21-27 March: Shan State Earthquake Victims in Need of Urgent Relief Effort

March 28, 2011

On 24 March, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Loimwe, Shan State, causing many deaths and significant destruction to homes and buildings in the area. Affected communities are in great need of humanitarian assistance as they begin to address the damage and rebuild their lives. It is imperative that Burma’s regime and local authorities facilitate the delivery of timely and unimpeded relief in a transparent manner.

As of 27 March, state-run media was reporting the official death toll from the quake as 74. However, eyewitness reports suggested that more than 150 people were killed. Many of the casualties are from Tarlay, where almost every building was damaged and many collapsed. The quake destroyed at least 240 buildings, including houses and monasteries. Townships hit included Mong Yaung, Naryaung, Mong Yaung, Tachilek and Ta Lur townships.

In May 2008, authorities responded to the devastation of Cyclone Nargis as a possible threat to their regime, rather than a rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. The regime’s initial refusal to allow much needed international aid into the Irrawaddy Delta worsened an already terrible crisis, in which more than 138,000 people died. While 2.4 million people were struggling to survive in the aftermath of the cyclone, the military regime held a referendum in which they claim 93% of the people supported the undemocratic military-drafted constitution. The regime arrested individuals and harassed organizations attempting to provide assistance to those in need. For more information about the regime’s obstruction of Cyclone Nargis assistance, please visit our website here.

Initial reports after Thursday’s earthquake indicate that authorities continue to favor control over rapid and open aid delivery. Damage may be far worse than authorities have suggested. Authorities have also reportedly turned away foreign aid. Local authorities in Mae Sai, Thailand, claimed that officials in Tachilek on the Burma side of the border had banned journalists and were refusing entry to foreign doctors. Burma Army troops were allowing access into Tarlay only to those returning to search for relatives.

Unnecessary restrictions on information and aid exacerbate the suffering of disaster survivors. Communities in Shan State deserve and require an unhindered relief response from authorities, international relief organizations, and the international community.

Burma’s regime must ensure that difficult to access, quake-hit areas receive immediately the support they desperately need. Authorities must utilize transparent means and make certain that domestic and international assistance directly and solely benefits affected communities.

News Highlights

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi reiterates support of sanctions in interview with German paper, saying “Sanctions must remain in place. Sanctions should only be lifted when something has changed here.”

USDP General Secretary and MP tables resolution for Parliament to oppose sanctions (Burmese)

Inside Burma

NLD repeats call for dialogue with military regime; forms social network for farmers

Minister for Home Affairs Minister, Maung Oo, claims that amnesty for political prisoners “is not the concern” of the Parliament or judiciary during Lower House of Parliament session

Information Minister Kyaw Hsan in Parliament criticizes Thailand for its role in Karen State conflict

Union Election Commission disqualifies 75 candidates from running for office in the next election for failing to file electoral expenses in the 2010 election on time

Authorities intimidate villagers in Kyauk Padaung, Mandalay Division, and demand that they refuse aid and assistance from NLD (Burmese)

Karen National Liberation Army ambushes Burma Army troops in Waw Lay, Karen State, killing and injuring 10 Burma Army soldiers (Burmese)
Burma Army troops force villagers in Par Pond, Karen State, to porter and serve as human shields (Burmese)

State-run newspaper for the first time in twenty years describes Shan State Army-North (SSA-North) as “insurgents” committing “terrorist acts” following recent clashes between SSA-North and Burma Army

Clash occurs between Shan State Army-South (SSA-South) and Burma Army troops in Kunlong Township, Shan State; Burma Army soldiers burn villagers’ livestock after the fight (Burmese)

Military authorities tell more than 190 families in Kunhing Township, Shan State, to relocate by the end of March as Burma Army looks to isolate Shan troops operating in the region

United Wa State Party ends five-day annual conference held in Pangsang, Shan State

United Wa State Army issues statement, calls on military regime to resume dialogue with cease-fire armies

Military regime marks Armed Forces Day with unusually low-key ceremony

Authorities arrest dozens of Arakan nationals in Rangoon following February bomb blast at housing complex in Insein Township; police torture some of the detained

Official cautions that around 4,000 fishermen from the Pyapon area may have lost their lives in storms that hit Irrawaddy Division last week

Ministry of Energy sets petrol ration of six gallons per car per day at a fixed price at private stations

12-day gem emporium in Naypyidaw hits record sales of more than US$2.8 million

Authorities crack down on massage parlors and prostitution in Naypyidaw

Authorities deport Benedict Rogers, the author of “Than Shwe: Unmasking Burma’s Tyrant”

Rangoon court again denies bail to Myanmar Times founder Ross Dunkley

Regional

Ex-PPACT, a group of former political prisoners from Burma, sends letter to European Commission describing the challenges for the community living in Mae Sot, Thailand

Thai police arrest than 400 migrant workers from Burma at the V&K Pineapple Canning Company Factory in Ratchaburi

Thai authorities seize 12 kilograms of opium exported from Karenni State at Huay Pulaung gate on the Thai-Burmese border

International

Two monks representing the All Burma Monks Alliance present an open letter to the German foreign ministry and plan to lead a silent protest in Berlin against Germany’s alleged lobbying of other EU nations to remove sanctions on Burma

United Nations Human Rights Council extends mandate of Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma (Burmese)

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Statements and Press Releases

Immediately Withdraw Military Regime’s Sanctions upon the People
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