What kind of a government appeals for international aid, and then bombs its own people?

Benedict Rogers for UCA News

As the death toll from the tragic earthquake in Myanmar exceeds 1,700 — and the real figure likely to be much higher — the eyes of the world are on the plight of this beautiful but benighted corner of Southeast Asia.

Over the past four years, since Myanmar’s military overthrew the democratically elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup d’état, the country’s plight has slipped from the international agenda.

Apart from the occasional rare news report, the world’s many other crises and the junta’s efforts to cut Myanmar off from the outside world have meant its plight has largely been ignored.

Now it is back in the headlines — and it is time for the world to act. Global leaders, including Pope Francis and King Charles III, have sent heartfelt messages of condolence and concern, and many governments have pledged funding and sent rescue teams.

It is a sign of the severity of this disaster that the junta’s spokesman Zaw Min Tun made a rare appeal for international help within hours of the earthquake, saying on March 28: “We want the international community to give humanitarian aid as soon as possible.”

In previous humanitarian crises — notably Cyclone Nargis in 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and other natural disasters — the regime’s response was either to reject humanitarian aid, deny or restrict access for aid workers, or to misappropriate or weaponize aid.

The fact that it is requesting international assistance is welcome, and the United States, the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and others are right to respond.

Yet at the same time as requesting aid, the junta is continuing to bomb civilians in areas affected by the earthquake. The depravity, inhumanity, barbarity, and criminality of Myanmar’s ruling military regime are not new to me, but even by their standards of savageness, they have surpassed themselves.

What group of human beings bombs other human beings whose lives have just been devastated by an earthquake? What kind of a government appeals for international aid, and then bombs its own people?

The United Nations has described these air strikes as “completely outrageous and unacceptable.”

The UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has said that it was “nothing short of incredible” that the military was continuing to “drop bombs when you are trying to rescue people” after the earthquake.

With the earthquake coming on top of years of devastating conflict and repression, the displacement of more than 3.5 million people, famine, poverty, and economic collapse, it is, as Andrews says, “a disaster on top of a disaster.”

Quite rightly, the Special Rapporteur called on Myanmar’s military regime to stop all military operations.

“Anyone who has influence on the military needs to step up the pressure and make it very clear that this is not acceptable,” he said. “I’m calling upon the junta to just stop, stop any of its military operations.”

Myanmar’s Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar, has made a similar appeal.

“This humanitarian crisis calls for an urgent cessation of hostilities. We urgently call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire by all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of essential humanitarian aid by local and international supporters,” he said in a statement at the weekend.

“Such a ceasefire is imperative to address the immediate need for food, medical supplies, shelter, and protection for those affected by both the earthquake and the prolonged conflict.”

And the National Unity Government (NUG) — Myanmar’s democratically elected representatives and ethnic leaders — have also called for a temporary ceasefire too. Their statement is to be applauded.

World leaders, including the UN secretary-general, the pope, President Trump and governments in the region, must echo this call. Pressure must be placed on the junta to stop bombing while aid workers are trying to rescue civilians from the earthquake rubble.

The rest of the world must respond to the junta’s appeal for aid — but it must ensure that humanitarian relief reaches those who need it, and is not restricted or stolen by the regime. The international community must also make sure that aid reaches those areas of the country outside the military’s control.

In his message, Cardinal Bo puts the Church at the forefront of the humanitarian effort to help Myanmar. “The Catholic Church in Myanmar, with the prayer and wishes from Pope Francis, joins our country’s men and women in solidarity as they face yet another crisis,” he said.

“This tragic event has further exacerbated the profound multi-dimensional humanitarian crisis already gripping Myanmar, where, as per the UN estimate, nearly 20 million people, including 6.3 million children, are in dire need of assistance. 

The Catholic Church affirms its unwavering support for the affected people and sends out condolences to families that lost their dear ones.… The Catholic Church will mobilize support to assist with the life-saving needs of food, medicine, and shelter.”

The cardinal adds that “we especially pray for those who perished in the places of worship.”

Over 150 religious buildings — monasteries, pagodas, mosques, and churches — have been damaged or destroyed.

Thousands of Muslims were in mosques on the last Friday of Ramadan when the earthquake struck, and hundreds were killed.

Many Christians were injured or killed as churches and chapels collapsed.

And of course thousands of Buddhists were hit by pagodas and temples which the earthquake tore through.

Perhaps the only positive news is that this tragedy has brought people of different faiths together as they work to help the victims.

Some are speculating that the earthquake could be an “omen” signalling the downfall of the junta. That would be perhaps the only good outcome to emerge from the rubble of this disaster.

Myanmar’s illegal, inhumane and murderous regime has inflicted even more suffering on the country over many years than this one particularly heartbreaking tragedy.

The people of Myanmar deserve a government that is democratically elected, accountable, provides for and treats its people with respect and dignity and that upholds the rule of law and basic human rights.

And they deserve the help and prayers of the rest of the world as they try to rescue and rebuild their shattered country.

*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.