Comments on: What 100,000 people means...

By: Prassi

Prassi — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:09:21 +0000

I pray god that atleast children and Infants they shoud not suffer...
Oh..God..I pray for all burmans who lost their Loved ones.

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:49:03 +0000

I just hate that govt.....it's like killing their own ppl slowly....I wish I have to power to kill the guy in charge of the country.....stupid....selfish....an animal-minded.

By: DavidJustinLynch

DavidJustinLynch — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:44:39 +0000

Where is our military in all this? How can we let some gang of two bit thugs that call themselves a "government" get in the way of getting desparately needed aid to starving people. Land our Marines, drop some paratroopers. take out the Myanmar generals and get the aid to the suffering. It is more important to aid needy people in a catastrophe than to respect the sovereignty of this so-called government in Myanmar.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:39:26 +0000

I'm from Burma. The house i grew up in has roof blown up and trees fall down. but on one get hurt.
Usually Burmese people are very friendly and would like to help anyone and everyone.
It is sad that because of these idiotic generals, the country has go down the drain. we have vast natual resources. country is very rich naturally. imagine British stayed there for over 100 years. the generals are very greedy and they are not educated people. they only rose up the ranks because they know how to kill people.
for now the most concern is people who are still surviving. who need help the most. 40% of the dead people are children. also lots of children lost their parents.
some of the people might think that if the goverment don't want it, why bother.
Burmese have been fighting for Democracy for a long time. People get arrested just for offering the monks for water at last up rising. We who live in America can exercise the freedome. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi gave up her life, and family and everyting to bring Democracy to Burma.
Let's face it, not alot of people know anything about Burma until recently. Burma general wants Burma to be forgetted. The world forget about Burma.
Well it's about time that we who love freedome let these generals know that it won't last forever. their time is up.

By: Franklin Strum

Franklin Strum — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:12:44 +0000

It is sad once again the junta government is punishing its people. With the constant detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and others, we should have guessed that they don't care about their people by blocking aid from countries who want democracies. The problem is the junta runs the government so we have to have permission to go in to give aid.

By: Julie San Diego, CA

Julie San Diego, CA — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:24:08 +0000

Ana writes:
"I wonder if there is any UN clause that allows UN to enter a country forcefully on humanitarian grounds;especially when you have a regime like the one you have in Burma?"

There is Ana. It's just that no one has the "courage" (I'm tempering my tongue tremendously here...) to put it to the test because they're afraid of setting a precedent. Our diplomats are more afraid of being proper than doing the right thing. Sometime's doing the right thing means being very frank about your expectations.

How many years after Rwanda and we're still dealing with a UN less effective than a boy scout troop? If there's a bully on the block you've got to stand up to him, and sometimes that means bloodying his nose. Our leaders need to tell the UN that we expect them to invoke their discretion to use force.

Why do we continue to fund an organization that can't be depended upon to stand up for the most helpless in our society?

Go rent the movie "Hotel Rwanda" and note the scene where Don Cheadle's character is driving in the fog. He gets out of his vehicle to find out why there's this thumping sound under his tires.

It's because he's driving over bodies.

The UN didn't stop it then, they aren't stopping it now.

A good friend of mine escaped the Khmer Rouge by the skin of his teeth when the helicopter his uncle had chartered (the uncle was in the government that was being overthrown) dipped in Rambo-style to rescue him and other family members. They fled in a hail of gunfire. They survived. He's an ordinary guy. If ordinary people can have that kind of courage, the UN, and anyone else that wants to, can find a way in.

By: Moe thuzar Myint

Moe thuzar Myint — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:08:08 +0000

Nyeinc,
I am Burmese by birth and American by choice. Please understand that all the junta wants from US is money. My mom used to say don't give anything unless you can give whole heartedly. Well, I am not going to give the junta the money. But aid , absolutely. I have beeen in US for 28 years. I do also misss Burma whole a lot. I wish there is more I can do other than typing to message board for AC. God blessed the Burmese people and it is BURMA. I refused to accept the other name.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:57:44 +0000

While I disagree with the 'Wagons Ho' approach of breaching a soveriegn nations borders, the historical references in the same post are interesting since it is a similar belief that General Pershing had in WWI that is holding much of the US aid in Thailand.
Because the US agencies will only operate as US agencies and not in concert with other world agencies, the aid sits until US agencies are given visas. The Myanmar government is fearful of letting US military equipment, including transports into their country, so the humane thing for the US to do here is to get the aid supplies to the Chinese or the Indian governments, who the Burmese 'trust'.
Unfortunately, this robs the US government of the photo opportunities it craves, and the US people are misled into believing that there was no other option for their government to pursue. And yes, other governments are doing this...

By: Krystle

Krystle — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:43:38 +0000

I am in tears just thinking about what is taking place. My town is a little over 100 000 people. At the same time I am outraged at the thought that dictators can sit in there comfy homes while millions are suffering. It's unimaginable. My heart and prayers goes out to all those that is suffering.

By: mike

mike — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:42:33 +0000

when i heard 100000 i was thinking wow thats like all of green bay being gone( thats where i live) and then i saw it on the map, thats crazy talk. cnn get out of my head

By: terry

terry — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:17:22 +0000

In regards to robert (and not intended to be a direct criticism), in addition to urging this government to accept our support , I think it is critical for us to be introspective and realize that perhaps if myanmar doesnt want our help (even during this period of time) that maybe it is due to our general foreign policy in that and all regions of the world. Essentially, our willingness to help (as offered by the Bush administration) should not be viewed as unique in the eyes of the world nor should the resentment and reservation that such a country has towards us be. I find it appalling that we are loathed that much, that a government and country in this position would refuse aid.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:14:24 +0000

I've been to Asia a couple of times and have seen how the locals live in good times. I can't imagine how they are coping in these extreme situations.

By: robert

robert — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:07:58 +0000

So the Govt of Myanmar does not want our aid, they are afraid that Americans might foment unrest with the persecuted people of that country. I say we dont give it to them or even try to force it on them, only the people of that country can take their freedom back. The US should let the rest of the world take care of the problems for awhile.

By: Blaise MacLean

Blaise MacLean — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:42:24 +0000

I have a question. When do acts, or inactions (as the case may be) rise to the level of "crimes against humanity"? We have seen this junta place the legitimately elected leader of the country (and Nobel Peace prize winner to boot) in custody for over 10 years, and the world has stood by. We have seen them bludgeon Bhuddist monks, and other demonstrators, to death, time and again, and the world has stood by. We have seen entire rural populations relocated, dispossessed and local cultures destroyed so as to construct a new capital city in the middle of nowhere, and the world has stood by.

Now we see this Cyclone. The junta had at least 2 days warning from Indian authorities (and from who knows who else?) and they did nothing...and tens of thousands have died. Now they are, for political expediency, resisting the infusion of aid, again for political reasons, and tens of thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands more) are going to die.

You cite estimates of 100,000 dead, but some other estimates are now reaching a half million people dead or about to die because of the Junta's complete disregard for the lives of their people.

So, I ask again, when do we get to the stage at which there are crimes against humanity... crimes which are committed not just against the burmese but against all humanity as a species? Because there are multiple international treaties and conventions(such as the genocide Convention and the Rome Statute) which cover off such conduct and there is also customary international law which has a lot to say about mass killing on this scale.

But, if none of it is invoked; if China is able to block any effort to hold the Burmese accountable, I am left with my second question...of what use is international law, and of what use are all our glorious treaties and conventions?

Just asking.

By: GMyers

GMyers — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:24:19 +0000

Forget 'em. If they don't want the aid then tough. It would likely be squandered away by corrupt officials anyhow. Lets help our own first.

By: kristi

kristi — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:31:38 +0000

as i feel bad for all the family that has been lost and those still trying to come to some comprehension of what has happened, we tend to forget that our country suffered major devastation with katrina and how many people are still homeless and how many have yet to make it back because there is nothing for them. i understand the need for aid over there, but it seems we let our own country down in terms of aid a fews years ago and we still are.

By: Mark R.- Morelia, Mex.

Mark R.- Morelia, Mex. — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:20:04 +0000

I am surprised that Rev. Wright hasn't come forward to tell the Burmese people that their chickens have come home to roost.

By: Ratna, New York, NY

Ratna, New York, NY — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:14:54 +0000

My paternal great-grand father was from Burma and traveled in the late 19th century as a Indenture labor to the British colonies. Just the thought that I might have potential unknown family there.

By: Hayley

Hayley — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:50:31 +0000

Wow...I live near Allentown, Pennsylvania and to imagine the city destroyed is mind boggling. Thank you–the map helps put the situation into perspective.

By: Sean in Dallas

Sean in Dallas — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:18:40 +0000

Wow! It feels good to know that if anything like that ever happened here our government would respond immediately with unparalleled relief efforts. Our government would never just sit there and do noth....oh wait...um........never mind.