Frustrated by weeks of having aid supplies blocked, donor nations confronted Myanmar's government at a high-level security conference in Singapore when they came face to face with the country's representative.
The Shangri'La Dialogue was attended by Myanmar's Deputy defense Minister, Major General Aye Myint. He had told those present that Myanmar will "welcome any assistance and aid which are provided with genuine goodwill from any country or organization provided that there are no strings attached, or politicization involved."
It will accept help "in accordance with our (Myanmar's) priorities".
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called the military government's policies of controlling access to aid “akin to criminal neglect” of its people.
Even ASEAN ministers who adhere to a rather non-interfering position when it came to member nations made their points.
"At the risk of offending my colleague here, I would certainly speak on behalf of ASEAN countries, we would like to play a bigger role in the context of the tragedy of Myanmar."
"If they are not able to provide for it, then it is their responsibility to see what other resources they can garner to help provide for their people."
Ultimately though, it was French parliamentarian Pierre Lellouche who plainly underlined the moral imperative for all present.
In a quote that went largely unreported in various media, he stated,
"We need a system of sanctions to stop this scandal of having hundreds of thousands of people dying with help waiting outside and having a lecture about non-interference in domestic affairs.The international community loses any moral high ground it holds if it fails to stand up to Myanmar's military government in this time of crisis for the 2.5 million it is holding hostage, sans aid.
"I'm sorry, maybe, to change the tone of this very polite international gathering, but I think it is my duty to do so."
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