Burma Update: May 5, 2008

Highlight

Burma Partnership Update: 36 Shot Dead in Insein Prison while Nearly 4,000 Killed by Cyclone Nargis

" ... A category four Cyclone Nargis had entered Burma on 3/5/08 and devastated particularly of Rangoon Division and Irrawaddy Delta areas with winds of hundred and ninety kilometers per hour. Thousands of thousands of home destroyed and many lives lost. At the time of this briefer updated more than 350 people lost their lives in the storm. Many people in Rangoon have no shelter, no clean drinking water and remained without power. It is estimated that around 90,000 become homeless. Older generation citizens had commented that they had never seen such powerful storm in their life time. Rangoon is former capital of Burma and home to around 6.5 million residents... "

News from Burmese Media

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Junta May Seek International Aid
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Cyclone Could Unleash Political Upheaval
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Dozens Reported Dead in Insein Prison Clash
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Aid Agencies Struggle to Assess Burma Cyclone Damage
Irrawaddy News Magazine: UN Offers to Organize International Aid for Burma
Irrawaddy News Magazine: Nearly 4,000 People Dead; 3,000 People Missing
Mizzima News: Dead Bodies Laying in the Streets of Day Da Ye: Eyewitness Account
Mizzima News: Release of Nation-Wide Opinion Poll of Burmese Voters on the Burmese Referendum
Mizzima News: Internet Likely Down at Least 2 More Days
Narinjara News: Telephone Lines Still Cut Off in Parts of Arakan
Narinjara News: Burmese Monks Stage Bloody Protest in Dhaka
Independent Mon News Agency: Referendum Commission Compiles List of Elders Foe 'Yes' Votes
Independent Mon News Agency: Former NMSP Army Chief Reacts to Party Accusation
Kachin News Group: Junta Holds Series of Referendum Meetings
Khunumthung News: Burmese Junta Mounts Pressure on People to Vote "Yes"

News from Regional/International Media

Bagnkok Post: Myanmar Foreign Minister Tells Diplomats Cyclone Death Toll could Reach 10,000
Bagnkok Post: Thailand Sends Cash, Relief to Stricken Burma
Bagnkok Post: Country 'Ravaged'
UN News Centre: UN Stands Ready to Assist after Deadly Cyclone Batters Myanmar
BBC News: Aid Effort for Cyclone-Hit Burma
Xinhua Online: News: Singapore Offers Help to Cyclone-Hit Myanmar
Kuwait News Agency: India Dispatches Urgent Relief Material to Cyclone-Hit Myanmar
ABC News: World Vision Sends Aid to Cyclone-Ravaged Burma
Xinhua Online: At Least 15,000 Killed in Violent Cyclone in Myanmar
The Guardian: Burma's Rulers Urged to Accept International Aid

Multimedia

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Citizens of Rangoon Start Clean Up after Cyclone Nargis

Opinion/Other

Irrawaddy News Magazine: Referendum Must Take Second Place Now in Regime Priorities [Editorial]
Bangkok Post: Little Chance for May 10 Burma Referendum [Analysis] - DPA Correspondents
International Herald Tribune: The Junta's Vote for Repression - Sein Win

Statement/Press Release

ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus: Allow Humanitarian Aid Organisations Immediate Access into Myanmar
Asian Human Rights Commission: BURMA: International Assistance Needed Now, Especially from Asia
Relief Web: CWS Initial Emergency Appeal: Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Nargis Response
Burma Campaign UK: Burma Regime Failing To Help Cyclone Victims

Report/Briefer

UNIC Yangon: Situation Report: Cyclone Nargis
ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus: Myanmar/Burma News Update (edition 85)
Burma Issues: BI News Letter April, 2008

Fun

Cartoon: More Turmoil Forecast
Source: Irrawaddy News Magazine