Disaster Profiteering?

War Profiteering by selling weapons to those who are fighting is understandable, but how about Disaster Profiteering? What kind of cruel government in this modern day dares to profit from the suffering of hundreds of thousands?

Obviously the military junta of Burma.

After the May 2nd landfall of Cyclone Nargis in Burma this year, not only have the junta failed to provide rapid relief to the victims but now is trying to profiteer from the suffering of hundreds of thousands.

Hording the donated aid supplies by the international community for the victims and replace them with low quality local produce, selling aid items on the black market for profits, and now charging US$1500 per communication set needed by aid agencies in their relief efforts and limiting each agency to only have a maximum 10 sets. Not only that but also restricting the agencies from importing the much needed communications gear which would greatly help coordinate the relief effort.

It has been 15 days since Nargis swept its way through Burma and the death toll has reached over 70,000 with a further 50,000+ missing. INGOs and journalists who are risking their lives to tell the world about the disaster are reporting that there are still many thousands who have not received aid and there are thousands of children who are facing starvation. And with all this suffering the junta is still delaying the arrival of aid and focusing on the referendum vote.

The US, UK and French have naval vessels just a few nautical miles away from Burmese territorial waters waiting with much needed supplies and experienced personnel to help and the junta would rather let hundreds of thousands die just to protect it's own illegitimate government.

In Europe, in Africa, such governments are disposed of quickly. Then UN and NATO/US used military force to stop the atrocities which happened in Kosovo, Serbia, Sudan, but when it comes to Burma, China and India, which are members of the UNSC, are afraid that if the junta is disposed by NATO/US and UN Forces they will lose the monopoly of the vast natural resources in Burma.