Rice uses visit to quake-affected China to rap Myanmar

Beijing, June 29 (PTI) US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice today rapped Myanmar for refusing international help
after being hit by a devastating cyclone, drawing contrast
with its close ally China whom she praised for the recovery
efforts following last month's devastating quake.
Rice, the first highest-ranking US official to visit the
worst affected region in southwest China, flew into Chengdu,
the capital of Sichuan province, and spent about four hours
inspecting the damage wreaked by the 8 magnitude quake of May
12.
"We are very glad that the Chinese people have reached
out for help," Rice said, as she contrasted it with
military-ruled Myanmar which faced strong international flak
for not allowing foreign aid workers in the country when
Cyclone Nargis struck the country, leaving 84,500 people dead.
She said, "It has been sad that instead of making
possible the international communitys response to their
people, they put up barriers to that response".
"Many lives could have been saved, perhaps many more
can still be saved if we can get that response... this is not
a matter of politics."
The military-junta spurned the help in the wake of the
intense US-led pressure to release leader Aung San Sue Kyi and
other political detainees and restore democracy.
"Earthquake can be very devastating and destructive as
I come from a place always hit by earthquake," Rice said, as
she learnt of the massive devastation and casualties in China.
The quake in China, the deadliest in three decades, has
killed almost 70,000 people with the government saying the
toll is likely to cross 80,000, and rendered millions
homeless.