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'Myanmar needs aid urgently'
07/05/2008 21:19 - (SA)
Yangon - Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party said on Wednesday that international aid was urgently needed for the survivors of a devastating weekend cyclone.
"The storm victims are in urgent need of emergency assistance from the international agencies including the UN," the National League for Democracy (NLD) said in a statement.
The NLD said the ruling junta was ignoring the needs of cyclone victims and instead focusing on a much-criticised constitutional referendum to be held on Saturday.
The regime announced on Tuesday it would go ahead with the referendum, part of a slow-moving "roadmap" to democracy, in most parts of the country, despite the disaster that has left more than 22 000 dead and tens of thousands missing.
"The NLD party condemns the authorities for giving priority to the constitution process and the nationwide referendum without respecting the lives of the people," the party said.
It called for the voting to be cancelled across the country, saying the government was seizing the opportunity to suppress dissenting voices by proceeding at a time when many people could not turn out to vote.
"The NLD strongly blames and criticises the government on behalf of the people as they are striving first for a referendum, without accepting immediate assistance as a priority for the people," it said.
Myanmar's generals say approval of the constitution will pave the way to elections in 2010 under their "roadmap", but critics say it will only solidify their iron grip on power.
The regime came under intense criticism on Wednesday over its refusal to allow foreign aid workers into the reclusive country to operate a relief effort to bring aid to millions of survivors without adequate food, water and shelter.
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