Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Latest News - as at 11 am, 8th May, 2008

SBS - Burma cyclone deaths may exceed 100,000

More than 100,000 people may have been killed in the cyclone in Burma, a US diplomat says, citing information diplomats were receiving from the devastated Irrawaddy delta region of the Southeast Asian country.

"The information that we're receiving indicates that there may well be over 100,000 deaths in the delta area," said Shari Villarosa, the head of the US embassy in Burma.

State radio and TV, the main official sources for casualties and damage, reported an updated death toll of 22,980 with 42,119 missing and 1,383 injured in Asia's most devastating cyclone since a 1991 storm in Bangladesh that killed 143,000.

Source: SBS News, To read more Click Here

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U.S. envoy: Myanmar deaths may top 100,000

YANGON, Myanmar (CNN) -- The death toll from the cyclone that ravaged the Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar may exceed 100,000, the senior U.S. diplomat in the military-ruled country said Wednesday.

"The information we are receiving indicates over 100,000 deaths," said the U.S. charge d'affaires in Yangon, Shari Villarosa.

The U.S. figure is almost five times the 22,000 the Myanmar government has estimated.

The U.S. estimate is based on data from an international non-governmental organization, Villarosa said without naming the group. She called the situation in Myanmar "more and more horrendous."

"I think most of the damage was caused by these 12-foot storm surges," she said.

Villarosa also said that about 95 percent of the buildings in the delta region were destroyed when Cyclone Nargis battered the area late Friday into Saturday.

Source: CNN News, To read more Click Here

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BBC - Keeping a lid on Burma's chaos


In the past, when they feared things were getting beyond their grasp, their solution was simple: mass arrests.

But the latest challenge to the generals' demand for order could not be cowed.


Source: BBC News, To read more Click Here

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Fund Raising Dinner at Turner Bowling Club, 16th May, 2008

Fund Raising Dinner 16th May 2008

No doubt you have watched with amazement the tragedy unfolding in Burma (Myamar) as the Generals refuse access to relief agencies and insist that the military take control of all distribution of foreign aid. Aid is not getting to the affected areas, and Burmese television is keeping from the people in the areas not affected the truth of the situation.

There is a way of getting aid directly to the Burmese people, and that is by contributing directly to the monastries through the Australia Burma Association (ACT.)

For a over a thousand years Burmese life has revolved around the monasteries. All young men spend time as monks, part of their experience being going amongst the community with their begging bowls to receive food. The monastries both receive anf give donations. In time of crisis people go to the monastries for help. Their is a strong tradition that the monasties do not accumulate wealth which can be used for personal comfort. You might also remember that it was the monks who lead the last uprising in Burma, which was savagely put down by the generals even though the protests were non-violent. However the monastries are still functioning as a counter point to the rule of the generals.

The Australian Burmese Association of the ACT have been asked to donate by the monks of Nyetpyawgyun Tawya monastery and they in turn are being helped by a volunteer organisation called Saytana in Yangon (Rangoon.) Saytana is organising transportation of cash, food and medicines from Yangon. An accountant firm in Yangon has volunteered to deal with finances and budgets. Given enough resources, aid will be distributed to a number of monastries for distribution to the people. The Australian Burmese Association is in direct contact with the accountants, as well as with the various arms of the Burmese relief effort. Many Burmese people who are aware of the situation (despite the government propaganda that a few villages are under water but all is under control and the military is there to help) are already donating through these agencies.

What is to stop the generals from commandeering this aid? The tradition of monastries distributing help to people is at the heart of Burmese life. The monastries are sending monks to accompany the aid. Although the monks who were involved in the uprising against the government were imprisoned, tortured and killed it is unlikely that the military will interfere with the traditional role of the monastries as this would be striking at the heart of Burmese life in a way which could not be ignored.

More Information:


Web : http://helpburma-cyclonevictims.blogspot.com

Email: Australia

help_burma@hotmail.com, help_burmese@live.com.au

Phone: 0401742608

Burma: Monks.help.burma@gmail.com

So if you would like to contribute to Cyclone Relief effectively, quickly, and without further lining the pockets of the generals, please bank you donation directly to

Direct deposit or a cheque to
ANZ bank
Australian Burmese Association of ACT
BSB No: 012-955
Account No: 4940-34744

Cheq send to
Secretary
Australian Burmese Association of the ACT
5/8 Northbourne Flats
TURNER ACT
2612
CANBERRA

This account has been set up especially for cyclone relief donations. We have been working with other city based Burmese community association and if you have any questions, if we can be assistant of, let us know. We are organizing Australian Nation Wide Burma Relief Community Organization.



Thank you for your support and kindness,


Ma Mar
Secretary [Nationwide Help Burmese Relief Team]

Burmese Australian Burmese Association of the ACT

5/ 8 Northbourne Flats

TURNER ACT 2612

Canberra