Arroyo sending 15 member medical mission to Myanmar

This is from the Inquirer. It would seem reasonable to postpone the referendum although the government does seem to be postponing it in some regions. The article does not mention that the Philippines is sending any other aid. It remains to be seen whether Myanmar will allow in U.S. aid. Laura Bush certainly did not help with her useless lecture. Maybe it makes her feel virtuous.

Arroyo sending 15-member medical mission to Myanmar
Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 02:12:00 05/08/2008
MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is sending in the next 48 hours a 15-member medical team to Burma (Myanmar) to join a massive international effort to help victims of a devastating cyclone.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita Wednesday said Ms Arroyo instructed the health and foreign affairs departments to organize the team of doctors and nurses. He said Burmese authorities had been asked what medicines were urgently needed.
Also Wednesday, about 50 Filipino protesters who marched outside the Burmese Embassy in Makati City demanded that Burma postpone this week’s planned constitutional referendum and allow the unrestricted entry of international relief for cyclone victims.
“While the people are so worried about survival in the midst of this disaster, the junta is too preoccupied thinking of how to pursue its referendum,” said Egoy Bans, spokesperson for the Free Burma Coalition.
Postpone referendum
“This is not the time for a political exercise. The population is very vulnerable and insecure,” Bans said.
He also called on Burmese military rulers to open the borders of the tightly controlled country to international aid.
In addition, Bans expressed concern that Burmese authorities would give priority for aid distribution to communities considered loyal to the military, and would exclude opposition strongholds. He provided no details.
Cyclone Nargis struck over the weekend and killed more than 22,000 people, just days ahead of a key referendum on a draft constitution backed by military leaders as an important step forward on what they call a “road map to democracy.”
Critics say the constitution is meant to perpetuate military rule.
State radio said Saturday’s vote would be delayed until May 24 in 40 of 45 townships near the largest city, Rangoon, and seven in the Irrawaddy delta—areas that bore the worst of the storm. The report indicated, however, that the balloting would be held in other areas as scheduled. Reports from Christine O. Avendaño, Jerome Aning and Reuters