Burmese Celebrities Try to Help Survivors

Burmese entertainers the Moustache Brothers, who were last year jailed for their support of the September pro-democracy demonstrations, have been prevented from independently raising funds for survivors of the cyclone. The group had planned to perform to raise funds but were told by the government backed Myanmar Theatrical Association that they could not do this independently. The pair was told that they could join the government sponsored fund raising drive on Thursday, however they declined the offer.

From: BBC Burmese
http://www.bbc.co.uk/burmese/news/story/2004/12/041201_monday_dawn.shtml

Burma accused of criminal neglect

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has accused the Burmese junta of criminal neglect in its handling of the relief effort for survivors of the recent cyclone, and says its efforts to block international aid is costing thousands of lives. The Burmese generals have reacted angrily to the accusation claiming that they have provided food, shelter, and restored electricity to victims.

Meanwhile, Paul Risley from the WFP has told the BBC that despite the easing of restrictions on international relief efforts by the junta last week, only one helicopter with aid supplies had been authorized to land in Rangoon last week.

From: Democratic Voice of Burma
http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=1376

Aid workers say cyclone toll exceeds junta’s estimate

Aid workers who spent ten days touring the report areas of the Irrawaddy delta region handing out relief supplies say that they believe the death toll from the cyclone could be much higher than the figures that have been released by the government. Officially, the current toll is 77,738 dead with a further 55,900 still missing. There is speculation among villagers in the area that the figures are much higher. The aid team claims that no one has heard or reported on those missing and that it is reasonable to assume they are dead also, making the possible death toll closer to 130,000. The aid workers were unable to arrange for funerals for all the victims that they saw as the numbers were simply overwhelming. They were able to leave donations with the local abbots so they could make funeral arrangements.

300 Buffaloes to be Purchased for Irrawaddy Farmers
From: Narinjara News
http://www.narinjara.com/details.asp?id=1766

300 Buffaloes to be Purchased for Irrawaddy Farmers

Maungdaw District Chairman U hla Win has held a meeting with 29 village administration clerks and instructed them they must come up with 300 buffaloes within three days. The buffaloes will then be sent to the Irrawaddy Division so that farmers there can begin the harvest season. Many farmers lost cattle, seeds and machinery in the cyclone and there are fears that the harvest season will be wasted if farmers cannot get under way soon. The clerks have been told to purchase the animals for about one tenth of their market price, which is sure to cause consternation on the part of owners. The real price of a buffalo is around 300,000 Kyat, but the authorities will be offering a mere 35,000 Kyat, causing the farmers a great financial loss.

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