Myanmar junta takes swipe at relief efforts

Nevertheless, in an apparent sign that the isolationist government planned to keep its promise to allow in humanitarian workers from all countries, the United Nations reported that dozens of visas had been approved for international relief workers to enter the country.

The last 45 pending visas were granted to U.N. staffers, while Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders and the U.N. Children's Fund — UNICEF — have sent more than 14 workers in recent days into the delta region, a U.N. statement said.

Japan, which has so far donated $13 million in aid, sent a 23-member medical team to the country Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said in Tokyo.

The junta only agreed to allow foreign aid workers in after U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with leader Senior Gen. Than Shwe last weekend.

World powers keep up pressure
While garnering some praise for opening up to the international aid community, global powers have voiced outrage at a decision by the government to extend the detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi just days after donors pledged large sums of money to help the cyclone victims.

Several countries, including the United States, Britain and France, issued biting statements about the regime’s order to keep the Nobel peace laureate under house arrest for a sixth year.

“This measure testifies to the junta’s absence of will to cooperate with the international community,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement.

He called on Myanmar’s government to “free without delay” Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and opposition members being held. Suu Kyi has been held for more than 12 of the past 18 years, becoming a symbol of the junta’s intolerance of dissent.

Many nations critical of Myanmar’s abuses had put politics aside to help survivors of Cyclone Nargis. Representatives from 50 nations pledged up to $150 million Sunday, while remaining quiet about Suu Kyi’s plight.

The regime considers its biggest threat to be Suu Kyi, daughter of the country’s martyred independence leader, Gen. Aung San. She was awarded her Nobel prize in 1991 for her nonviolent attempts at promoting democracy and is widely popular.

Under Myanmar law, people deemed security threats can be detained for a maximum of five years without trial. The regime has not officially announced its decision to extend Suu Kyi’s detention or explain why it is violating its own law. An official confirmed the extension, but insisted on not being quoted by name because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

New constitution adopted
State radio and television announced on Thursday night that Myanmar had adopted a new constitution. Critics say the constitution is designed to perpetuate the military’s decades-old grip on power, and questioned the fairness of the referendum.

The government reported a 98 percent voter turnout and said 92 percent of the voters approved the charter. There were widespread unofficial reports of voting irregularities.

The referendum was held as scheduled on May 10, but some voting had to be postponed to May 24 for areas of the country hard-hit by Cyclone Nargis.

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