BURMA - THE AID PROBLEM
Posted by anthonynorth on May 10, 2008
The charities are ready. Appeals are in full swing. Some aid has arrived. But in Burma, hundreds of thousands are fending for themselves after the Cyclone as the Military dictatorship seems to ignore the problem.
Well, let’s get one word out of the way before we begin. Military? They may wear uniforms, they may have guns, but as ex-forces myself, it is an insult to soldiers everywhere to call the Burmese government ‘military’.
Estimates of the dead are high.
And it is clear that many more will die of the criminal complacency in that country. And like many the world over, my gut reaction is: ignore the Junta and get in there!
I say this, but do I have the right to say it? I’m from the west, and feel that we have the moral balance right concerning human rights. Yet hasn’t every predominant society throughout history felt it holds the moral high ground?
I am often uneasy about this.
Whilst the sentiment is true, we can never know for sure what insidious politics is going on behind the scenes of western governments, making so many governments worldwide suspicious of our motives.
And then there is the problem of which ethic is most important – sovereign power or human dignity? What kind of a world will we inhabit if we decide it is okay to ignore a nation state’s borders? What trouble could it cause in the future?
If we are to demand we give aid to those who need it, I think it is time that the world’s charities organized themselves into a diplomatic and logistics force in its own right, free of western government’s political aspirations.
Maybe then we can truly take the aid, and charity, to where it is needed.
© Anthony North, May 2008
NOTE: For the foreseeable future, I am transferring my current affairs posts to Beyond the Blog. I hope you enjoy them, and that they make you think.
May 10, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I agree with you completely about the charities reorganising their position. It is appalling to think that people are suffering because the aid can’t get through. Malaria and cholera won’t wait for the Burmese dictatorship to decide whether or not it will allow the despised ‘Westerners’ into the country. Something must be done.
May 10, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Hi Selma,
Very true. I think charities need to refinance themselves so that they don’t have to rely on any country, or any military - even have their own diplomatic representatives in other countries.
It is the only way to be free of political interference, thus allowing all countries to trust them.
May 10, 2008 at 6:25 pm
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I heard that one relief plane was allowed in, but the supplies went to the “military” leadership; no oversight from whatever relief agency was allowed. With the possibility of a half-million deaths, it is difficult to visualize a silver lining to this catastrophe, but consider this: Myanmar (Burma) is now on the world’s stage, and the audience dosen’t like what it sees. The negative reviews just may spell the end of the junta. I just hope it doesn’t take too long.
Thanks for adding current events to BtB!
May 10, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Hi John,
Thanks for that. The situation is ridiculous. There are experienced aid workers queuing up waiting for visas that are not forthcoming.
One thing that would help is for regional powers to wake up to their responsibilities, and put pressure on. But this just does not seem to be happening either in the Far East or Africa.
May 10, 2008 at 9:46 pm
we can never know for sure what insidious politics is going on behind the scenes of western governments, making so many governments worldwide suspicious of our motives.
and i believe this just may be the real heart of the matter… what a shameful set of events for everyone concerned….
May 10, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Hi Paisley,
It is indeed. I remember, in particular, the Irangate scandal, where Oliver North (no relation, thank God) was doing arms deals behind the scenes of valid diplomacy which resulted in a Church envoy kidnapped and spending years as a hostage.
There are many vile dictatorships out there - and vile manipulations closer to home, too.