Endoh’s Dungeon

Cyclone Nargis is the most tragic natural disaster to happen since 2004’s Indian Ocean Tsunami, apart from China’s earthquake. I am particularly drawn to Nargis’s aftermath more than China’s earthquake due to the magnitude of damages and loss of lives. China has since received both aids and manpower from several countries, but the same cannot be said for our Myammar friends.

Of course, any such incident immediately draws out the need for donations across the globe. Like Indian’s Ocean Tsunami, the world responded not only with money and material aids. Billions of dollars are also being invested by many nations to develop a better Tsunami warning system for the benefit of all. While banks, organizations and many corporate companies (quick to embark on a marketing propoganda) are actively raising funds for Myammar, I wonder how realistic the effort is.

Myammar needs help indeed. I am not against the idea of fund-raising to help disastrous nations, but sending funds senselessly to Myammar’s Government is not a solution either.

Cyclone Nargis landed in Myammar on 2nd May 2008, but it took the junta leaders six painful days before they allowed international relief aids to be delivered on 8th May 2008. Whatever that transpired within that six days, it’s beyond our imagination. Deaths… and more deaths. I’m factually quite lost for words when talking about Cyclone Nargis’s impact on Myammar.

Mum sat down beside me (to chat) earlier on when I was watching some news report on Myammar’s latest development, since a friend of mine working in Myammar is still not contactable. As much as I would love to donate towards the cause, I am actually holding myself back. How would I know the millions of dollars are actually going into the hands of those who need help and not the callous leaders? (Look at the updated list of donors and the donation amounts at the bottom of the Wikipedia article.)

This is not a mere assumption, just in case you think so. History has it all panned out. Remember how United States used to send humanitarian aids and funds in response to North Korea’s famine? Food were being stocked up as combat ration for North Korean soldiers instead of the starving citizens. Monetary aids were being pumped into nuclear weapons development rather than improving the basic needs of the nation like hospitals, schools or temporary shelters. This mis-use of compassion is still going on until this very day.

Coming back to Myammar’s plight, the junta leaders’ persistence in carrying out the constitutional referendum tells us that providing post-disaster aid to their own citizens is less important than securing their political power in the country. Needless to say, the votes are nothing but a sham.

Myammar has also been criticized for the lack of deliverance pertaining to essential aids, and possibly misappropriation of these aids flown into the country. How much of the needy are actually being assisted, it’s really a question mark too vague to be answered now. How would it be like to see the National Kidney Foundation scandal unfolding in Myammar? While Myammar is on the guard against foreign experts being flown in, I am also guarding against the possibility of my compassion being mis-used. Like it or not, relief efforts have to go on and that’s precisely what the junta leaders are taking advantage of.

Can Red Cross or Singapore’s Government actually take action against Myammar should misappropriation of Singaporean’s donation is found to be true? I highly doubt so. It will all boil down to useless paper-talks just like any other episodes we have seen in Singapore. I’m not talking about other countries yet.

I don’t feel that pouring massive amount of money into Myammar is the only solution to adopt at this point. Even more so, I don’t see why time should be wasted on convincing the junta leaders to accept foreign aids and rescue workers. Convince not, but ENFORCE! On top of that, have someone (or rather a specific organization) oversee the distribution and remain answerable to how the aids are being used. Can we trust the Myammar Government? I am very pessimistic about it. I will be more confident to throw in the dollars if only the management of these aids are transparent enough.

Foreign rescue workers can also be escorted by their own military forces. There is no reason why the Myammar military should restrict efforts in reaching those who are badly in need. Will it result in a confrontation with Myammar’s military? Unfortunately, very possibly. But ask me, will I be able to bring myself to kill the junta soldiers and save the lives of innocent citizens in the process? I’ll gladly stand by that anytime. For every junta soldier killed and 5 citizens saved, it’s a good deal I think.

Better still, what sovereignty to talk about when the Myammar leaders hold little regards towards the survivability of their people they proclaimed to protect? I am always appalled by United Nation’s inability to deal with such situations steadfast, and I wondered how effective will that few words be. Empty talks, and talks that hardly bites?

I know we are all compassionate people. Balancing the grim outlook of the situation, I better not contribute more to the personal wealth of these evil beasts.