Politics of Rescue

In the history of humanitarian intervention, examples of unilateralism such as Kosovo in 1999 are far more common than UN-led multilateral action. Burma should now be added to this historical record.

In the aftermath of cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma on May 3 with enormous loss of life, the country's ruling junta has blocked foreign relief workers from bringing much-needed aid to survivors.

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon clearly said that "Myanmar (Burma) cannot do it alone" in setting up major logistics operations to deliver supplies to the most affected areas. Ban said much needs to be done, immediately.

However, the head of the Burmese navy, Rear Adm Soe Thein, told Adm Timothy J Keating, commander of the US Pacific fleet, that the basic needs of storm victims were being met and that “skillful humanitarian workers are not necessary.”

According to several reliable sources in Rangoon, Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein, told a meeting of business people on May 12 that no foreigners were being allowed into the hardest-hit Irrawaddy delta region.

"Thein Sein said ‘No foreigners, no cameras!’" said a well-known journalist in Rangoon.

Many foreign aid workers, including volunteers from "friendly" Asian countries, are being asked to stay away from actual aid distribution.

"We can't go to Pathein [Bassein], capital of the delta region," said a Thai non-government organization aid worker on Tuesday. "Even relief trucks were stopped on the way down to the delta and had to drive back to Rangoon."

Moreover, several reports confirmed misuse of international aid. Supplies were reportedly ending up in military warehouses, local markets and the homes of police and members of pro-government civilian groups, instead of reaching starving and disease-stricken survivors.

As another storm front heads towards Burma's already devastated coastal areas, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to add to the misery of cyclone survivors, the regime's increasing restrictions on international aid workers are now tantamount to a "crime against humanity".

A humanitarian catastrophe is escalating for 2.5 million survivors, who live in Burma’s “rice bowl” and for whom aid must be viewed in the perspective of long-term rehabilitation and rebuilding.

The situation in Burma is extreme enough to justify international intervention.

Even Gareth Evans, president of the International Crisis Group, an organization that usually promotes a policy of engagement with the junta, recently wrote that "if the intransigence of the Burmese generals continues, it is a very real issue whether in the name of humanity some international action should be taken against their will—like military air drops, or supplies being landed from ships offshore—to get aid to the huge numbers who desperately need it right now, in the inaccessible coastal area in particular."

However, a few top UN humanitarian officials including John Holmes, under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, still place their hopes on negotiations with the junta.

The military, which is well experienced in defusing international pressures, will, of course, make nominal gestures and on-and-off concessions in order to divide international public opinion and strategy.

The most demonstrative example is the regime's "selective opening up to international staff" as the junta invited its immediate neighbors— China, Bangladesh, Thailand and India—to send 160 international workers to join the relief effort.

Although the invitation has yet to yield results, the message itself could create ultra-optimism among the regime's international cheerleaders, including Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who went to Burma on a mission to persuade the generals to allow international relief workers but returned empty-handed.

Samak said on his return: "From what I have seen I am impressed with their (Burmese military's) management."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, at least, appears to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"Even though the Myanmar [Burmese] government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time, it's far, far too short," Ban said. "The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers."

Junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe remains indifferent to international concern, and even ignored attempts by Ban to contact him. He also snubbed Thai Prime Minister Samak, who met only Burma’s prime minister and is likely to ignore an upcoming "coalition of mercy" from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and a visit by the EU's humanitarian aid commissioner.

Although the junta will continue to refuse to open up the country to a full-scale relief effort this doesn’t mean that all diplomatic efforts should be set aside.