Myanmar Wants the Aid, Not the Workers

Myanmar Wants the Aid, Not the Workers
May 09, 2008
Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar - After snubbing a U.S. aid offer, Myanmar's isolationist regime indicated May 9 that it wants foreign relief supplies but not foreign workers to help recover from a devastating cyclone.

The statement came a day after Myanmar's military government allowed in the first major international aid shipment amid fears the death toll from last weekend's cyclone could hit 100,000.

"Currently Myanmar has prioritized receiving emergency relief provisions and making strenuous effort delivering it with its own labor," the Foreign Ministry said in the state-owned New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

The United Nations and other agencies have complained that Myanmar is dragging its feet on the issuing of visas for its personnel they say are badly needed to cope with the crisis.

The statement expressed government gratitude to the international community for its assistance, which has included 11 chartered planes loaded with aid supplies. But it emphasized that the best way to help was just to send in material rather than personnel.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/myanmar-wants-the-aid-not-the-workers.html