Burma cracks down on critics of its relief effort

BURMA’s ruling generals have accused foreign media of tarnishing the country’s image by reporting that cyclone victims have not received any assistance.

The US military, meanwhile, said it has received no response to an offer of 22 helicopters that could ferry relief to most survivors within three days.

Along with its stepped-up rhetoric, Burma’s government appeared to be clamping down on criticism at home. A popular comedian was detained after returning from an aid trip and saying that government aid was not reaching some victims.

In addition, there were unconfirmed reports in Rangoon that at least a dozen people involved in filming cyclone victims in the Irrawaddy delta had been arrested.

The New Light of Myanmar, considered the mouthpiece of the ruling generals and bearing the name by which Burma is also known, accused “self-seekers and unscrupulous elements” of working in collusion with foreigners to shoot video films featuring made-up stories in the storm-ravaged areas in the delta.

The military regime has been criticised by international agencies for holding up shipments of food, water and temporary shelter supplies.

US Navy ships laden with helicopters and emergency supplies sailed away from the coast of Burma on Thursday after being ignored by the junta for three weeks, but the American offer to help still stands, said Lt Gen John Goodman, head of the US relief operation for Burma.

Among the assistance being offered are 22 helicopters that officials said could reach the majority of those hungry and homeless within three days.

With only seven Burmese government helicopters flying, relief supplies are mostly being transported along dirt roads and then by boat.

But the relief effort lacks helicopters to access hard-to-reach areas in the devastated Irrawaddy delta.

The junta is particularly sensitive to letting in US helicopters, which would highlight the American effort in a country where the people have been taught to see the US as a hostile aggressor. Burma’s state media has hinted that the junta fears a US invasion aimed at seizing the country’s oil deposits.

Well-known comedian Maung Thura — whose stage name is Zarganar — was taken from his home in Rangoon by police on Wednesday night after going to the Irrawaddy delta to donate relief items to survivors, his family said.

A family member said that they had heard nothing from Zarganar and the regime has given no reason for his detention.

Zarganar, 46, was known both for his anti-government barbs and his work for cyclone victims.

He and his team had made video records of their relief activities and Zarganar gave interviews to foreign media.

A representative for the human rights group Amnesty International said Zarganar’s detention was indicative of the kinds of human rights concerns that the group was trying to highlight in Burma.

“There’s simply no doubt this was done for political reasons,” the group said.