. It’s because natural disasters are rare here. In the floods of Dec 2006 for example, “only” six people died. Not that I am belittling anyone else’s suffering, but we just don’t see chaos like some countries face daily.

I’m talking of course of Cyclone Nargis which has left well over 100,000 dead and many more homeless in Myanmar. These pictures, taken from a satellite [source], sum up the destruction:

The Irrawaddy delta which is Myanmar’s main source of rice was also largely destroyed, making the situation even worse.

But what is really disgusting about the whole thing is how Myanmar’s military-controlled government is actually using the disaster to exploit their people. They are stubbornly refusing outside help, turning away volunteers and denying press coverage. The regime is even denying how critical the situation is!:

The junta, however, told visiting Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Wednesday it is in control of the relief operations and doesn’t need foreign experts.

“They have their own team to cope with the situation,” Samak said after returning from Yangon.

He said the junta gave him a “guarantee” that there was no starvation or disease outbreaks among survivors. In Yangon, Samak visited a government relief center.

“From what I have seen, I am impressed with their management,” Samak said.

Instead of putting aside their differences to help the people, the junta is instead busy relabelling boxes of supplies donated by international organizations with names of generals. Unconfirmed reports even state that the military is diverting supplies for itself, or swapping out the food!

A longtime foreign resident in Yangon told the AP in Bangkok that angry government officials have complained to him about the misappropriation of the aid by the military.

He said the officials told him that quantities of the high-energy biscuits rushed into Myanmar by the WFP on its first flights were sent to a military warehouse.

They were exchanged by what the officials said were “tasteless and low quality” biscuits produced by the Industry Ministry to be handed out to cyclone victims, the foreign resident said.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because revealing his identity would jeopardize his safety.

Suddenly our gomen looks like a choir of angels huh? A few people even told me that the US should invade Myanmar to “force” the aid in!

Regardless, this should not stop us from contributing what we can.  A blogger from Burma said it well: “I would hate to see the aids stopping because of this. Let’s say $100 is donated, and let’s say, $50 is not received, but the other $50 will still go there, so it’s better than $0.”.

You can donate to the people of Myanmar here.

Popularity: 37% [?]