SINGAPORE'S defence minister yesterday elaborated on the three new principles that should guide countries on how they should offer help to disaster-hit states.
Mr Teo Chee Hean said the guidelines mean that governments have a responsibility to provide for their people in the wake of natural disasters.
'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 the people,' Mr Teo said on the closing day of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
02 June 2008: Straits Times
SINGAPORE'S defence minister yesterday elaborated on the three new principles that should guide countries on how they should offer help to disaster-hit states.
Mr Teo Chee Hean said the guidelines mean that governments have a responsibility to provide for their people in the wake of natural disasters.
'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 the people,' Mr Teo said on the closing day of the Shangri-La Dialogue.
On Saturday, top officials from participating countries agreed on three non-binding principles for disaster relief efforts. They placed a responsibility on governments to quickly provide aid to their people and 'facilitate' outside help where it is needed. But external help shall come with the governments' consent.
The guidelines come amid criticism of Myanmar's ruling junta for its handling of the relief efforts following last month's devastating cyclone.
In his speech, Mr Teo said there was a difference between a government's responsibility to 'provide' and its duty to 'protect'.
In 2005, states agreed they had a responsibility to protect their citizens from instances like genocide and war crimes. If they fail to do so, the international community can intervene.
In pointing out that the 'responsibility to protect'' was 'very specifically defined'' to cover such instances, Mr Teo said: 'I think, here, we are talking generally about the responsibility of governments to provide. In the end, it is the people in the country and in the international community who will be the ultimate judge of whether or not governments...have lived up to their responsibilities.'
Myanmar was among the countries that agreed to the three principles.
Meanwhile, the role of the military in providing disaster relief was discussed yesterday.
Mr Teo said armed forces have the 'resources and manpower' to respond quickly in the crucial first stages of disaster relief efforts.
'It is not the value or quantity of the relief supplies. The question is whether they can be delivered in a prompt and effective manner,' he said.
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said there were 'diverging views' on military involvement in general relief cases.
But the 'wider consensus among Asean countries is that the armed forces have a key role' to play, he said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the 'wealth of human resources and logistical capabilities' of military forces are a welcome addition to humanitarian efforts.
But its president, Dr Jakob Kellenberger, said the armed forces should intervene only if humanitarian agencies are overwhelmed.
'It is, in any case, up to them to prove that they are in a better position to (help) than humanitarian actors,' he said.
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