Protestors disperse
Friday, 20 March 2009 19:58
New Delhi (Mizzima) - Protestors in Twante Township dispersed at about 5 p.m. (local time), after officials of the Red Cross assured them that they would look into their problems.
“The protesters dispersed at about 5 p.m. We will wait for a reply from the Red Cross tomorrow. Now many of us are leaving for our villages,” a protestor told Mizzima over telephone.
“An official of the Red Cross came from Rangoon and said that they will probe the case and take action if victims are being neglected but he did not promise us that our demands will be met,” he added.
The protestors in the morning marched over to Twante Township from Zeekone village, which is about four miles away, and staged protests in front of the Twante Township office of the Red Cross.
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Protests continue in Twante Township
Friday, 20 March 2009 17:50
New Delhi (Mizzima) - Protestors from Twante Township in Rangoon, who were seen at 4 pm (local time), demanding reconstruction of their houses destroyed by Cyclone Nargis, are continuing with their demonstration in front of the local Red Cross office.
Eyewitnesses said, the protestors led by a woman named Daw Tayoutma, are 22 in number. Meanwhile, a Red Cross official has responded saying, “Leave the premises, or we will take action according to the law.”
The protestors, who are determined to continue with a hunger strike, have submitted their demands to an official of the Red Cross and have also demanded a meeting with the Chairman of the Township Peace and Development Council, Aung San Thar.
“Their homes have been ravaged by Cyclone Nargis, and they have taken shelter in monasteries and some have even taken shelter with their relatives and some have built temporary shelters in the paddy fields,” an eyewitness to the protest told Mizzima.
“They were particularly enraged, when the village Red Cross committee in collaboration with the fire brigade, women’s affairs committee, and the Union Solidarity and Development Association [USDA] allotted houses only to their relatives and ignored their plight,” the eyewitness added.
Meanwhile, members of the Township Peace and Development Council, whose office is opposite the Red Cross in Twante Township, were seen silently taking photographs of the protestors and have urged the Red Cross, to handle the demonstration.
The protests began at about 11 am (local time) with about 20 people, marching to the office of the Red Cross in Twante Township.
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Protest in Twante over unfair reconstruction
Friday, 20 March 2009 14:43
New Delhi (Mizzima) - At least 20 victims of Cyclone Nargis in Twante Township in Rangoon on Friday staged a protest march demanding reconstruction of their homes ravaged by the devastating cyclone in May 2008.
The protestors, marching along Kyuaktada Street in Twante, on Friday at about 11 a.m. (local time) headed towards the office of the cyclone reconstruction committee, located opposite the Township Peace and Development Council office.
The protestors said, the Myanmar Red Cross Committee in collaboration with several Non-governmental Organisations (NGO), had provided assistance to reconstruct houses at a cost of Kyat 400,000 (USD 380) each for victims.
But they were enraged, when the reconstruction committee misused the humanitarian assistance and only rebuilt houses of their relatives while ignoring the plight of other victims.
The protestors from the Zeekone village of Twante Township were led by Vice-Chairman of the Twante Township National League for Democracy Chit Pe and were provided with a protective ring by youth members of the NLD, eyewitnesses said.
“Now they have arrived in front of the committee office. They are demanding reconstruction of their houses. So far they have not shouted any slogans, but if the authorities take action against them then the protestors are ready to shout slogans,” said an NLD youth member, who was with the protestors.
The Myanmar Red Cross Committee, when contacted, said they have spearheaded humanitarian assistance for villagers in Twante Township to rebuild houses at a cost of Kyat 400,000 each.
“In collaboration with the International Red Cross, we are supporting the reconstruction of houses in 13 townships. So far we are able to have nine committees for nine townships, and we plan to rebuild at least 8,000 houses. Each house will cost 400,000 kyat. Earlier we allotted 300,000 kyat but later we increased it by another 100,000 kyat,” Dr. Tun Myint, spokesperson of the Myanmar Red Cross Society told Mizzima.
He said there are at least 2,000 houses in more than 161 villages in the nine townships and the reconstruction committees were formed for each township.
“The committee will conduct field survey and will negotiate with village elders and give priority to people to be helped. We have set up a criteria to help old people, widows and widowers among others,” Dr. Tun Myint added.
He said they have also established committees in each village to be led by a chairman and a vice-chairman.
The reconstruction committee for Zeekone village included Chairman Kyaw Swe, Secretary Aye Ko, and members Tin San, Khin Mar Kyi, Myint Myint Aye, Yu Tin, Aye Aye Myint, Aung San, Myint Oo, Hla Kyaing, Win Aung and Chit Ko.
