Mizzima News, 12 June 2008 - The Burmese military junta has assigned over two dozen intelligence officials to accompany a joint mission of the Tripartite Core Group to access the damage in cyclone-affected Irrawaddy delta and Rangoon division, according to sources close to the mission.
"Most senior Burmese officials are frustrated with the military government's move to carry out intelligence surveillance on the Post-Nargis Joint Assessment (PONJA)," said sources from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, part of the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) to access the cyclone damage.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, UN agencies and Burmese officials from different ministries, known as the Core Group was formed with the help of ASEAN last month for assistance to the cyclone victims.
The sources said most intelligence personnel were from the Ministry of Home Affairs, adding that many previously-designated members of the teams in the mission were left out to make way for the intelligence officials.
The views came in the wake of the inaugural ceremony of the mission held on Tuesday at Chatrium Hotel in Rangoon, attended by Kyaw Thu, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of TCG.
Accompanying the mission is ASEAN secretary general and Thai Foreign Minister Mr. Surin Pitsuwan.
On the same day, the military junta also sent to the devastated areas of the Irrawaddy Division more than 250 members of pro-government organization the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA).
Observers said some of the USDA members would act as government informers, adding that the military government is still suspicious of foreign aid workers even after four US navy ships left without delivering relief supplies because of the junta's unfounded apprehensions.
A Rangoon-based resident said local authorities in the ward and township levels in Rangoon and Irrawaddy divisions have been ordered not to allow any foreigner to go into residential areas without prior permission.
"The Myanmar government was expected to allow more foreign aid staff to come in as agreed but it has not done so though the international community is still being patient with the junta," he said on condition of anonymity.
More than a month after the cyclone lashed Burma on May 2 and 3, leaving 133,000 dead or missing, the United Nations estimates that more than one million people still have not received any international relief assistance.
The assessment team will determine the quantity of food required, clean water and temporary shelter for 2.4 million survivors along with the cost of reconstruction of houses, schools and reviving the agriculture-based economy, according to U.N.
About 250 experts of the team under the leadership of the Core Group headed for Irrawaddy delta on Tuesday in trucks, boats and helicopters for a survey.
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