3 days of mourning in Myanmar

2008-05-20 08:47

Yangon - Myanmar launched three days of official mourning at 09:00 (02:30 GMT) on Tuesday for more than 133 000 people left dead or missing by Cyclone Nargis, lowering national flags to half mast.

The mourning period is one of the first demonstrations of public grief since the tropical storm ravaged swathes of this impoverished nation 18 days ago, leaving about 2.4 million survivors desperately in need of aid.

Flags in front of Yangon's City Hall fluttered at half mast in the light morning rain, but there was no minute of silence or a public ceremony, leaving many people unsure how to mark the solemn occasion.

"We didn't know about this news. How are we meant to show our grief for storm victims?" said Mya Mya, a 43-year-old flower seller who is sheltering in a public school after the storm destroyed her home.

"So far we haven't got any supplies from the government. We just got some supplies from private donors, so that's why I have to work for my family."

A 45-year-old taxi driver said: "I just found out this morning, but I also don't know how I am meant to show my grief."

Military leader touring disaster zone

The reclusive junta leader Than Shwe spent a second consecutive day on Monday touring the disaster zone, venturing into the hardest-hit regions of the Irrawaddy Delta for the first time.

Until Sunday, the senior general had not made a public appearance or remark about the disaster.

Myanmar is notoriously distrustful of Western influence and has provoked international outcry since the disaster by limiting the flow of foreign aid into the isolated and worst-hit southwest delta area.

Aid groups say a full-scale relief effort is needed to prevent many of the storm survivors succumbing to hunger and disease, and Myanmar on Monday agreed to allow Southeast Asian nations to lead a limited relief effort.

- AFP