Crazy old world

Q: What sort of goverment expels aid workers who have just flown in when 100,000 of its people are feared have to died in a cyclone?

A: The sort of government that closes its embassy in Bangkok for a festival so more aid workers waiting there for entry visas will have to wait at least four more days.

Q: How many more cyclone victims will die in four more days if they don't get help soon?

A: ...

So the international community is leaning on China, Thailand -- countries with ties to Myanmar -- to get the junta to open up the country to aid workers. That's where I think Singapore should step in. As the Asean chair, it has been gentle with Myanmar during the crackdown on protesting monks. As a country, it has business ties to Myanmar; its hospitals has treated junta members; and it has very probably sold arms to Myanmar. We shouldn't be part of this shame.