Anderson,
It is extremely sad and horrific what has happened in Burma. The images coming out of there reminds me of NOLA but on a much worser scale. The people are left there with nothing and the government is of no help.

I can see that they don’t let reporters in because they haven’t in a while but why not let aid in to help these people? To me that is just crazy that they don’t even care enough to help there own citizens! Hopefully they will let more help in soon.

My thoughts and prayers go out to them all!!

The magnitude of this is unimaginable. It is so hard to sit back and see the devastation on tv. I hope they grant you a visa Anderson, so you can tell their stories. Your last line in the blog caught in my throat, those numbers …

I always wonder why natural disasters like this almost always attack the poorest countries so viciously. NOLA is one of the few exceptions of long lasting consequences of a natural disaster in a rich country Others (like countries affected by severe flooding in Central Europe 2 years ago) just seem to dust themselves off the water and return to normality in a matter of days / weeks.

Anderson, I think the job you do is great because we feel you care and you make us care too. I hope you can get a visa soon and you can start reporting / helping in Burma.

We are so preoccupied with the election drama, that we forget just how many human beings are really suffering from this disaster. It should be at the top of the news. World pressure should be on Burma like a ton of bricks. Let the aid come in…period. Hope you get to go to Burma soon.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

It is very inspiring for me to see someone like you on the news, the stories you cover and the perspective you take are very humanitarian. As a student, you are an excellent role model for me and I know your stories prevent me from just ignoring all the bad news out there and instead having an informed opinion and wanting to help. Thank you for doing what you do.

Hi Anderson,
I am so glad you are reporting the disaster from Burma. This is what you do best. I am so glad you are there so we can have a first hand account from a very compassionate reporter.
Thanks so much Anderson and be sure and let us know how we can help. Godspeed to all those affected.
Your news fan and admirer,
Betty Ann
Nacogdoches,TX

Hi Anderson,
Oops, you’re not in Burma. This election has kept you really busy. Here’s hoping you get to Burma soon. They need you there and we need you there.
Thanks and peace!
Betty Ann

Anderson, I do hope you can go to Burma and tell their story. When things like this happen, everything else seems so trivial. Helping our fellow human beings is first and foremost and I hope the people there will eventually get all the aid they need. Take care.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Anderson,
These people need help. You can help. Hope they agree to let you in.
Stay safe there.

What is so sickening is that this is the tip of the disaster if all available aid isn’t allowed into this country. Let’s not talk about diseases and starvation as a result of lack of food, clean water, and sanitation under a worst case scenario. The current situation over there is disasterous enough. It never ceases to amaze me how a government can dehumanize its own citizens, consider them less than, and not provide basic assistance when disaster strikes (of course in this case, I’m not sure they really cared all that much before the cyclone hit). Politics should never be part of the equation of helping our fellow human beings. Innocent people should not have to suffer because of the idiocy of a select few in power (even though they are and have in the past even in my own home state). And God forbid the world knows how this current government in Burma cares so little for its own. Praying you all can get over there to tell the stories that need to be told and help in whatever way you can.

What a terribly sad situation. I do hope and feel positive about them allowing aid in. And if you get to go, do be careful.

I so often wish you would post more of your stories. I guess you are hopefully saving them for another book. The stories of the folks you have met, have seen and have heard.

In Outside you mentioned those “arm chair” travelers. Trust me when I say I would be ready to go at any time to any place to see the world. There are some us due to obligations with parents, children and families unable to do just that at this point in our lives. We rely on journalists, books and the internet to bring us the world.

Your experiences are truly amazing and your stories of folks are both heartfelt and remarkable. Thanks for sharing your work.

Anderson,

I certainly realize how important the upcoming Presidential election is, but I can’t help but wonder if all of the political coverage in the last week has hurt the situation in Myanmar. It always seems that increased coverage of a disaster, Katrina for instance, hastens help and pressures governments into cooperating. Althought CNN has had updates from Burma, there has been little focus on the situation in any primetime shows. I am glad to see an update planned for tonight and I certainly hope that the government will start to do right by their people. It is amazing that in the year 2008 any storm could kill so many people. I am praying for the people of Burma and for the relief workers who are trying to make a difference.

I sat in shock as I saw the headline reading ‘100,000 dead’ in Burma. I cannot fathom such an intense international disaster.

I just hope this doesn’t turn into a political discussion or an environmental one (to bring up Climate change etc…) but make it an issue of helping others who desperately need it.

Thank you for discussing it and I look forward to follow-ups.

Hi Anderson,
My hearts and prayers go to Burma people, I was so sad for people who lost homes, business and death. I hope you take care yourself in Burma.. I am really praying for you too long….. I saw you on election day for primary, It was so great see you last night! Hope you will go to Burma this week, and your safety too. I agree with guys and Kathy too………
Megan D.
Shoreline, Wa

Anderson….
I cannot wrap my mind around the terrible tragedy that is happening over in Burma. If you do get over there to report, please stay safe. I agree, politics and power plays should take a backseat when a natural disaster such as this occurs.

Anderson: I hope that your visa is granted soon. It is truly unthinkable that politics stand between Burma and all the humanitarian relief standing by ready to save the people from suffering, illness, disease and death. But as you yourself have said, this is not the first time we have seen this happen nor do I suspect will it be the last. God speed.

Anderson,
I truly hope you get to Burma! We really need YOU there to tell the story as only you can. It is truly horrific what is happening there. My thoughts & prayers are with these people.
Take care if you get there & stay safe.

Thank you for informing us about what’s going on (or, at least, what you’re hearing). I was truly disappointed in 360s lack of coverage over the past few days. Bringing these types of (human) stories to viewers is what 360 does best. I’m guessing this type of story is what 360 viewers expect the most (as opposed to the broken record of political commentary). I appreciate this…

It really hit home reading David’s blog on what does 100,000 mean from a scale perspective and seeing such cities as Springfield, IL and Topeka, KS listed. Glad you will be covering the story tonight. Looking forward to hearing the latest on US politics and the latest from Burma. Please pass along how we can help. I know times are a bit tough here in the US but if you are lucky enough to have some spare cash, I’m sure a donation would be much appreciated.

Hopefully you are blogging live tonight. I have not been home or able to blog and hope to blogging tonight. Of course, I always seem to get preempted with other things… Imagine that, life getting in the way of blogging…

Anderson,

Thank you for your thoughtful blog about Burma this afternoon. I knew it was just a matter of time before you posted one.

Our squabbles over the election seem so petty in comparison with what these people have gone through and are going through in Burma. Sadly, it seems that everything ends up being about politics and innocent people end up suffering as a result.

The possibility of the death of 100,000 people is impossible to comprehend! The most tragic part is that so many of those lives would have been spared if the junta had provided ample warning. Their recklessness is unforgivable, but the fact that they will not allow aid groups into the area is monstrous!

I am sure you did your best to get to Burma, but I am confident that you will give this horrible tragedy the attention that it deserves and that you will not allow the stories of these innocent victims to be left untold.

Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio

Anderson,

Hi. I’m glad to see your latest blog on Myanmar. It’s terribly sad that the scope of devastation in Burma keeps widening. To know countless people were and are affected, and not be able to do more about it is a total injustice. As with Katrina, it’s awful knowing that the critical time for action and assistance is immediate, or at least early on–and, in their situation, that time has long passed. I don’t see the reasoning behind the government blocking the help it needs. I hope you are able to go to Burma, as you’d like, and are attempting to. I look forward to tonight’s program. (Your lengthy election coverage last night was great.)

I, too, support you going to Burma. I’ve been a bit outraged at the lack of coverage and even more at the junta for not allowing access. I sincerely hope that, if not you, someone can tell the stories of the people of Burma.

The thought of 100,000 people being gone in an instant is just too hard at times to comprehend. My thoughts and prayers go out to that entire nation. I also pray that the government will see the wisdom in allowing more relief efforts into Burma to help those who need it most.

Dan Rivers has done an amazing job bringing us the story from Burma.

Hmm…I was wondering why u were not in Burma. I’m not surprised the militaries aren’t letting anyone into the country, after the bloodshed last September…well let’s just say they are not there for the people…any news on the much anticipated May 10 referendum on a proposed constitution? I really hope you can get your visa, we need information and the people over there must have their voices heard!! Maybe now the world will listen!!!!!!!
God Bless them all!

Anderson:

What happened in Burma is a terrible tradgedy, but what’s even more tragic is when governmental politics overrides the well being of its residents.

Although you’re upset that you still have been granted a visa to go there, take it as a sign that maybe you weren’t meant to go. Maybe you were meant to stay here at home…..where it’s safe. If you do end up going, please be careful and stay safe.

Kim, Bolingbrook, IL

Anderson,
I just read info on the background of the junta in Burma. The article implied that China ‘covets’ their relationship with Burma. So, is China wielding any influence in the problem of getting aid to Burma?

This is a devastating tragedy–the death toll was shocking enough at 10,000, but the numbers keep rising to unbelievable levels. It is sickening to think how many people have lost their lives and how the survivors are suffering because the government is holding up efforts to bring aid in. Anderson, I hope you will eventually be granted a visa and that 360 will bring us as much information as possible from Burma.

Keep up the great work that you do, Anderson, it’s very important. I just hope you continue to be able to brace yourself for dealing with so many tragic stories, as I’m sure it can take a tremendous toll on you sometimes.

Thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to the poor folks in Burma.

Anderson,

Myanmar and US “Katrina” government aid just the same. Political stonewalling and posturing affecting many lives. Slow and late, totally Ineffective. It’s a shame pitbull in the engine and “Rush Limbaugh’s or Mitt Romney’s BS take center stage to this tragedy.

Do all you can Anderson, Don’t wait. Find a way to get the people of Myanmar the necessary supplies to sustain life and rebuild. A christian would do this because they ought to not because they’re asked to. Many blessing will come your way. We will always have those less forturnate than us with us.

Isn’t there something the UN, or the USA could do to pry open access to help these people. There ought to be some agreed upon mechanism for rapid intervention when the spectre of secondary deaths from disease looms and the local government won’t cooperate. Perhaps it could be justified as a means to halt pandemics. Anderson, please find someone to champion developing an international protocol for a “humanitarian injection” of aid that can be applied, using force if necessary, to get past local regimes.

“Their story needs to be told” Your kidding me. I was a fan up until this article. The people need help. They don’t need a mass of self-important journalists clogging up the process probably shared by aid workers. They need food, water, medicine, shelter and information. You have become another ‘journalist’ seeking adventure for personal profit, rationalizing without admitting to the true purpose for your expediction, a headline story everyone will read because of the immense casualties. I understand that more people concerned equals more aid. The fact remains, none of the goodwill your story can generate will immediately save lives, in fact judging from past disasters, it will take many months and administrative fees for aid creation. If you want to help, quit your high paying job and spend the next year getting your hands dirty helping these people rebuild. Better yet, remember that events will continue to unfold with or without international reporting, stay home and say a prayer who are trying to actually help and that go about it a quiet dignified.

Anderson: I just can’t express how I feel. All my family members are in Rangoon and I still couldn’t get hold of them.
Just want to say thank you so much for your support.

Where are all the soldiers who shot to monks and people back in September??? Do they get pay only to shoot to innocent people? Their responbilities are not included to help their own people?? At least they should just open the iron door to people who are willing to help their own people.

I hope you’ll be there soon to show the true picture of Burma. Solo correspondent absolutely couldn’t cover eveything there, although he’s doing the best he could. Please extend my ‘thanks’ to him. Goodluck with your Visa and get home safe.

Hi Anderson,
What you’re doing is great: to keep us informed. But, isn’t there anything else we can do besides watching those sufferings?. Earlier,somebody said the western world is able to shake the dust off the water and things easily return back to normality. But what about us?
I ‘d like to remind you that my country ( the DRC, that you once visited) is beeing removed from the map of the world and the death toll is far higher than the present event.
To make myself clear, we might or might not be able to prevent a natural disaster but what is happening in my country has nothing to do with a dragon’s wrath, IT IS CAUSED BY PEOPLE WE ALL CAN IDENTIFY. We are just watching.
Regards

Wow, this is horrible. And we thought we had it bad when Katrina hit, though don’t get me wrong, Katrina was bad, but this…this is…uhh…this is like the tsunami bad, where you just can think of the number that 100,000 people are of, but can only imagine that yea…thats a lot of people, dead people, with relatives that are now a live and suffering the after math in a living situation.

Though we speak that politics should be set a side, why weren’t politics set a side when Cuba offered the US help when Katrina hit. Who cares about the politics at that time, the help would of gone a long long ways, much better than the help that over paid black water employees gave.

Of course, in response to the help they’d expect some out dated embargos to be lifted, so what? We the people need to stop putting up with such childish stubborn politics, and demand that when these disasters happen, people can get in to help, no matter what country they are from.

Great blog Anderson, I look forward to your show tonight. If there is anything I can do to help, you have my email, I do have a blog that gets more than 100 hits a day, I would love to create a petition for people to sign to demand Burma let International Aid in, it may not be much, but it may at least help raise the awareness of the situation, email me (or have an assistant email me) if you’d like me to create such a petition.

Patrick

Dear Anderson,

As a burmese nationality, I am very thankful for having such a compassionate anchor like you trying to report the catastrophe in my country. Let me remind you, please see the country’s heroine, Aung San Suu Kyi, if you have any I repeat ANY chance. Please let the world know how she has been and how she is doing. Burmese people are concerned about her as much as the million of disastrous people in the calamitous zone. We all will appreciate you so much.

this situation is gonna get worse before it remotely becomes ‘better’. The international committee ’should’ force their way in at this point. The Juntas don’t care about their people, why should be care about them. yes, it’s a bit naive thinking and ‘violent’, but we must get aid to these people. We cannot just ‘give’ money to the juntas and expect the money to get to the people - no way. Go Anderson!

Anderson,
Thank you for this statement, but you will not be granted a visa to Myanmar in all likelyhood. The Junta is very controlling and as you can see they will not even let in aid for their starving and suffering population.
I spent extensive time in Myanmar a few years ago and was outraged by child labor, forced labor and the terrible poverty that was there. People asked me to convey message of hope to the USA. They wanted the USA to invade their country, who would want that?
I know I have lost many friends in this tragedy, how can I not have? There is no outside contact with anyone there so far, it is just tragic.

The destruction is immeasurable, but that fact relies soley on the location. The cyclone itself was not immeasurably larger than any major hurricane or typhoon that has hit the U.S. or Japan. The people in Burma, especially in the enormously vulnerable delta area, literally live atop each other in shacks that hardly keep out the elements. They don’t have Army Corps of Engineers built levee’s, dams, floodwalls etc. They have no protection, period. If that were the situation along the coasts of FL or LA when a major storm struck the situation would be no different. There would be tens of thousands dead. For the supposedly inexcusable federal response to Katrina here in the U.S. and all the outrage and accountability to follow, just imagine. What if the response was the same as the Burmese government’s? What if nature’s victims in New Orleans didn’t have all the social safety nets and tax-funded social projects provided in this country? Disasters like this need to make us all take a look around, knowing that our ways are far from perfect, and truly be greatful for what this great nation has provided us. On another note, it also makes us realize what a long way we have to go in enforcing the inalienable rights of human beings across the streches of this globe.

AC, it is really tragic that aid is not allowed to pour in to help those in Burma. The government there should be asking for everyone to help with this tragedy. It is sad to see what little value is placed on these people’s lives. I hope Dan is able to show their story to the world and I hope you are able to get there as well. How can a government not want help for their people?

A natural disaster always brings our attention. And our goodwill. But so often I am shocked at how we ignore these areas when nothing has happened. Daily life in Burma cannot be pleasant. I am sure the mortality rate in that country is dismal without a cyclone. But numbers get our attention. 50,000 could die each year from Malaria, and harldy anyone would blink. But a Cyclone, or an earthquake or a Tsunami shocks us. I wish we could be concerned EVERY day about the needless sufferning and dying of any country or group. I wish we could be shocked all the time by the suffering that other areas of the word endure. We need to show our humanity without a catistrophic event.

I UNDERSTAND THE TRAGEDY, BUT THE FACK IS WE NEED TO HELP OUR OWN COUNTRY THAT IS IN SHAMBLES, AND QUIT LENDIND A HAND TO OTHER COUNTRYS ESPECIALLY COUNTRYS THAT DONT WORK WITH AMERICA OR THAT ARE ANTI-AMERICAN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WE NEED TO PUT A STOP TO THE U.S. BLANK CHECK THE THE WORLD FEED ON CHARITY STARTS AT HOME AND IT NEEDS TO START NOW

MY PRAYERS GO OUT FOR BURMESE AND ITS PEOPLE

Anderson, This is what you do best, this is truly a world disaster, Hopefully some of the folks who were waking around the super dome complaining about Katrina can really see what a natural disaster in a 3rd world country looks like. These people who had little to nothing to begin with have lost everything and what help does arrive from other nations will never be enough.

What about the Katrina survivors who are still in need of help? What about New Orleans, it still needs to be rebuilt! What has happened is a horrific tragedy, but when are we going to take care of our own? We need to rebuild our nation before we can help everyone else, let other countries help for a change.

This is an extremely tragic situation, but we’ve seen this too many times before; Banda Ache, New Orleans, and now Burma. There are far too many people with political power and wealth on this planet who could care less about the people for whom they are responsible. Before the internet, we were able to separate ourselves from these disasters, but we can no longer do so. Leaders of the world’s nations can no longer operate in a vacuum, so it’s high time they start paying attention to these disasters and come up with a planet-wide solution.

Avaaz.org is taking donations for the International Burmese Monks Organization. The Burmese people look to their monasteries for food and shelter in times of need, so the monks are the current in place disaster team. Help them and contribute now. I just did.

If there is any reason to invade a country and destroy the leadership, this is it. How long will the world stand by and watch thousands of people parish because of a Dictatorship?

If this dictatorship refuses to request aid, maybe it should be replaced by force. The williningness to sacrifice your own population is at least equally devastating as the mistreatment of people shown by Sadam.

And these guys are easy to defeat, and combined with human aid, will ensure the goodwill of the nation for generations.

So Bushy, finally get something right, offer the aid, and if they decline it, end their regime.

Mike

Very Sad, but people and countries get the type of government they choose there problem is political plain and simple

Anderson,
I hope you do get your visa and get to Burma and bring this story to the masses! It’s a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to those people. You of all people can bring attention to this. Stay safe should you get there. We still need you to tell the stories in America!

This presents a unique opportunity for the government of Myanmar to dispose of countless troublemakers. If only they had the oil resources to justify an intervention…

As a native of Burma, it is a hearth warming feeling to see and hear the passion and considerations from everybody around the world. Life of Burmese people have been repressed, tortured and abused through out decades and now this tragedy struck. No words to express the emotion towards the casualties of our own people who had never see the freedom in their life. Please help the survivor to be able to rebuilt their life by donating whatever you can to charity organizations for the victims of cyclones.

This reminds me of the great flashflood in my hometown Ormoc City in November 1991…so many fatalities, so many people missing…

God bless their souls

HI AC
Today at Mass I pray for all those people especially those children also for you to get a visa.Please be very carefull. This really sad. I have no friends in Burma where as I had quite a few in Sri Lanka.Once Again Good Luck Keep the News Comming..

Debbie

Anderson:

I recently discovered your undercover trip to Burma years ago. As a Burmese citizen, you can imagine how shocked and appalled we Burmese all over the world are over the devastation visited upon our long-suffering country and people. And add to that, the way the junta has been dragging its feet in keeping out the vital aid makes us so angry, frustrated and literally ill. Thank god I was able to get news about friends and relatives in rangoon via another relative in Mandalay as we’ve failed to make contact with people in Rangoon through cell phone. But the worst-hit Irrawaddy Delta will reveal to the world the horrific death toll and destruction so far uncovered. I pray that you’ll be able to get in (actually you’ll need a lot of prayers from lots of people as the generals are mortally afraid of journalists witnessing the referendum on May 10 they’re going to rig) and show the world what Burma is really suffering from. Bless you.

The likelihood of the junta issuing visas is slim. I pray the United States DOES NOT issue another blank check to an Islamic country who will only use our funds against us.

I pray for those lives lost. I also pray the US and its citizens do not blindly donate funds to Islamic countries. We can know aid funds will most likely end up in the hands of the Islamofascists who will gladly use the funds to kill monks, innocents and anyone else who is not like them.

I hope that the Burmese government lets the aid and aid workers in; telling the story is important but right now those people need food, water, and some sort of shelter. How much of the death toll in the end will be because the government wouldn’t accept the aid offered in a timely fashion?

I know you want to go and cover this story but if the government won’t let aid in I don’t see them letting a reporter in either. If you get to go then stay safe and well.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Roger, how many wars do we need to start? People are perishing all over the world. That does not mean that the United States should invade each and every one of those countries. War is not the answer to everything.

“What about the Katrina survivors who are still in need of help? What about New Orleans, it still needs to be rebuilt! What has happened is a horrific tragedy, but when are we going to take care of our own? We need to rebuild our nation before we can help everyone else, let other countries help for a change.”

Well, this magnitude is much like the Asian tsunami a few years ago. The US has always sent aid to other countries in the wake of extreme natural disasters. I would hope that helping people who experience these types of disasters does not preclude us from helping the people here in the US.

If the toll 50,000 - 100,000 - they are going to need help from many countries and I am certain the US is not the only country offering aid.

My elementary friend was burmanese and its a pity to see a military government handle this situation. I honestly think they don’t care about their own people or else international aid would be there helping the Myanmar citizens cope with the disaster this cyclone have left them shattered and battered with nothing but despair. The central asian countries have suffered too much the past few years from tsunami to cyclones. We are in the year 2008 and it seems the world is in such a disaster as we grow older and maturer.

Having gone through Hurricane Andrew, I know how the wrath of these monstrous storms can get. The government of Burma should leave political stupidity aside and work for the best interest of its people. I do however hope that there is an international investigation as to why there was such poor preparation to evacuate the poople. And if this means that the government of Burma is found to be guilty of negligence, then there ought to be a tribunal inquiry into the matter in the near future.

Three days after the storm, Burma has finally begun accepting global relief aid deliveries. However, UN relief assessment teams are still waiting for their visas to enter the country.

The UN’s World Food Program has reached the first of an estimated one million people left homeless by the cyclone. WFP has begun efforts in Rangoon. Additional truckloads of food were being dispatched to Laputta township. The agency has more than 800 metric tons of food stocks in Rangoon and also plans to airlift additional supplies as soon as possible.

According to residents in Rangoon and the Irrawaddy delta town of Laputta, immediately after the storm the monks came out of their monasteries and offered assistance to survivors. The Burmese military authorities were attempting to prevent the monks from getting involved in relief efforts. Military officials ordered the monks not to use their monasteries as safe houses for survivors. They will only permit people to shelter in schools. Even if the monks want to distribute water to survivors, they have to get permission from authorities.

There are several non-profit international relief organizations that had been, and continue to be, operational in Burma, but they will need additional financial support. You can find a list of those organizations on CNN.com/Impact.

Anderson,

Delivery of emergency aid to the people in the affected areas in Myanmar is vital to prevent further loss of lives. The magnitude of loss will require an enormous, well coordinated response to get these communities back on their feet. I hope the authorities will let the international community help the affected people who are in dire need of support. After such a disaster, keeping out aid is a deservice to the citizens.

Thank you for bringing this news to us Anderson. I am getting sick of the election coverage and the non stop spin. I am sick to my stomach thinking what must have happened to those poor people in Burma. I hope that Junta realizes their errors and lets aid into the country.

Thank you for bringing this story to the fore. I think you’re doing us a great favor and I am praying for the people in Burma. I hope they see help soon!

I have a possible diplomatic solution for Myanmar. First, President Bush could be so kind as to let the media know that he deeply regrets his decision to deny international assistance to New Orleans and the
Gulf Coast areas following Katrina. Second, our government could now welcome sincere relief and rebuilding help from the world community in the future. If the US leaders can relinquish their foolish
pride and admit they were wrong, maybe Myanmar can learn from our
mistakes and “save face” which is very important in Asian cultures.
We only need humility for the world community to bring compassion, relief, and resources.

(Did I get my facts straight, CNN?)

Great coverage on the blog today about the horrible tragedy in Burma. I realize its an election year and much emphasis needs to be placed on the election on the show, but it seems as if many international events are being short changed. I began watching 360 because it seemed like there was more attention paid to international stories than other shows. Please bring some of that attention back…after all its an informed electorate that makes democracy work!!

Hi Anderson,
thanks for bringing this tragic event to light. it’s such a disaster. let’s hope that they’ll get all the international help they need. i cannot thank you enough for yr grt reports. tc.

Anderson,

I hope you get your visa soon and tell the world how much the people in Burma are suffering. The junta has very little concern for the welfare of their own people. They are very efficient at silencing their voices, suffocating people’s democratic aspirations, ruthlessly killing and torturing its own citizens and monks. They are at their best as instruments of suppression.
A disaster of this magnitude exposes their lack of concern and care and the monumental ineptitude with which they have ruined the country.
I hope the goodwill of the people of the world could bring help and hope to the people of Burma who are going through an appalling natural disaster.
I hope the junta has enough humanity and compassion left in them to do the right thing by allowing aid workers to help stem the tide of disaster before it becomes a major catastrophe.
I pray for the welfare of my relatives, friends and fellow countrymen in Burma. May God bless them all.

Hi Anderson,
First I want to thank you and CNN, always bring out the hidden news of Burma to the world. I hope someday we can see the good news of Burma. Right now in my life I haven’t seen any good news from Burma. And stupid crazy paranoid junta would not let US to help. I feel bad about China, who took advantage of being friends with USA, but China blocked Burma from making friends with US. And I am happy that China naval based island, Hine Gyi island was washed away in cyclone, if the news is right.

Hi Anderson

Hope you can get your visa cleared so you can report on the tragedy and strife theses people are facing . you are the only one who gets it right and really cares about what people are going through.

god bless you
Michelle .D

Hi Anderson,
I just got the news form my friends in Rangoon and he got contact fro Myaung Mya area and expected death tolls is 400,000, and I cant believe but we need help and Make China to persuade the Junta. They dont mind Thai or ASEN, only hope is China to push them to accept US aid. We need big tools to clear the roads and need to get in as fast as we can.

Hi Anderson,
Thanks so much for your CNN coverage to my native Myanmar and cyclone news. I wish you could get a visa and get into our country. So that, the world could get a chance to see how our people have been suffereing under this military. This militatry junta is inhumane and has been obcessed with power even in the time of crisis. Since the information and the news are under their control, I don’t think people from my country would have known the reality which we saw in CNN. Myanmar people from the outside world also do not trust the junta if the relief aids would be used effectively to the needing people. I am sure there must be many corruptions between the military. However, myanmar communities around the world have organized their own relief teams and raise funds for the citizens of Myanmar . Although it is not effective as the international effort , we believe it is better than nothing else coming from the junta to the victims. I wish for a CNN reporter who has been in Irrawaddy region is safe and would stay longer to cover the news for Myanmar. Thank you.

Am I the only one who is outraged that reporters are not required to be trained to provide humanitarian aid in the face of a natural disaster? I still remember the images of Katrina where people were stranded on their homes….reporters were allowed to film them but not allowed to help them. Personally, I think it should be a requirement!

Anderson,

Thanks for using “Burma.” Vocabulary is so important and so many people forget that. Call it what it is, not what the tyrants want it to be. Some may believe it makes no difference, until they are called by an unwanted name or title…..

Maybe I might be off base on this one but I’m thinking that the priority for the Burmese Gov’t is to give permission to rescue and recovery aid first. Now if you fill the skies and Airports with thousands of reporters and news crews, wouldn’t that only slow the progress of first aid and rescue workers getting to the people? I understand that the News is your business and you having the story before your competition is your job but I think there will plenty of dead bodies and suffering to go around in the next few weeks to satisfy your viewers.

Thanks for covering this, Anderson. And I so commend you for trying to get there. I so would. What a great, horrible — horrific tragedy.

Unprecedented. (Iwish I was a better speller. I deal with images… primarily… and am very sorry you’ve had to be exposed to such horrific images, previously (re: Rwanda…”Katrina”; and so on. I don’t know.).

Such, such a horrific waste of hearts, minds and souls. And, seeming, continues to be. By the minute. Of (beautiful) culture. Of beautiful (peaceful) people.

I was raised on the Thai/Burmese border just south of Chang Mai. I was surrounded by Buddhist Preists in orange/saffron robes. They

The whole idea (perverse, barbaric) of even laying a finger… on any of these peaceful souls — these viritual “benchmarks” or barometers of peace… in our village… in Thailand, as it were, was virtually (absolutely virtually) unheard of.

Ever.

Thanks for covering this. The best to you. (Be careful.)

K@KatchPro

ps I am saying that the ramifications of such immense “spiritual harm” to the very foundation… the underpinnings of a Country… of a Nation… could be enourmous.

Perhaps catastrophic. Though I, primarily, consider myself “scienctifically sound” (s.p. … I know, I’m shaking writing this)… If there ever was a great “catastrophe” equal to the great harm (great) harm already done — what…. what could be worse.

(Be careful.)

K

Chiang Mai (I am so bad; re: sp). (This is DEFINITELY going to be my new and belated New Year’s Resolution. TOTALLY brush up on my spelling skills.

Pretty “zilch”… at this point.)

Don’t drop off Food and Supplies. The Junta there will keep it for themselves. Trust me, I was born there and lived there until I was sixteen years old. They the most EVIL People on Earth. I KNOW by experience.

China is protecting them during UN sessions because they get cheap Oil from Burmese Junta. Chinese Government only care about their Economy. They’ve already killed millions of their own in the name of their Economy, so they couldn’t care less about a few millions of Burmese people dying.

India Government will not speak out against the Burmese Evil Government because they’re afraid they won’t get the Cheap Oil from Burma like China. Burma is one of the richest (Natural Resources) countries in Asia, yet the Military Government there keep everything for themselves. The people has been starving and dying before this ever happened.

Anderson,

I could hear the frog in your troat from the cold season. Just report from base and rest, eat chicken soup, take your vitamins and stress less. It was possibly easier for Dan Rivers to have access. Why fight for a visa to enter Burma?

I wish Anderson the best in getting a visa to Myanmar. I wish I could be the accompanying photojournalist.

Anderson,
Perhaps after you are granted your visa, your reporting of the horrific situation, could be part of the Planet in Peril Part II series. It is a natural disaster and hurricanes are getting increasingly worse because of global warming. Being a third world country makes it all the more tragic.

Dear Anderson, thank you and CNN for your efforts to bring in the latest news about my country. I just “finally” got contact with my family who live in Rangoon and abit relieved. However, knowing that over 100,000 people dead and lives of more than a million people are at stake, I am very much concerned and worried about the whole situation in Burma, especially in the hard-hit areas of Irrawaddy delta region where dead toll is soaring up every hour. Tears shed after watching the photos and video footages of the tragedy in my country and that the military is junta is so reluctant to allow the aid workers of the UN to get into Burma.

Nevertheless, I wonder what we could possibly do if the junta continues to deny visa to the aid workers. Quoting the UN secretary general Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, “we are not talking about politics, we are talking about urgent humanitarian issues”, something clicked in my mind. When was the last time the UN successfully get inside this poor country and save the lives of people? Did they do it during the September blood shed??? No !
During the interview with CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield about the crisis in Myanmar, Mr. Ban repeatedly mentioned that he himself and the UN is urging Senior General Than Shwe and the junta to allow the UN aid workers to gain access to those areas where help is much needed and time is of the essence. I wonder, if that is all that UN could do???

Just like Fredricka asked Mr. Ban during the interview, I am very eager to know what “urgent action” means. Time is running out. Its been six days already. I wont blame the junta not being very co-operative w`ith the international community on this matter because they have been secretive just like this for god knows how many years. MRTV is broadcasting the videos of junta’s high ranking Generals carrying the aids themselves and loading on the choppers. I even noticed written on the box of the aid items saying “This aid is from General … ” . What is this all about??? I know this, you know this, they are just trying to convince the world that they are doing, even the Generals, everything they can to overcome this disaster. But wait, how many choppers does the Burmese airforce have??? How many tons of aid items have been successfully delivered to those who are in need of serious and “urgent” help? Mr. Ban also mentioned about a couple of planes carrying aids have landed in Yangon but think about it. Millions of people are in need of food, shelter and most importantly clean water.

Anderson please kindly tell me as I am just so ignorant or not smart enough to know what the United Nations is doing??? Did you also realized that Mr. Ban strayed away from Fredricka’s direction question about what UN would do if his talking with General Than Shwe does not work? What do we do then??? 100,000 people dead already. Do you want to see a million more die??? I am sure you dont. Neither do i. Please bear with me here Anderson. I dont understand the whole thing. Perhaps I am not just smart enough to understand the complication of politics and may be i got confused between politics, UN policy, humanitarian efforts and the lives of over a million people.

Oh, btw, 4 members of UN assessment team visited the hard-hit areas already? Very convincing to know that is all they are doing what they can, (the UN). What is holding back the much required aid supplies to be delivered to the hands of the need? I just hope that the UN and Mr. Ban will do something that would convince and change the minds of the junta and to allow the aid workers and more supplies to be delivered to the main areas of this catastrophe.

You might have already seen (may be you cant understand as it is written in Burmese) the weather forecast in Burmese local papers on the 29th April. Well, please dont blame them that they didnt mentioned about the cyclone. They just provided the false information. We all know very well that this government can never be trusted.

Well, sad to say it but it has happened. Burma has suffered, yet again, now by the mother nature. What has happened to the once prosperous nation? It is just frustrating to see the people of Burma once again fallen into deep trouble. I just pray and wish for the best. Wish you the best to get visa asap. I also wish i could accompany you through out your stay in Burma. I love this country , a beautiful country. Burma need your generous help. Please be part of it. I beg you all.

You are right Anderson, this story is deserved to be told.

Mr. Cooper, i know you are a very man as I watch you every night on CNN, but you will be very much appreciated if you could drop a line in response to my questions. Thank you.

And I wish to contribute to the Myanmar tragedy.

Thank you for your coverage of this catastrophe, and especially for using the name of Burma as the country’s name. It is refreshing to see you bucking the trend I am seeing of all other journalists and news organizations calling the country by the name given to it by the repressive regime.

Please keep up the good work of your coverage around the world.

Dear Anderson

Greetings from Australia

It’s sad that the survivors in Burma are unable to receive immediate relief from aid groups and access to journalist.

I thank you for this report and believe it will help save lives in Burma.

Take care. Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Lisa L

Sydney, Australia

Anderson…I have a son living and working in Ha Noi and Bangkok and have just returned from my eighth trip there…What is happening in Myranmar to those beautiful people has broken my heart and especially now that all airlifts have stopped due to the government conviscating the supplies for themselves and not the victims of the cyclone…My suggestion has probably all ready been thought of, but here it is anyway…Why can’t the UN and the US airlift and drop the supplies to the victims so that they can retrieve them before the government soldiers can take them over as is done in a war situation to troops?….It has been stated that most of the victims are in remote areas…Thank you, Anderson, for all that you do and for putting your life on the line to get the word out to the masses….I am sure that your mother is very proud of you….Long time ago, I heard that you studied Vietnamese in Ha Noi and from then on you were like a son to me as well…You must have learned to love the Vietnamese people as much as I do…and I now have a better appreciation for all Asian people as well.