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Tuesday May 13, 1:08 PM
Myanmar Allows US Aircraft to Land, Visas on Case-by-Case BasisBANGKOK, May 13 Asia Pulse - The first US military aircraft loaded with necessities for Myanmar survivors from Cyclone Nargis which devastated the country early this month has landed in that country Monday afternoon. Quoting Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein as informing his Thai counterpart Samak Sundaravej through the latter's representative, Thai Government Spokesman Vichienchote Sukchoterat said Myanmar government would be willing to accept humanitarian aid from every country now, and that the first US C-130 aircraft carrying relief supplies and necessities had been allowed to land in Myanmar Monday.
In an attempt to facilitate aid and relief transport and shipping, the Myanmar government has decided to open part of the port in the former capital of Yangon and foreign ships carrying aid could berth there, the spokesman said. Myanmar government is also considering opening its common border in the Thai district of Mae Sot to accept heavy cargo of aid supplies by road, the spokesman said. Touching on Myanmar visas for foreigners, he said the Myanmar government would "consider issuing it on a case-by case basis". The spokesman said UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon early Monday telephoned the Thai prime minister to help negotiate with the Myanmar government in issuing visas for foreign aid agencies, and that Mr. Samak had explained to the world organisation chief that the Myanmar government had begun to cooperate. Nearly two million people are estimated to have lost their homes after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 3. Most damage was reported in the Irrawaddy Delta and parts of the former capital Yangon. The spokesman also said Gen. Thein Sein also thanked the Thai king and queen, as well as members of the royal family for donating humanitarian aid to cyclone victims. Gen. Thein Sein, according to the spokesman, also sought more emergency relief from the Thai Red Cross. He also thanked Thailand's top energy firm PTT Public Co., Ltd. for donating 480,000 litres of diesel which will arrive at a Myanmar port on Wednesday. (TNA-OANA)
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