Burma asks for $11bn to rebuild

REPRESENTATIVES of more than 50 nations met in cyclone-stricken Burma last night to pledge billions of dollars towards the country's rebuilding as speculation grew that the junta was preparing to release imprisoned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

Burma's ruling generals want the world to donate nearly $US11billion ($11.5 billion) to rebuild the country and help about 2.4 million survivors in need of aid.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last night he was hopeful "a turning point" had been reached in tackling Burma's crisis.

The one-day, 52-nation conference began on a note of optimism following promises by the military junta that foreign aid workers could enter the most devastated areas, from which they have been banned since the cyclone three weeks ago.

"I hope this marks a turning point in tackling the challenges facing this country," Mr Ban told about 500 delegates after a minute's silence for the dead.

But he said international relief workers and foreign medical teams must have "unhindered access to the areas hardest hit by the disaster".

Supporters of the democratically elected leader of Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, also speculated yesterday that the junta was planning an easing of her house arrest conditions or even a release, as part of its concessions to huge international pressure. The detention order that confined her to a fifth consecutive year of incarceration expired at the weekend.

Burmese online publications have carried unconfirmed reports that the Nobel Peace Prize winner's release was imminent.

But Britain's Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, told Britain's The Observer newspaper that he would not be raising the issue of Ms Suu Kyi's imprisonment as it was "inappropriate when the utmost importance is ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid".

Mr Alexander added that the international community wanted to see "full and unfettered access for aid workers" as a condition for help.

Prime Minister Thein Sein said international aid "with no strings attached" was welcome but only civilian vessels could take part in the aid operation.

"Relief supplies can be transported by land, air or sea. But if relief supplies have to be transported by water, civilian vessels can come in through Yangon (Rangoon) port," he said.

US, British and French warships, loaded with humanitarian supplies, have been cruising off Burma's coast. But last week, state media said they would not be allowed into the country, citing fears of an American invasion to snatch the country's oil supplies.

General Thein Sein yesterday presented a long list of urgent needs, including temporary shelters, rice seeds, fertiliser, fishing boats and new salt factories.

Burma's military regime was expected to call for US$10.7 billion in foreign funds. But donors were unlikely to dig deep into their pockets until they actually gained access to devastated regions from which foreigners had been earlier banned.

Washington's representative, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel, said the US was prepared to offer much more than the US$20.5 million already donated. But only if international disaster experts were allowed to assess conditions in affected areas to determine how best to help the victims.

For weeks, the junta insisted it could handle the relief effort alone, even though reporters who have reached the delta say many are still without government assistance and that the situation is grim.

Bodies of some of the estimated 133,000 people left dead or missing are rotting in canals. There is little food, rice paddies are in ruins, and there have been international warnings of a possible famine ahead.

Burma's generals have a long history of making promises to UN envoys, then breaking them when the international spotlight fades.

The UN has repeatedly failed to convince the military to make democratic reforms and to release opposition leader Ms Suu Kyi, whose five-year period of house arrest expires this week.

Nyan Win, spokesman for Ms Suu Kyi's National League of Democracy, said yesterday there has been "no sign at all" that she would be released. He said a decision on whether to free her or continue her detention would probably come today.

An estimate released on Saturday by the UN said of the total 2.4 million people affected by the storm, about 42 per cent had received some kind of emergency assistance. But of the two million people living in the 15 worst-affected townships, only 23 per cent had been reached.

The UN has launched an emergency appeal for $US201 million. That figure will likely increase once disaster relief experts are able to survey the Irrawaddy Delta.

So far, the UN had received about $US50 million in contributions and about $US42.5 million in pledges in response to the appeal, a UN spokeswoman said.

Aid agencies said much needed to be clarified from Mr Ban's meeting, ranging from logistical issues about when aid workers' visas would be granted to how long they would be allowed to stay in Burma and where they could work.

Official estimates put the death toll at about 78,000, with another 56,000 missing. Burma has estimated the economic damage at about US$11 billion.

Source: theaustralian.news.com.au