Junta compound the horror of the cyclone

Pressed to defend their autocratic system of government against persistent criticism by the West, the generals who have ruled Burma for more than 45 years were always able to advance the specious argument that they had at their command an effective and disciplined army to tackle any crisis. Cyclone Nargis, however, has blown away even that figleaf of legitimacy.

In perhaps the greatest crisis to befall the country since World War II, Burma's army of 500,000 men in uniform has failed the nation miserably. One Rangoon resident spoke for many when he declared: "When peaceful demonstrators appeared on the streets last year, soldiers were everywhere. But where are they now?"

As he spoke, local government loudspeaker vans toured city suburbs telling residents it was

their responsibility to clear their streets of trees, power masts and advertisement hoardings toppled by the cyclone's 120mph winds. Isolated groups of soldiers helped out, but mostly in Rangoon's business and local government districts and, of course, the leafy suburbs where members of the military administration live. Monks far outnumbered soldiers in Rangoon's work gangs.

From Karen State in eastern Burma came reports that Burmese army units were still carrying out punitive raids on ethnic villages in the days following the cyclone. Other military units were helping government officials canvas votes ahead of the national referendum on a new constitution scheduled for this coming Saturday - a constitution designed to entrench military power indefinitely.

As the death toll climbed