Special FCCT Briefing on Burma

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10355625.post-52102736395811064512008-05-09T16:44:00.002+07:002008-05-09T16:50:19.784+07:00Special FCCT Briefing on BurmaVia e-mail: <big><big></big></big><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><big><big>A Press briefing by </big><big>Human Rights Watch and the Women’s League of Burma/Shan Women’s League</big> <big><big>Politics over Aid</big></big></big> <big>Saturday, May 10 at 10:00 am at the FCCT (special Saturday opening of FCCT)</big> </div> Members please note: Due to the influx of journalists covering the disaster in Myanmar out of Bangkok, the FCCT will stay open as a special service on Saturday, May 10. There will be our usual full bar and restaurant service, and wireless Internet will be available as usu Members please note: Due to the influx of journalists covering the disaster in Myanmar out of Bangkok, the FCCT will stay open as a special service on Saturday, May 10. There will be our usual full bar and restaurant service, and wireless Internet will be available as usual. Cyclone Nargis devastated parts of lower Burma on May 2-3, resulting in the deaths of at least 62,000 people, the government says. More than one million people are now homeless in Irrawaddy, Rangoon and Pegu divisions. Despite the disaster, the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has permitted only very limited supplies of international relief assistance into the country. Numerous aid workers are in Bangkok waiting for visas to get into Burma. Obviously, the Burmese government is trying to block international aid efforts in part to keep foreigners out until the constitutional referendum is over. Under international law, the million or so people thought to have been made homeless by the cyclone are considered internally displaced. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, a state should not arbitrarily withhold permission for international humanitarian organizations and other appropriate actors to provide aid, “particularly when authorities concerned are unable or unwilling to provide the required humanitarian assistance.” The principles further state that, “All authorities concerned shall grant and facilitate the free passage of humanitarian assistance and grant persons engaged in the provision of such assistance rapid and unimpeded access to the internally displaced.” The Burmese government has announced plans to continue with its constitutional referendum scheduled for May 10, although it has postponed voting in 47 townships (districts) in southwestern Burma badly affected by the cyclone, including the former capital Rangoon, until May 24. However, Human Rights Watch report, “Vote to Nowhere: The May 2008 Constitutional Referendum in Burma” (http://hrw.org/reports/2008/burma0508/), shows rampant human rights abuses in Burma mean the constitutional referendum would be neither free nor fair. The proposed constitution will only cement continuing military rule. The speakers will be: - Sunai Phasuk - Human Rights Watch - Charm Tong - Women’s League of Burma/Shan Women’s League Representatives of international agencies have been invited to be present to update the media on the status of relief efforts. </blockquote> BP: The latest HRW press release is <a href="http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/05/08/burma18783.htm">here</a>: Key excerpt: <blockquote>(New York, May 9, 2008) – The Burmese government should postpone the constitutional referendum scheduled for May 10, 2008 and focus on relieving the horrendous human suffering from Cyclone Nargis, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the Burmese government to stop blocking aid efforts and lift restrictions on international aid agencies so they can respond immediately to help survivors. Despite the disaster, the military government has announced plans to continue with its constitutional referendum, although it has postponed voting in 47 townships (districts) in southwestern Burma badly affected by the cyclone, including the former capital Rangoon, until May 24. “The Burmese government is blocking international aid efforts in part to keep foreigners out until the voting is over,” said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “But those without clean water, food or medical care can’t wait any longer for help – they need it now. It’s time to pull the plug on the referendum and open up to aid workers and their supplies.”</blockquote> BP: I don't agree with HRW on every subject, but as it was the referendum was a farce and to hold a referendum when the country has just had a severe natural disaster and more than 100,000 are dead is beyond unconscionable. More links to come later tonight.Bangkok Pundithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00120891606340974105noreply@blogger.com