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KUALA LUMPUR: Some 2,000 Myanmar workers gathered in front of the Myanmar Embassy and handed over two memoranda protesting the referendum on the country's new constitution.

The two-hour peaceful rally, which began at 9.30am, saw the Myanmars arriving in two batches from Jalan Ampang before they were stopped by members of the Federal Reserve Unit.

Police had since early morning cordoned off several roads leading to the embassy at Jalan Ru, off Jalan Ampang Hilir, and stationed FRU trucks at the United States Embassy nearby.

Some of the Myanmars wore traditional clothes while others wore red headbands and T-shirts emblazoned with the word "No".

They co-operated with police throughout the protest and waited patiently at the blockade before police allowed several representatives to approach the embassy to hand over the memoranda.

They also said prayers for those who perished when Myanmar was ravaged by cyclone Nargis.

The first group to hand over a memorandum were members of the Burma Ethnic Nationality Joint Force, which is a coalition of seven ethnic groups in Myanmar.

The second group comprised members of four political parties - the NLD-Liberated Area, the Arakan League for Democracy, Zomi National Congress-Liberated Area and Democratic Party of New Society.

Govt to send aid to Myanmar

BERA: The government will send cash and humanitarian relief aid totalling nearly RM4 million to help victims of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Cabinet had decided to donate US$1 million (RM3.2 million) and RM500,000 worth of basic necessities, including 5,000 blankets, 30 tents, food, clothing and medicines.

He said the cash aid would be given to the Myanmar government.

"The government has decided to give these two types of aid first," he said after launching the national-level Youth Day and Week in Felda Sebertak near here yesterday.

Najib said the relief aid would be shipped to Myanmar on Monday.

The government would proceed with the aid despite a report that the United Nations had suspended efforts to help the victims due to a lack of co-operation from the military junta.

"We will get a landing clearance from the Myanmar government first," said Najib.

It was reported that the Myanmar government was not ready to let in foreign aid workers and had rejected international pressure to allow experts to help the victims who are now exposed to diseases and starvation.

This decision invited severe criticism from other countries.

The UN claimed that the delay was "unprecedented" in the history of humanitarian work.

The UN estimated that more than one million people were homeless after the devastating storm that killed tens of thousands of people in the country.

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