Whilst rotting corpses and raw sewage build up amongst the sick and the injured who desperately need help, aid workers are waiting at airports to get into Burma.

Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on May 2 claiming at least 78,000 lives and leaving many more homeless. The military junta insists that it can handle the aftermath of one of the most devastating cyclones to hit Asia, and they have it so under control that they even have time to hold and institutional referendum.

In the meantime Burma decomposes and the world superpowers have their hands tied by the Burmese government. But, since when have they had to ask for permission to invade, let alone help?

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that this was a “man-made catastrophe,” and described it as “inhuman”. But he really needs to fight harder for its former colony and not hide behind the EU, which doesn’t have much historical or economic connection with Burma.

“The USA, France and UK have navy ships in the region that could be saving lives now. The regime will never give permission for them to go in. The choice is stark. Go in now without permission and deliver aid unilaterally, or let thousands more die,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of the Burma Campaign UK.

The French envoy to the United Nations stated that if the situation continues, Burma risks “committing crimes against humanity.” The New York Times published that not only is the junta preventing foreign aid workers from setting foot in the country, but they are steeling some of the international aid which is arriving. Is this not a crime against humanity?

The Bush Administration has dismissed the idea of sending airdrops to the Burmese people due to the junta’s no-no. "I can't imagine us going in without the permission of the Myanmar government," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on May 8. But it wouldn’t be the first time. In 1989, for instance, the US helped famine stricken Sudan, despite the opposition from the Sudanese government.

China, Indonesia and other members of the association of south-east Asian nations, (ASEAN) that trade and invest in Burma, are now debating national sovereignty with the UN. This is causing the division of the international community. To divide them and win: that’s the junta’s tactic to gain international legitimacy. The international community must not fail to see this.

The Burmese military junta’s ruling style is widely known: forced labour, unjustified executions, rape, exploitation, even the use of landmines to prevent civilians from producing food, according to a Human Rights Watch report. Over the last 46 years the generals have met with rebel groups and maintained a wealthy lifestyle by selling the country’s rich natural resources to China, Thailand and India, despite UN’s strict sanctions on their exports and businesses.

The first time Burma appeared formally on the Security Council’s agenda was in 2005, years after the military took over the 1990 elections won by the National League for Democracy headed by Ms Suu Kyi's, who has been under house arrest for 12 years.

Every day that the UN tries to negotiate and put pressure, thousands in Burma could die. The military junta has earned everything except respect and patience. What are we waiting for? How do you have patience when there is no time?