Myanmar Update, U.S. Navy Ordered To Leave

After weeks of sitting of the coast of Burma and making 15 requests to assist with relief efforts that have been rejected by the ruling military junta. The United States Navy has been ordered to leave.

Many other relief agencies are expressing regret saying they desperately need the helicopters for heavy lifting and access to remote areas. Use of military helicopters though standard U.N. operating procedure has been rejected through fear of an invasion by the ruling military government.

The French, who proposed sending in relief without permission, have already had their navy leave the area.

AP: Video, U.S. Navy Leaving Area

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Myanmar Aid Update, U.S. Navy May Leave Area

Myanmar's military junta is creating more delays and havoc among relief workers and still refusing aid from some places.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a statement on the issue earlier today saying that he will make a decision in a matter of days about leaving the cost of Myanmar. In the statement he said "it's becoming pretty clear the regime is not going to let us help." He also added that as a result many more people in the country will die.

Asked if the military junta there is guilty of genocide, Gates said, "I tend to see genocide more as a purposeful elimination of people, this is more akin, in my view, to criminal neglect."

Speaking to reporters at the close of an international security conference here, Gates said the Myanmar representative at the forum did not seem interested in speaking with him. But, he said "it was interesting to watch as minister after minister described their respective unhappiness at their inability to get assistance in to Burma."

Update on Burma Disaster, Death Toll of 100,000

Photo by soldiersmediacenter

Some relief aid is finally getting into Burma, but it is not enough as the military run Government is still not allowing all relief help efforts into the country. U.S. Aid is still on standby and there are delays in getting Visa's to Taiwanese aid workers.

World Food Programme is stating that it is critical to get aid into the country within the next 10 days or the crisis will widen. If you can please visit the World Food Programme site to make a much needed donation.

New death toll estimates coming from an official U.S. diplomat in the country put a number out that could exceed 100,000. Much higher than estimates of 22,000 - 50,000 as the Government of Burma stated.

France suggests the invoking of a UN "responsibility to protect" and that aid should be delivered without the permission of the military run Government.

See my other post on this story Here.

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