One Year After Nargis, Burma's Situation Remains Unchanged

It has been known for quite a long time that Burma has had an “interesting” political situation. The Burmese junta has been deemed a very oppressive regime. Back in 2007, things had gotten really dicey with mass protests throughout the streets of Burma. The Burmese junta had definitely cracked down on the protesters and demonstrators. Back then, it all revolved around the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi. The situation was the same for the start of 2008. However, Burma got ravaged on May 2 by Cyclone Nargis. It is dubbed as the deadliest named Cyclone in the North Indian Ocean. Burma got ravaged and the survivors suffered. However, Burma’s junta had made things quite difficult. There was much international anger at the junta. But, the junta brushed aside all anger. For the most part, the situation in Burma paralleled or still parallels the situation in Zimbabwe. Days after Cyclone Nargis had hit, Burma’s junta continued exporting its rice. At the same time, many in Burma need food while waiting for food aid. A warning was also issued that the children of Burma could die from malnutrition within weeks. Also, Burma’s junta also extended Suu Kyi’s house arrest. In regards to the cyclone survivors, the junta said that the people of the Irrawaddy Delta (the hardest hit) could fend for themselves without international aid. The junta also booted the survivors from the refugee camps. They also made survivors do labor in exchange for food. With regard to aid agencies, they had to deal with a loss of funds. Also, it was revealed that the bodies of those killed by the cyclone were pretty much unidentifiable. This was all back in 2008. Now, it is 2009. One could wonder: What happened between then and now? It is revealed that monsoon season is coming soon. According to one article in The Guardian, not much has changed in Burma. There are many people living in makeshift homes which could be torn down by the monsoons. The rice patties are contaminated with salt water. In regards to the political situation, it remains the same. The junta still remains in control. The possibility of Burma being a democracy is dangerously unlikely. It is also revealed at a notable comedian named Zarganar got handed a prison term of forty-five years. Overall, the situation in Burma has by no means improved. A Voice of America article says that according to international aid agencies, the blame lies on the hands of Burma’s junta. It explains that the political situation places international support in such agony. They point out that the makeshift shelters are extremely unfeasible. According to one international aid worker, the odds are against the survivors. According to a BBC article, foreign journalists still cannot get into Burma. A Reuters article explains that many see monsoon season as a bad omen. It also touches ground upon the physical and emotional scars inflicted after Cyclone Nargis. Overall, it spells out one major problem. This could be one international problem that United States President Barack Obama may have to tackle. A Taiwan News article explains that human rights groups are calling upon the release of twenty-one aid volunteers. They were arrested for giving aid to victims without the junta’s permission. Zarganar is one of those twenty-one volunteers. However, this article says that Zarganar is serving a thirty-five year prison term. This does conflict with the article in the Guardian which says Zarganar got handed a forty-five year prison term. With everything factored together, the situation in Burma virtually remains unchanged. After monsoon season, the situation could get far worse. However, it seems unlikely that the junta will do anything about it. On top of that, international aid agencies have their hands full helping out the millions if displaced survivors. The political situation also leaves a lot to be desired as well.