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Cyclone Nargis, Burma/Myanmar

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”.

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Cyclone Nargis, Burma/Myanmar

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  1. Cyclone Nargis, Burma/Myanmar Joonki Kim Zoe Newman

  2. 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“

  3. History and Background (2/2) 1990 – Free elections, National League for Democracy (NLD) wins majority, Junta refused to step down 1991 – Aung San SuuKyi awarded Nobel Peace Prize, under house arrest 1997 – Admitted into Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2007 – Saffron Revolution 2008 – Cyclone Nargis

  4. 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

  5. http://video.on.nytimes.com/video/2008/05/05/world/1194817109514/cyclone-nargis-devastates-myanmar.htmlhttp://video.on.nytimes.com/video/2008/05/05/world/1194817109514/cyclone-nargis-devastates-myanmar.html

  6. 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)

  7. Timeline of Events Immediately after the cyclone - International community, regional government and the UN offers aid → ‘National Natural Disaster Preparedness Central Committee’ May 5th Government of Myanmar briefs resident diplomats - ‘ Aid will be welcomed by the government’ May 6th Human toll reaches more than 22,000

  8. Timeline of Events(continued) May 7th First consideration of Responsibility to Protect - France initially invokes Responsibility to Protect to provide humanitarian assistance May 8th – 9th Thai Mediation - Myanmar agrees on the basis of ‘no strings attached’ • May 12th First US aid supply / Meeting • of ASEAN, World Bank, OCHA • US Government / Military officials • accompany first C-130 planes into Myanmar

  9. Timeline of Events(continued) May 13th Consideration of Responsibility to Protect by Great Britain - Responsibility to Protect should be considered for natural disasters May 16th ‘Crime Against Humanity’ - Myanmar state television reports 77,738 dead, 55,917 missing • May 19th Myanmar Agrees to • ASEAN-ERAT • Myanmar agrees to aid led by • ASEAN-ERAT under condition of • not politicizing aid

  10. Timeline of Events(continued) May 23rd UN officials visit Myanmar - Myanmar promises ‘all’ aid workers will be allowed in May 25th Tripartite Core Group - Myanmar Gov’t, ASEAN, UN forms the Tripartite group • July 2008 Advances in relief and • reconstruction efforts • UN Humanitarian Relief Coordinator, • Sir John Holmes reports efforts are on track

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Failures of the Burmese government • Inadequate warning • Delay in aid delivery intensified a natural disaster into a man-made disaster • Rejection of media coverage

  14. Failures of the International Community

  15. Missed Opportunities • Precedents • “sovereignty”? • Responsibility to Protect • Definition of “disaster” • “hazard” (natural) versus “vulnerabilities” (human)

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