Thai PM heads for Myanmar to urge junta to accept aid

THAILAND: Thailand’s prime minister said Friday he would fly to Myanmar this weekend, where he is expected to urge the generals to allow foreign aid workers into the country after Cyclone Nargis.

“I will go to Myanmar on Sunday, May 11 — all has been arranged,” Samak Sundaravej told reporters.

Britain’s ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle said he had asked Samak to act as a go-between with the regime, which has so far not issued visas to most foreign aid workers waiting to get into Myanmar to distribute vital supplies.

“I have discussed with Prime Minister Samak and asked him to act as a middle man — just as the United States requested yesterday — to let British aid in to help the Myanmar people,” he told reporters.

A senior military official told AFP that Samak would fly directly to Myanmar’s isolated new capital Naypyidaw on Sunday morning, where he is scheduled to meet junta head Senior General Than Shwe.

Myanmar’s ruling junta has already given permission to its close ally Thailand to send in relief supplies, but no personnel.

Myanmar said in state press Friday that it was “not ready” for foreign search and rescue teams after the deadly cyclone, which left at least 60,000 people dead or missing when it swept through Myanmar at the weekend.

Bangkok, Friday, AFP