Jananeethi Institute denounces Burmese Junta's slow
response to cyclone Nargis

The Members of the Board and Executive Committee of Jananeethi Institute call on Burma's military rulers to lift their unjustifiable restrictions on the movement of aid organizations in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. To date, Burma's military regime — the State Peace and Development Council, or SPDC—has refused to allow foreign aid workers access to the most devastated areas of the Irrawaddy delta region, preventing help from reaching those most in need. The regime continues to stall on issuing visas to aid personnel from the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations that stand ready to provide assistance.

The devastating cyclone on May 2 plunged Burma into the worst humanitarian disaster in the country's modern history. The hardest-hit areas of the country are also its most populous; 24 million of the country's 53 million people live in the five regions where the cyclone caused the most damage. The junta now admits that upwards of 41,000 dead, 60,000 missing persons, and 1.5 million homeless. Nevertheless, the International Federation of Red Cross has estimated that nearly 128,000 Burmese citizens have died.

We call upon the international community to initiate appropriate action as the people of the region are badly in need of our help. The military regime by denying humanitarian help at this critical stage has again proved for itself to be hostile to the people. Hence it has no right to continue in power, should be sacked for the sake of the people. 

May 20, 2008.