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Exiled Burmese Leader Blames China for Post-Cyclone Suffering
Penny Starr
Senior Staff Writer
Washington (CNSNews.com) - The exiled leader of Burma, Sein Win, made a plea to the international community Friday, calling on China to use its influence over Burma's military rulers to accept aid for the survivors of a devastating May 3 cyclone.
The storm, with winds up to 190 miles an hour, killed as many as 100,000 people and left many more homeless and at risk of starvation or from deadly diseases.
"I ... implore the entire international community to join me in asking China to exert its power and influence now on the military junta in Burma and demand that international aid - and international aid workers and experts -- be allowed into Burma immediately," Win said at a press conference at the National Press Club.
"We are running out of time," Win said. "A tsunami of death from epidemics, including cholera, malaria, malnutrition and starvation is hitting Burma at this very moment."
Win was part of the first democratically elected government in Burma since a military coup seized power in 1962. Shortly after the 1990 election, the military reasserted itself by arresting the new leaders. In 1990, Win fled the country, which the ruling junta has renamed "Myanmar."
Win and other officials who escaped created an exiled government, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Win was named prime minister in exile.
At the press conference, Win said China's ongoing support of military rule in Myanmar means it has the power to influence the government to accept international aid.
"From the weapons China provides, to the votes China provides on the United Nations Security Council, the military government of Burma is dependent on the strong and consistent support it gets from the Chinese government," Win said.
Win's plea includes letters to officials of governments around the world, including the United States. He said he had not heard from the Bush administration on the China issue.
China, which is preparing to host the 2008 Olympics in August, has come under global criticism for its poor human rights record, including its treatment of the Tibetan people and its support of Sudan, which has been accused of genocide in its Darfur province.
Make media inquiries or request an interview with Penny Starr.
Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-brief.
E-mail a comment or news tip to Penny Starr.
The storm, with winds up to 190 miles an hour, killed as many as 100,000 people and left many more homeless and at risk of starvation or from deadly diseases.
"I ... implore the entire international community to join me in asking China to exert its power and influence now on the military junta in Burma and demand that international aid - and international aid workers and experts -- be allowed into Burma immediately," Win said at a press conference at the National Press Club.
"We are running out of time," Win said. "A tsunami of death from epidemics, including cholera, malaria, malnutrition and starvation is hitting Burma at this very moment."
Win was part of the first democratically elected government in Burma since a military coup seized power in 1962. Shortly after the 1990 election, the military reasserted itself by arresting the new leaders. In 1990, Win fled the country, which the ruling junta has renamed "Myanmar."
Win and other officials who escaped created an exiled government, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Win was named prime minister in exile.
At the press conference, Win said China's ongoing support of military rule in Myanmar means it has the power to influence the government to accept international aid.
"From the weapons China provides, to the votes China provides on the United Nations Security Council, the military government of Burma is dependent on the strong and consistent support it gets from the Chinese government," Win said.
Win's plea includes letters to officials of governments around the world, including the United States. He said he had not heard from the Bush administration on the China issue.
China, which is preparing to host the 2008 Olympics in August, has come under global criticism for its poor human rights record, including its treatment of the Tibetan people and its support of Sudan, which has been accused of genocide in its Darfur province.
Make media inquiries or request an interview with Penny Starr.
Subscribe to the free CNSNews.com daily E-brief.
E-mail a comment or news tip to Penny Starr.
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