AP
Posted: 2008-05-09 00:50:51

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar’s refusal to give visas to relief experts is “unprecedented” in the history of humanitarian work, the United Nations charged Friday.

A spokesman of the World Food Program says the organization has submitted 10 visa applications around the world, including six in Bangkok, Thailand, and none of have been granted.

Spokesman Paul Risley said Friday “the frustration caused by what appears to be a paperwork delay is unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts.”

Myanmar’s military government said more than 62,000 people died or are missing in a cyclone that hit the country’s Irrawaddy delta last Saturday. The junta says it needs international aid but not the foreign experts and staff to deliver it.

No visas are expected to be issued in Bangkok on Friday because of a Thai holiday.

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Protesters at Myanmar embassy in Australia accuse regime of slow action on cyclone
AP
Posted: 2008-05-09 00:30:14
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Police arrested three protesters when about 80 ethnic Myanmar people demonstrated outside the Myanmar Embassy in Australia’s capital Friday against the military junta’s slow response to the cyclone disaster.

“We’re complaining about the regime’s lack of response to protect their own people,” said Myo Aye, a Myanmar-born Australian resident who traveled 435 miles (700 kilometers) from Melbourne to demonstrate in Canberra.

Police arrested a woman after she threw a water bottle that hit a diplomat’s car as it drove toward the embassy gates, witnesses said. There was no obvious damage.

Two men were also arrested as they attempted to prevent police from taking her from the crowd, witnesses said.

Canberra police could not immediately provide details on whether the three had been charged.

Myo Aye also described the referendum for a new constitution in Myanmar scheduled for Saturday as a “sham.”

Many of the protesters wore white shirts with red crosses on the front to symbolize a “no” vote for the referendum. Voting has been postponed until May 24 in Yangon and parts of the Irrawaddy River delta which have been worst hit by the cyclone.

The protesters chanted, “peace, peace, Burma,” and carried signs including “Rescue Cyclone Victims” and “Stop Unfair Referendum.”

Cyclone Nargis has killed at least 22,997 people and left 42,019 missing, mostly in the Irrawaddy delta. Shari Villarosa, who heads the U.S. Embassy in Yangon, said the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because of illnesses.