May 5, 2008 11:23 pm US/Eastern
Myanmar Residents Devastated By Cyclone
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Charges of government mismanagement are growing in Myanmar as the cyclone that took more than 10,000 lives could reignite rebellion against a violent regime.
Hla Hla Htay/AFP/Getty Images
Charges of government mismanagement are growing in Myanmar as the cyclone that took more than 10,000 lives could reignite rebellion against a violent regime.
Dennis Edwards reports the cyclone left a tortured trail of death as it swept through Myanmar.
At least 10,000 are feared dead, but some estimates project a death toll 30 times higher. As many as 90,000 are homeless. This disaster refocuses attention on the country's military regime, which waited three days to ask for help.
It's the same regime that drew international criticism for opening fire on protesters last September when one person was killed.
There's no way to tell how many Americans are stranded in Burma, and at this stage there's no telling when they'll be able to get out.
Aung Mense's father was supposed to be in the small Asian country now known as Myanmar for only 30 days. He's the owner of Mandolay Restaurant in Silver Spring and the Burma Restaurant in Chinatown.
"We just got a quick call from them. They're all fine," Mense said.
Mense's father scrambled to help any way he can. The U.S. government is pledging a quarter million dollars in aid and possibly more.
"I'm worried that they won't even accept U.S. aid. I'm urging the government to accept aid from the United States and from the entire international community," Laura Bush said.
An anticipated long recovery complicates the government's efforts to win a referendum on a new constitution. It faces an uncertain future now that residents are accusing the government of not adequately warning them of Saturday's approaching storm.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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