Evil Knows No Limits

Earier this week, the military junta of Myanmar refused American aid in the wake of the devastating cyclone to hit that country last weekend. We were ready to provide immediate assistance, as usual: 

The U.S. Navy has three ships as well as troops in the Gulf of Thailand, within an easy sail of Myanmar, as part of joint military exercises code-named Cobra Gold scheduled for May 8-21. Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore will also take part in the annual war games.

It was shocking to me that they would do that to their populace.  But I had, ironically, hoped their refusal of our aid was just because of how they felt about America; that they'd allow other countries and agencies to help them.

I was wrong.

Myanmar is refusing to allow any foreign aid to reach its shores.

Pressure was mounting on cyclone-devastated Myanmar Friday to allow access to an army of foreign relief workers as the country's isolationist military regime rejected expert help in delivering aid to victims at risk of disease and starvation.

The situation has prompted the United States to consider air-dropping aid to cyclone-affected regions without permission from the country's government.

Over 22,000 people have been confirmed dead in Myanmar. Top foreign envoys in the country indicate that toll could rise to more than 100,000, especially if aid isn't allowed in, now.

The image at left is an actual NASA Earth Observatory image of the cyclone that hit Myanmar - a country roughly the size of Texas and an estimated population of 56 million. Just look at the size of that storm - the military junta never warned its people that the storm was coming. It is estimated that an area roughly 2,000 square miles is now under water; nearly 6 million people lived in that area and quite frankly I'm surprised the death toll isn't higher.

Their military government is notorious for human rights violations that include using sexual atrocities as punishments and a means to control. They are an incredibly poor country that has suffered decades of government mismanagement. The income generated by their richest export - precious gems like rubies, sapphires and pearls - is kept by the junta for self-funding.

Apparently their government wishes to continue the abuses by denying their people access to basic needs like clean water and clean food. Even those who have already died pose a tremendous risk to survivors, as the country can't bury the dead fast enough - releasing toxins and deadly bacteria into the air. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the junta membership isn't even in the country anymore; saving their own skins at the peril of their fellow countrymen.

The longer aid is delayed, the greater the risks for riots, theft and escalating tensions. The resulting death toll may well exceed that of the Tsunami in Indonesia in 2004. We've seen so much evil in the world in the past few years - but to me this is an evil of the worst kind.