May 14, 2008: (Xinhua) BANGKOK: Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej
left Bangkok on Wednesday for Myanmar, in a bid to persuade the
Myanmar government to allow international relief workers to enter the
cyclone-stricken country to help victims.

The Thai premier is expected to arrive on the day in Yangon, the
former capital and economic hub of Myanmar, and to be received by
government leaders in the new capital Naypidaw, some 400 kilometers
north of Yangon.

Samak is bringing 100 satellite phones for the State Peace and
Development Council on their request. Thai officials will also install
a satellite station there to restore communication in Myanmar after
hit by Cyclone Nargis on May 3, according to Thai News Agency.

Samak will also present the Myanmar authorities with a letter from the
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling for the
government to issue visas for international aid workers to enter the
country, which the Myanmar authorities have by now rejected.

The UN head, as well as the United States and British governments had
asked the Thai PM to act as a go-between between international aid
groups and the Myanmar government for foreign aid staff's entry to the
country devastated by the storm, which has left 34,273 persons dead,
1,403 injured and 27,836 missing according to latest figure released
by Myanmar state media.

Meanwhile, Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his royal consort
Princess Srirasami instructed their representatives to buy basic
necessities from Thai housewives' groups across Thailand and to send
them to Myanmar.

Thirty-five metric tons of Thai-donated food, clothing, and medicines,
valued at seven million baht (about 220,000 U.S. dollars) were
transported to Myanmar by a C-130 military aircraft.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/14/content_8169054.htm