cyclone nargis, burma/myanmar
DESCRIPTION
Cyclone Nargis, Burma/Myanmar. Joonki Kim Zoe Newman. History and Background (1/2 ). 1948 – Union of Burma gains independence from Great Britain 1962 - Myanmar controlled by military regime after a coup d'état 1962-1972 – “Burmese W ay to Socialism” . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Cyclone Nargis, Burma/Myanmar
Joonki KimZoe Newman
History and Background (1/2)
1948 – Union of Burma gains independence from Great Britain
1962 - Myanmar controlled by military regime after a coup d'état
1962-1972 – “Burmese Way to Socialism”
1988 – Pro-democracy demonstrations “8888 Uprising”
1989 – "Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma" → "Union of Myanmar“
History and Background (2/2)
1990 – Free elections, National League for Democracy (NLD) wins majority, Junta refused to step down
1991 – Aung San Suu Kyi awarded Nobel Peace Prize, under house arrest
1997 – Admitted into Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
2007 – Saffron Revolution
2008 – Cyclone Nargis
Human Rights Record
- Since military take over, Myanmar under constant insurgency
- Harsh crackdowns by military government
- Continued human rights abuses ∙ Child soldier, forced removal, denied citizenship, rape, etc.
- Annual adoption of UN resolutions condemning the acts of abuses
- Killing of monks during ‘Saffron Revolution’
2008 Corruption Perceptions Index Transparency International
http://video.on.nytimes.com/video/2008/05/05/world/1194817109514/cyclone-nargis-devastates-myanmar.html
Cyclone Nargis May 2nd – 3rd
- Worst cyclone recorded on the basin
- 120 mph (190 kph) winds and a 12 ft (3.5 meter) sea surge.
- Estimated damage at US$10billion
- Affected 2.4 million people, estimated 130,366 people dead or missing (OCHA estimation)
- Destroyed fertile Irrawaddy Delta area known as “Rice Bowl”
- Affected 65% of country’s rice paddies (UNFAO)
Timeline of Events
May 5th Government of Myanmar briefs resident diplomats - ‘ Aid will be welcomed by the government’
Immediately after the cyclone - International community, regional government and the UN offers aid→ ‘National Natural Disaster Preparedness Central Committee’
May 6th Human toll reaches more than 22,000
Timeline of Events (continued)
May 12th First US aid supply / Meeting of ASEAN, World Bank, OCHA - US Government / Military officials accompany first C-130 planes into Myanmar
May 8th – 9th Thai Mediation - Myanmar agrees on the basis of ‘no strings attached’
May 7th First consideration of Responsibility to Protect - France initially invokes Responsibility to Protect to provide humanitarian assistance
Timeline of Events (continued)
May 13th Consideration of Responsibility to Protect by Great Britain - Responsibility to Protect should be considered for natural disasters
May 19th Myanmar Agrees to ASEAN-ERAT - Myanmar agrees to aid led by ASEAN-ERAT under condition of not politicizing aid
May 16th ‘Crime Against Humanity’ - Myanmar state television reports 77,738 dead, 55,917 missing
Timeline of Events (continued)
May 23rd UN officials visit Myanmar - Myanmar promises ‘all’ aid workers will be allowed in
July 2008 Advances in relief and reconstruction efforts - UN Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, Sir John Holmes reports efforts are on track
May 25th Tripartite Core Group
- Myanmar Gov’t, ASEAN, UN forms the Tripartite group
Key Aspects / Turning Points (1/2)
Western Rhetoric Regarding Responsibility to Protect
- Great Britain, France, other Western nations consider Responsibility to Protect
- Expanding range of Responsibility to Protect to ‘Natural Disasters’
- Propels ASEAN Nations to act – most skeptical and fearful of Responsibility to Protect
∙ Initial actions by Thai (May 8th), followed by ASEAN (ASEAN-ERAT)
∙ Also affected Myanmar Government to act
Key Aspects / Turning Points (2/2)
Decision of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to intervene
- Assumed role of facilitator between Myanmar and the West
- First deployment of ASEAN Emergency Rapid Assessment Team (ERAT)
- Through high-level discussions on May 12, May 19, decision made for ASEAN-ERAT
to lead in aid coordination
- Myanmar accepts ASEAN assistance due to relative trust in the organization
Failures of the Burmese government
• Inadequate warning• Delay in aid delivery intensified a natural
disaster into a man-made disaster• Rejection of media coverage
Failures of the International Community
Missed Opportunities• Precedents• “sovereignty”? • Responsibility to Protect • Definition of “disaster”– “hazard” (natural) versus
“vulnerabilities” (human)