The Irrawaddy News Magazine [Covering Burma and Southeast Asia]

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		BURMESE VERSION

NLD Slams Plan for May 24 Referendum Vote
By WAI MOE
The NLD blasts the Burmese regime’s plan to hold the constitutional referendum in cyclone-devastated areas on May 24.

Authorities Harass Local NGOs, Private Donors
By MIN LWIN
Burma’s military government is hindering and even blocking local people from sending aid to the victims of cyclone Nargis, adding to the frustration and anger sweeping the nation.

US Sends Five More Aid-loaded Planes to Burma
By ERIC TALMADGE / AP WRITER / UTAPAO
Five more C-130 transport planes loaded with emergency supplies roared off the runway for Burma on Wednesday as the US military's effort to expand its relief operations appeared to make major headway.

Burma Seeks Help from Neighbors
By THE IRRAWADDY
If you’re a neighbor of Burma, you can help. If you’re from the West, chances are slim.

Activists Urge Asean to be Proactive
By SAI SILP
Asean must take a stronger leadership role in addressing a growing natural and man-made humanitarian disaster in Burma, say activists.

UN says Another Cyclone Forming near Burma
By MIKE CASEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
A second cyclone was forming Wednesday near Burma, less than two weeks after the country was devastated by Cyclone Nargis.

NEWS ANALYSIS

Two Natural Disasters, Two Different Responses
By EDITH M. LEDERER / AP WRITER / UNITED NATIONS
Burma's very slow response to Cyclone Nargis has sparked international outrage while China's speedy reaction to a killer earthquake has won international admiration.

More Needs to be Done in Burma: UK, US Ambassadors
By LALIT K JHA / UNITED NATIONS
Ambassadors to the UN from Britain and the US said the Burmese junta needs to do more in opening up the country to foreign aid workers.

Many Cyclone Survivors Traumatized
By VIOLET CHO
Cyclone survivors—especially children—will suffer from long-term psychological problems because of the storm and its aftermath.

Danger: Getting the Truth Out of Burma
By THE IRRAWADDY and AP
Inside Burma, local and foreign journalists try to get the real story out to the world, at great risk to their safety.

Most Cyclone Victims Without Relief; Regime Accused of Stealing Aid
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Only a tiny portion of international aid is reaching Burma's cyclone victims, as reports emerged that the country's military regime is hoarding higher-quality foreign aid for itself and doling out rotten food.

	Rangoon Struggles to Survive

	Mandalay Referendum Vote a Non-event

	US Navy Ships Move Closer to Burma

	US Begins Airlifting Aid to Burma

	Bodies Litter Burma Delta; Survivors Focus on Staying Alive

	Red Cross Boat for Burma Cyclone Victims Sinks

	France Backtracking on Intervention

	Preventing Disease Outbreaks is 'Race against Time'

	Misery in Laputta

	‘Unimaginable Tragedy’ if Burma Keeps Delaying Aid

	Massive Cheating Reported from Referendum Polling Stations

	The Smell of Death and Destruction

	The Irrawaddy Delta: Before the Cyclone

	Another Storm Front Approaches Burma

	Junta Distributes Foreign Aid—But with Generals' Names

	UN Resumes Aid Flights; US Readies C-130 Flight

	UN Aid Trucks Cross Burma Border

	Pledges for Cyclone Relief Reach $77 million

	Slow Start to Referendum

	China Can Save Cyclone Survivors, Says Sein Win

Britain Orders Warship to Deploy off Burma
By WAI MOE
A British Royal Navy frigate has been ordered to stand by off Burma with emergency aid for the survivors of cyclone Margi’s, as Britain announces it will press the UN Security Council for “action.”

Junta Leader Won’t Answer My Calls: Ban Ki-moon
By LALIT K JHA
Snr-Gen Than Shwe snubs the UN secretary-general’s personal letters and telephone calls. Excuse: “Technical difficulties.”

Thai PM to Travel to Burma at UN Chief’s Request
By SAI SILP
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is to travel to Burma on Wednesday, at the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, on a mission to persuade Burmese leaders to allow foreign relief workers into the country.

Regime Seals Off the Irrawaddy Delta to Foreigners
By AUNG HLA TUN / REUTERS WRITER / RANGOON
Burma’s reclusive military government is keeping most foreign aid workers away from the devastated Irrawaddy delta.

Monks Help Cyclone Victims Despite Military Pressure
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The saffron-robed monks who spearheaded an uprising last fall against Burma's military rulers are back on the front lines, this time providing food, shelter and spiritual solace to cyclone victims.

Humanitarian Intervention Calls Increase
By SAW YAN NAING
As the Burmese junta continues to block foreign experts from entering the country to help cyclone relief work there, calls for outside humanitarian intervention grow louder.

Burmese Officials Skimming Cyclone Aid
By VIOLET CHO
Storm survivors say military officials and village headmen are distributing only about 30 percent of relief supplies and pocketing the rest in some stricken areas.

Burmese Navy Decimated in Cyclone
By MIN LWIN
As many as 25 Burmese naval ships may have been sunk by Cyclone Nargis while an unknown number of naval personnel and their families were killed or are listed as missing.