Chiang Mai – Private donors were allowed free access to cyclone victims by the Burmese military junta on Wednesday, according to a donor who made a visit.  

The National Disaster Prevention Committee announced on Wednesday that private donors are being allowed free access to victims to provide relief and donations in person in every township and villages they wanted to visit, he said.  

"Now donors have to mention only the destination they want to visit and the number of persons in their group. They don't need to pay any fees and give other particulars as they did earlier," a private donor who visited Daedeye and Pyapon said.  

The authorities seized and fined over 70 vehicles on May 25 for violation of the Motor Vehicles Act. The very next day the National Disaster Prevention Committee made the announcement.  

A private donor speculated that the announcement was akin to consoling private donors after treating them harshly.  

"We are now happy with the official permission to donate to cyclone victims," he said.  

Some private donors, however, are still worried about being troubled and arm twisting though they are pleased with the announcement, a donor said.  

The authorities took photographic evidence on the road to Irrawaddy Delta region as to how the cars of private donors blocked traffic. And then these vehicles were seized when they came back to Rangoon and fined Kyat 10,000 each by the Traffic Police Department in 50th Street, Rangoon. Moreover the drivers had to sign a bond not to violate traffic rules again.