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Senior General Than Shwe, the leader of Myanmar’s ruling junta for the first time visited victims of the cyclone Nargis that killed nearly one lakh people and left thousands homeless. Sate television showed the video of the leader touring a refugee camp on Sunday, May 18, 2008. Than Shwe was seen there patting the heads of babies, checking supplies and shaking hands with the survivors. Some of the cyclone victims, surrounded by neat rows of blue tents, clasped their hands and bowed as the general and other senior military officials passed by their refugee camp.
The showing of images of the military junta leader of Myanmar was perhaps an attempt by the state government to defend its relief efforts and to counter mounting international criticism over the state’s reluctance to allow foreign aid specialists.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who has failed to speak with the military junta leaders is expected to arrive in Myanmar in the middle of the week to visit the Irrawaddy delta, which is worst hit by the Cyclone Nargis. Today also the chief of the UN disaster relief, John Holmes visited the cyclone hit Myanmar.
