Search this site powered by FreeFind

Quick Link

for your convenience!

Human Rights, Youth Voices etc.

click here


 

For Information Concerning the Crisis in Darfur

click here


 

Northern Uganda Crisis

click here


 

 Whistleblowers Need Protection

 

 

Statement from Burmese Communities in Canada On International Effort for Burma Cyclone Relief

May 20, 2008

We, the Burmese communities from different backgrounds today call for immediate international intervention to save the lives of millions of people in Burma after the cyclone Nargis hit the country's Irrawaddy Delta and other four regions of the country.

The country's military junta had not only failed to protect or relief its own citizens, but also had delayed the entire process for the delivery of international aid to the cyclone affected areas in Irrawaddy Division.  According to the relief workers in the ground, over 200,000 people lost their lives or missing in Irrawaddy delta alone. Thousands of survivors are suffering from pneumonia and other diseases.  The more diseases such as cholera and dysentery are likely to outbreak very soon due to lack of food and clean water. 

According to a recent estimate by the International Red Cross, more than 2.5 million people became homeless.  Thirteen days after the cyclone struck Burmese military junta is not willing to co-operate with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and still denying the visas entries to the international aid workers including Canadians. We Burmese communities are concerned after receiving clear evidence that in addition to the regime failing to respond to the crisis and blocking international access, it is actively obstructing the delivery of aid.

There are reports that Burmese people attempting to distribute aid have been attacked by the regime's militias: the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA), and Swan Ah Shin.  We believes that those actions provide enough evidence to charges of crimes against humanity and calls for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1674, known as the "Responsibility to Protect".

The shocking photographs smuggled out of the country now circulating on Internet web pages had shown whole communities the cyclone-affected areas were totally destroyed.

It is responsibility of the Burmese junta to protect its own people, and that if a government was either deliberately targeting part of its population, or failing through inaction to protect them from serious disaster, then it forfeited its sovereignty.

The international community has a responsibility to protect the world's populations from genocide, massive human rights abuses and other humanitarian crises.  To implement the action of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the international community shares a collective responsibility to respond as quickly as possible.

For conclusion, we, the Burmese communities in Canada warmly welcome the U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's visit to the disaster zone during his visit to Burma on upcoming Wednesday.

Contact:

U Than Aung
Coordinator, Burma Forum Canada
Tel :(780) 439-7555

Dr. Alice Khin Saw Win
President, Burma Watch International
Tel :(780) 492-4547

Kyaw, Zaw Wai
Chairperson, Burma Cyclone Relief Committee (Toronto)
Tel: (416) 358-2318

Tin Maung Htoo
Executive Director, Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB)
Tel: (613)297-6835.

Mahn Kyaw Swe President
Karen Canadian Community (KCC)
Tel: (519) 434-0139

Home Books Photo Gallery About David Survey Results Useful Links Submit Feedback