The Statement on SPDC’s Handling of the Nargis Cyclone Disaster in Burma

May 18, 2008

The Nargis cyclone, the worst natural disaster in Burma , resulted in more than 100,000 of death or missing and hundreds of thousand of more people homeless.

  Despite the death, suffering, and dying of hundreds of thousands of people, and the demands by the UN and international community to postpone the referendum so that   focus can be made on urgent rescue and relief works, SPDC still went ahead with its sham referendum. Governments in other countries would declare days of national mourning for the victims and would postpone all other important events.

  The cold-blooded and heartless military government in Burma disregards the death and the suffering of its people, and was completely overwhelmed with its sham referendum merely to secure its power and legalize its military rule. Even when the Indian meteorological department gave credible information about the cyclone 48 hours before the disaster, the military government was eager with its campaign on referendum and deliberately neglected the warning. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have to face with the unnecessary and avoidable death. If disaster preventive measures and policies are in place like in many other countries, people could be evacuated in time and hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved. The military government’s selfishness, cruelty and its thirst for power at the expense of the death and the suffering of hundreds of thousands of its own people is unspeakable.

  After the death of hundreds of thousands of people, the military government has again failed to take effective remedial and relief measures for the victims. Though international humanitarian aid is on hand, eagerly waiting to help the victims of the cyclone, the military government deliberately hinders the process worrying that those international aid agencies and media could witness the referendum which was single-handedly held by the military regime on the 10^th of May. Now, even though some limited aid is allowed to flow into the country, the international relief workers and disasters experts are still denied visa. It is outrageous to see that the military regime focuses only on its attempt to cling on power despite the death, the suffering and the dying of its citizens. We strongly condemn both its handling of the disaster and its attempt to cling on power by hook or by crook with its referendum.

  At the same time, in order to save the innocent lives in Burma , we urgently urge the international community to take coercive intervention under the "responsibility to protect" principle unanimously endorsed by 150 heads of state and government at the 2005 UN World Summit. The Concept of “Responsibility to Protect” states that where there are overwhelming natural or environmental catastrophes, and the state concerned is either unwilling or unable to cope, or call for assistance, and significant loss of life is occurring or threatened, the use of coercive intervention and the application of military force can be justified. Therefore, we strongly believe that the inhumane act of Burmese military regime after the Cyclone Nagis disaster is a proper case for coercive intervention under the "responsibility to protect", R2P, principle, and it should be applied as a matter of urgency in order to save hundreds of thousands of lives in Burma .  

The statement is jointly issued by

  1. Australia Mon Association (AMA)

2. Euro Mon Community

3. Mon Canadian Society

4. Monland Restoration Council ( USA )

5. Mon Women's Association of America

6. Mon Women’s Organization of Canada

7. Mon National League for Consolidating and Aiding (Mae Sot, Thailand )

8. Mon Unity League ( Thailand )

Media Contact:

Nai Siri Mon Chan ( Australia ) Tel:  + (61) 433 555 372.

Nai Mot Deep ( USA ) Tel: 260-447-7741, 260-441-0549

Nai Sunthorn Sripanngern ( Thailand ) Tel: + (66) 086 989 0079