US slams 'callous' Burma junta
Source: 15-MAY-2008 Intellasia | AFP
May 15, 2008 - 7:07:00 AM Foreign Secretary David Miliband blasted Burma's ruling military junta, saying Tuesday its "callous disregard" for the country's people was hampering the supply of aid to cyclone survivors.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband, seen here in April 2008, blasted Myanmar's ruling military junta, saying Tuesday its "callous disregard" for the country's people was hampering the supply of aid to cyclone survivors. (AFP/File/Ali Abbas)

He said the situation was becoming a "man-made catastrophe" and vowed that London stood ready to support "any and all" United Nations action to help the victims of Cyclone Nargis.

"As we debate here today, people are dying by the score in Burma and the Burmese regime are unconscionably holding up the supply of aid," he told lawmakers in parliament.

Miliband said he was angry "that any government could show such a callous disregard for its responsibility towards its own citizens."

Britain, the former colonial power in Burma, has pledged five million pounds (10 million dollars, 6.3 million euros) towards the relief effort.

"We are examining all options for getting this aid through and getting the message through to the Burmese regime their obstructionism is completely intolerable," Miliband said.

"We have over the past 12 days supported the use of any and all UN action that will help. We will continue to do so—the only test is whether the action saves lives in Burma."

Regarding the possibility of aid air drops, Miliband said all options were being considered, but the best "by a long way" was for the Burma junta to "stand up for its responsibilities".

Lawmaker Tony Lloyd urged Beijing to put pressure on the Burma generals to open more to humanitarian agencies.

Miliband said Asian powers had an "immensely important role" in putting pressure on the junta.

Survivors of the cyclone Nargis stand under their shelter set up on the side of a road in Bogalay. The United Nations warned Tuesday that Myanmar faced a "second catastrophe" after its devastating cyclone, unless the junta immediately allows massive air and sea deliveries of aid. (AFP/Khin Maung Win)

"It's obviously essential that we continue the link with the Chinese government to ensure that they understand the strength of feeling across British political parties and across Britain about the need to respond to what is becoming a man-made catastrophe."

Meanwhile Queen Elisabeth II has made a "significant" personal donation to the Burma relief effort, her Buckingham Palace office said.

The amount of money was not disclosed but it is thought to have gone to Britain's Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella body of humanitarian agencies.

A palace spokeswoman said: "The queen has made a significant personal donation to the Burma appeal."

The first British aid flight left Dubai on Monday carrying enough shelter material for 43,000 families. Following a refuelling stop-over, it is due to arrive Wednesday. Five further British aid flights are expected to leave later this week.

The Department for International Development said at least 10 times the aid flow being allowed to trickle into Burma by its ruling military junta was needed, along with the international expertise needed to distribute it.