Myanmar gov't keeping out aid for cyclone victims

By The Associated Press

YANGON - Despite signs everywhere to the contrary, Myanmar's military government tried yesterday to show the world that all was under control, leading diplomats on their first tour through the Irrawaddy Delta, where more than 130,000 people were killed or are still missing after the May 2-3 cyclone.

The junta flew 60 diplomats and United Nations officials in helicopters to three places in the delta where camps, aid and survivors were put on display.

Authorities said they have almost finished carrying out relief work and are moving toward reconstruction and rebuilding.

The underlying message was that they welcome international assistance but there is no need for foreign personnel.

The diplomats were not all swayed.

"It was a show," Shari Villarosa, the top U.S. diplomat in Myanmar, told the AP by telephone after returning to Yangon. "That's what they wanted us to see."

A French navy ship that arrived yesterday off Myanmar's shores loaded with food, medication and fresh water - a potentially lifesaving cargo - was given the now familiar red light, a response which France's UN ambassador, Jean-Maurice Ripert, called nonsense.

"We have small boats, which could allow us to go through the delta to most of the regions where no one has accessed yet," he said.

The USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship, and its battle group have been waiting to join in the relief effort as well.

U.S. Marine flights to Yangon from their makeshift headquarters in Utapao, Thailand, continued yesterday - bringing the total to 500,000 pounds of aid delivered - but negotiations to allow helicopters to fly directly to the disaster zone were stalled.

According to the International Red Cross, the death toll alone is probably about 128,000, with many more deaths possible from disease and starvation unless help gets quickly to some 2.5 million survivors of the disaster.

But seeing that help gets to the victims does not appear to be the first priority of Myanmar's rulers.

The military, which took power in a 1962 coup, says all aid must be delivered to the government for distribution and has barred foreigners from leaving Yangon, putting up a security cordon around the country's main city.
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