Killer cyclone Nargis leaves at least 4000 dead in Burma, relief efforts underway
"Where are all those uniformed people who are always ready to beat civilians-" said one man, who refused to be identified for fear of retribution. "They should come out in full force and help clean up the areas and restore electricity."
The deadly storm has also left in its wake severe shortage of food and oil. While the price of food items were reported to have hiked by at least 100 percent, in Rangoon, petrol had increased fourfold to more than $10 a gallon. The cost of construction supplies is also reported to have risen.
However, the government said the referendum on a new constitution will go ahead as planned on May 10.
"The referendum is only a few days away and the people are eagerly looking forward to voting," the government said in a statement carried by state media.
The junta leaders claim the referendum, which will be the country's first national vote in 18 years, will pave the way for multi-party elections in 2010, but critics, including Nobel Prize winning opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, say the charter is aimed primarily at further strengthening the military rule by giving it excessive power.
- 1 Indian pugilist Sushil Kumar creates history, wins Olympic bronze in Beijing after 56 years
- 2 Vijender Singh punches his way to semifinal in boxing in Beijing, medal assured
- 3 Upsetting the Applecart: Nokia N96, iPhones challenger, comes to India
- 4 Infosys promises "paradigm shift in in-store shopping experience" through ShoppingTrip360
- 5 Russian beauty on top of the world
- 6 Spanish airliner catches fire, 153 dead
- 7 "No, Thank you," Indias Mahindra & Mahindra tells GMs Hummer
- 1 No Respite: India's inflation rate surges to 12.63 percent, monetary tightening seen
- 2 Government approves modernization and expansion of Chennai and Kolkata airports, allocates Rs.3750.50 crore
- 3 Ansal API to invest Rs.3600 crore in SEZs, IT Parks, scouts investors
- 4 Upsetting the 'Apple'cart: Nokia N96, iPhone's challenger, comes to India
- 5 Mahindra & Mahindra buys majority stake in Chinese JV, becomes No.1 tractor maker in world
- 6 Indian pugilist Sushil Kumar creates history, wins Olympic bronze in Beijing after 56 years
- 7 "No, Thank you," India's Mahindra & Mahindra tells GM's Hummer
- 1 NSG to discuss India nuclear deal today
- 2 Flood kills 74 in Uttar Pradesh
- 3 Sarkozy visits Kabul after French soldiers killed
- 4 Spanish airliner catches fire, 153 dead
- 5 China's Olympic ceremony features sacrifices
- 6 Musharraf's resignation sparks new crisis in Pakistan
- 7 Confused sea turtles march into restaurant
|
|
