ARTICLE: Burma Says Storm Killed 15,000, By Amy Kazmin, Washington Post, May 6, 2008; Page A01
Will be interesting to see how China and India respond to Myanmar's disaster. India's private sector stepped up nicely with the Christmas Tsunami and clearly the PRC feels some political responsibility for the junta, given the close ties.
Something to watch. Events like these only come around every few years, so it's important we draw powers out commensurately with their "rise."
Comments (4)
Wonder if Myanmar's reluctance to let in aid has anything to do with considerations re: so-called "disaster capitalism?."
Posted by Bill C. | May 15, 2008 9:03 AM
What is the role of China and India? Same role of everyone else, provide what is requested, or are the humanitarian obligations higher for regional powers?
The contrast between the Myanmar response to the Cyclone and Chinese response to the Earthquake is striking when comparing openness. China has opened itself up to the media for all to see, warts and all, while the Burmese military won't even take off their sunglasses.
That is the obvious benchmark in observing the rise of China.
Posted by Galrahn | May 15, 2008 9:53 AM
China is only trying to keep up with what it knows the people will send out. Remember the cellphone photos of the snowstorms last winter? Burma/Myanmar still has the information stranglehold on a poor populace, similar to China before SARS.
As a subscriber to the ProMed mail list, I remember seeing the following post back on FEB 03 and of course not realizing the implications:
"This morning I received this e-mail and then searched your archives and found nothing that pertained to it. Does anyone know anything about this problem?
'Have you heard of an epidemic in Guangzhou? An acquaintance of mine from a teacher's chat room lives there and reports that the hospitals there have been closed and people are dying.' "
That, of course, was the camel's nose under the tent with regards to SARS, which had been simmering secretly for some time. Not likely in today's China, but possible in today's Burma.
The junta is afraid of the connectivity the aid workers will bring. After the 2005 tsunami I found plenty of Indonesians (especially under 25) who engaged with us and were surprised to learn that Americans didn't have horns and and a pointy tail.
Posted by TEJ | May 15, 2008 1:42 PM
I suspect India's the only one that will even try to drive that bus.
China's going to be too busy trying to juggle the earthquake, Olympics and internal dissenters seeking to exploit the international attention.
Posted by Yankee Sailor | May 15, 2008 2:03 PM