The new Tripartite Core Group that has begun its assessment work in the Irrawaddy Delta region may be a curse in disguise for the storm survivors. It is clear that the group is far behind and schedule and thus the work of the partnership is welcome, however the Burmese junta has been putting its existence to use for the ends of the military regime. Aid groups were already facing the difficult challenges of dealing with the recalcitrant regime in order to get the requisite visas for entry into the country, followed by the problems associated with garnering permission to reach to the most affected areas of the delta.

With the introduction of the new group made up of members from the UN, ASEAN and the junta’s own experts, the military regime has used the occasion to place another bureaucratic hurdle in front of aid organizations. The junta has released new regulations that mean aid groups now have to been in constant contact with the relevant government authorities to carry out their mandate, as well as coordinating their response with the Tripartite Group. The new rulings are sure to hamper the efforts of those groups seeking to get desperately needed supplies to survivors over the coming weeks. The move also reinforces the need for groups to maintain near constant contact with government, meaning that their activities will be well monitored by the highly suspicious generals. The level of suspicion within the Burmese regime is traditionally high toward foreign elements and this has been proven once again with the news that the regime will be sending along intelligence officials with the Tripartite Core Group as it carries out its assessment work in the delta. This reinforces the idea that the government is more intent on securing its own well being than it is about helping survivors. The intelligence personnel will be taking places on the team that should have been granted to Burmese experts that could help in the assessment of what is needed in the coming weeks for the welfare of survivors. Instead the valuable places will be taken by spies who will report directly to Napyidaw.

There are other worrying trends in the governments handling of the recent crisis as typified by continuing difficulty in reaching the farthest areas of the delta and the government’s inaction in these regions. Reports are still surfacing of remote villages which are yet to see any official assistance, five weeks after the cyclone struck. This is completely unacceptable behavior from the regime, especially considering that normal Burmese have been able to take cars and boats to these regions to deliver aid donated by individuals who can scarcely afford to do so. It is hoped that the WFP, who will very soon have their full compliment of helicopters in operation, will be able to reach these locations before the local donors run out of supplies and money, which is a situation they have been hinting at in recent days.

more news>>