Though national news outlets have been saturated with depressing reports from Myanmar, this publication’s opinion page has remained silent on the matter.
After all, what could a student columnist say on an issue of such global importance? Shouldn’t we leave topics that do not pertain to UCLA students to journalists operating with researchers, global correspondents and, at the very least, salaries?
In a word, no.
Myanmar’s desolation is not an issue that evades localization. Some stories are local in that they are global ““ issues such as human rights violations, tragedies and paradigm-shifting politics are well-served by a student perspective.
In other words, students should know ““ and care ““ about a situation like the one that is still unfolding in Myanmar.
An oversimplified version of the story is as follows: A devastating cyclone lands in the area known as Myanmar. The government cannot provide protection or aid for its own people and refuses international aid while its people suffer.
Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the United Nations, offered this: “Unless more aid gets into the country very quickly, we face an outbreak of infectious diseases that could dwarf today’s crisis. I therefore call, in the most strenuous terms, on the government of Myanmar to put its people’s lives first.”
Given that the government of Myanmar reports death tolls at over 34,000 (with Western reports reaching 100,000) and that 1.5 million people are affected, the secretary-general’s statement is true.
Yet, given increased reports of the area’s desolation, what Ban calls “the most strenuous terms” is simply not enough.
The global community holds an obligation to the Burmese people, one that it must uphold at any cost to the Myanmar government.
That is, “strenuous terms” must include any action that would result in aid reaching the people of Myanmar.
No nation, no government has the right to hold its people hostage while they suffer from the dire aftermath of natural tragedy. If Myanmar does not want aid, it must be forced upon them.
Unfortunately, the global community is offering aid but has its hands tied. Myanmar has severely restricted aid missions and flights (for no reason other than false pride and paranoia), though its government authorized five American flights early yesterday.
“I hope the government will move quickly to expedite visas for relief personnel,” said Ban.
There is no time for visas or bureaucracy ““ the local government and the world have an obligation to Myanmar’s citizens on a human level, not on a bureaucratic one.
The time is now ““ especially given the likelihood that another tragedy may be on the horizon.
At press time, a second cyclone was forming in the region, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning center.
Western nations should form a humanitarian mission blanketed with a coalition of military personnel that would assist them in delivering aid directly to those afflicted.
Giving aid to the government would be extremely inefficient,
Realistically, forced delivery of aid would not be difficult if a competent, humanitarian-minded military strategy was utilized.
The only use of force necessary would be protection of aid workers, who would face safety threats from the Myanmar government, not its citizens.
Before military action, however, airdrops should begin immediately, though these are admittedly far less effective than an organized distribution plan on ground (one that the government proves incapable of).
Regardless of the aid approach, however, we all can agree that humanitarian crises are relevant to each of us, regardless of geographic distance and lifestyle impact.
This is a tragedy that has apparently claimed 100 times as many lives as Hurricane Katrina did in America.
Though body count comparisons are uncivil and cold at best, it is time Americans and global citizens react with at least the same passion they afforded their fellow countrymen just three years ago.
E-mail Makarechi at kmakarechi@media.ucla.edu.