Myanmar generals insult world donors

Thursday 29th May, 2008

Myanmar has described world aid offers for victims of Cyclone Nargis as ‘chocolate bar’ donations.

The Myanmar junta has lashed out at offers of foreign aid, criticising demands for access to the Irrawaddy delta and saying the victims of Cyclone Nargis could stand up for themselves.

The Kyemon newspaper has said that the people from Irrawaddy can survive on self-reliance ‘without chocolate bars donated by foreign countries.’

As with all media in Myanmar, the Kyemon newspaper is tightly controlled by the army and is believed to go along with the opinions of the top generals.

The editorial also accused the international community of being stingy, noting that the United Nations was still a long way short of its US$201 million target, nearly four weeks after the disaster.

It said the level of aid stands in stark contrast to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when governments around the world promised US$2.08 billion within the first week.

http://www.australiannews.net/story/364862

World Focus on Burma (30 May 08)

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Sydney Morning Herald

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