Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

This is the first debate on foreign affairs we have had since my friends and colleagues, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, and the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Power, took office and I wish them every success in their new portfolios. As Chairman of the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Human Rights, I am glad to have this opportunity to contribute to this important debate. We are all deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy which struck Burma. However, we are equally angered by the uncaring response of the Burmese military junta to the humanitarian needs of the millions of people whose lives have been devastated by the destruction of the cyclone.

On 2 May, much of southern Burma, particularly the area surrounding the delta of the Irrawaddy River, was struck by a powerful cyclone. The effects were devastating along the entire coastal region of the country but particularly in the low-lying delta area. Thousands of people were killed, many of whom were drowned by the sheer force of the cyclone and the rapidly rising waters in the delta area.

Cyclone Nargis has left an enormous human tragedy and massive physical destruction in its wake. The exact number of those who died is as yet unknown. It is estimated that the figure could be approximately 78,000 people with many more still missing. Today, a national newspaper quoted a figure of 128,000.

The UN believes that approximately 2.5 million people were affected by the impact of the cyclone. Their homes, often poorly constructed, were either extensively damaged or in many cases simply blown away by the force of the cyclone. The poor infrastructure could not withstand the strength of the storm. Roads are still blocked by flooding and debris is making access by water to the worst affected region difficult. Some of this debris is dead bodies.

Millions are fleeing the affected areas because there has been no adequate response by the Burmese military junta to their plight. People are short of food, have little or no clean water and are woefully short of medical supplies. Entire villages are still cut off. People have been traumatised by their experience and their future is a fight for survival.

In many cases children have nothing to eat and there is a serious threat of water-borne diseases from the many human and animal corpses rotting in the water. While limited amounts of aid have been distributed and aid agencies state that approximately 250,000 people have received rations, 150,000 people are reported to be in refugee camps and up to 1 million people have received no aid or support.

I contrast this with what happened in the aftermath of the tsunami which hit much of south-east Asia at the end of 2004. This was another devastating natural disaster with more death and destruction on an horrific scale. The images of the tsunami, which also struck without warning, are still fresh in our minds. However, we also recall the instant and immediate reaction of the international community to this terrible catastrophe to help those whose lives were shattered and whose livelihoods were destroyed by the tsunami.

From around the world, assistance and aid poured into those places where the tsunami struck. Food and medical supplies were flown in. Aid workers from the United Nations, international humanitarian agencies and aid agencies around the world rushed to the region to help. Ireland was one of those countries quick to respond and offer assistance. Roads and bridges were quickly constructed to allow aid and aid workers access to remote areas where much of the infrastructure had been destroyed. There was a universal outpouring of sympathy for those who had suffered from the tsunami and this sympathy was backed up by humanitarian action. No restrictions were placed on those who wished to help, and rightly so.

What is happening now in Burma could not be more different. My understanding and perception of various reports I have read is the reaction of the Burmese military government up to now has been to do everything in its power to block international aid and international aid workers from reaching those most in need of aid, which is disgraceful. Instead of welcoming international aid and assistance, the military government has over the past 18 days put obstacles in the way of those trying to help those who need it. Visas have been denied to aid agencies and the aid that has made it through has been woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the people. Journalists have been denied visas and those who have secured entry into the country must operate in a semi-clandestine way concealing their whereabouts or risking expulsion.

The behaviour of the military junta to date is tantamount to a violation of the human rights of the Burmese people. It is reprehensible for a government to deny its own people access to food, humanitarian aid and medicine when they most need it and it is immoral to refuse to allow international aid and aid workers enter the country to help those whose lives have been devastated by a natural disaster. The lack of action by the Burmese authorities has rightly been condemned by the international community as showing a flagrant indifference by a government to the fate of its own people. It is the responsibility of a government to look after the well-being of its people as best it can.

The military government in Burma is putting its own interests and survival before the basic needs of its people. This behaviour must be condemned without equivocation. Last September we witnessed the brutality of the military authorities in Burma to any dissent when they viciously put down protests by Buddhist monks. Their behaviour over the past two weeks demonstrates they fear that the crisis caused by the cyclone could add further fuel to the deep and genuine discontent of the people against the repressive military regime that has ruled the country for so long. There are indications over recent days that the outrage of the international community and intense diplomatic pressure on the Burmese authorities are beginning to have a limited impact. This represents the lowest possible response by the Burmese authorities to the pressure rightly put on them. Neighbouring countries will do everything they can to help relieve the terrible plight of the Burmese people. However, this limited action by the Burmese military authorities only confirms they are determined not to allow major western aid agencies and their highly skilled aid workers into the country.

French, American and British ships lie off the coast of Burma with large consignments of food aid and other supplies on board. The authorities have refused these ships permission to offload their supplies in Burmese ports. The agreement reached yesterday in Singapore will prevent the delivery of these much needed supplies. Unless the Burmese authorities make further concessions, these supplies will remain on the high seas, which must be condemned. Later this week, the Secretary General of the United Nations will visit Burma and he will convey to the Burmese military authorities the concern of the international community on what is happening in Burma. I hope he will convince them that the slight opening they have agreed to in Singapore can only be seen as a first step and is in no way a sufficient response to the calls from the international community for greater access to Burma. He must convince the Burmese generals that their obligations to their citizens would be best served by allowing the ships unload their supplies. He must also demand that UN aid agencies and other international aid agencies and aid workers be permitted immediate and unrestricted access to those areas.