Don't Forget Cyclone victims

Few days after Cyclone Nargis brought disaster and sufferings to people of Myanmar, I sms'es two political leaders from two different political parties suggesting they should use their good office to help the cyclone victims. The next day, one State government which one of the politician is an exco member announced a RM 1 million contribution to help the victims in Myanmar.

I did not received any response from the other politician who is a minister in the federal government. Few days after the sms, earthquake strikes Sichuan province in China and news with photos of destruction caused by the earthquake spread wide and far. The latter politician's party whose membership comprising those with historical and cultural link with China sprang into action to raise fund for the earthquake victims. Many people with economic interest and cultural link with China also join in the band wagon to raise funds for the Sichuan earthquake.

And the attention on victims of Cyclone Nargis was slowing down mainly due to lack of information and pictures showing the suffering of the cyclone victims compared to the earthquake victims which was widely published in local vernacular chinese newspapers.

The Myanmar junta need to take responsibilities on the increasing suffering of the cyclone victims. By virtue of stopping relief workers and international media from going into disaster areas, the actual impact of the disaster was not really been gauged and estimated. A picture speaks a thousand words and these pictures were not easily obtained in the military junta controlled state. It resulted that less people emphatised with the Myanmar victim compared to the earthquake victims.

At current state of increasing cost of living, people will still fork out some cash to help out but most will channel to the earthquake victims because seeing is believing. Pictures of school children trapped and killed in Sichuan most probably will moved a person to chip in for the earthquake fund rather than the cyclone fund as many might not be comfortable donating to Myamnar junta because they are still having strong reservation on the junta handling of the fund.

Whatever it is, please do not forsake the victims of Nargis, continue to help them. There are many channel to help them thru the NGOs who are already inside Myanmar to help the victims.