LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- The founder of the Free Burma Coalition accused Myanmar neighbors China and India on Thursday of failing to do their share of `` heavy lifting '' in aiding victims of the Myanmar cyclone . A young survivor waits for relief supplies by a makeshift house in Bogaley . Maung Zarni , a visiting research fellow at Oxford University , said both nations could do more in trying to persuade the Myanmar junta to allow international aid workers and equipment into the country . Zarni also slammed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) , for the same reason . `` The latest episode involving the junta 's handling of the cyclone victims in Burma really calls into question the meaning and the usefulness , the value of ASEAN , '' he added . The organization of 10 nations promotes economic growth , social progress and cultural development in the region . `` China is n't doing its share of heavy lifting , and the same can be said about India as well , '' Zarni said . `` China is a country on the rise , and it can really repair its tarnished reputation around Tibet if it puts pressure on the regime and says , 'This is unacceptable , even to Chinese standards . ' '' Zarni was referring to critics of last fall 's Chinese crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators , led by Tibetan monks . He directed most of his criticism toward Myanmar 's military rulers , who he said are solely concerned with their own security and political ambitions , while neglecting the cyclone victims . The government has been bitterly criticized for being too slow in responding to the May 2 disaster , then blocking large-scale , international emergency aid . The government has relented somewhat in the past few days . The official death toll from Cyclone Nargis rose Thursday , with Myanmar state television reporting more than 40,000 fatalities . Many believe the toll will be much higher . Watch scenes of widespread destruction » . Referring to Myanmar 's 75-year-old top leader , Than Shwe , Zarni complained , `` His major number one concern is his own personal and family security , and also other officers who are caught in a system where fear and rewards are manipulated to whip them in line . '' The government 's response to the cyclone is complex , and has `` psychological , institutional and personal dimensions , '' which have produced an `` institutionalized madness , '' Zarni said . The Irrawaddy newspaper , which covers Myanmar and Southeast Asia , said a team of ASEAN experts would arrive in Yangon on Thursday to assess the scale of the disaster and requirements for aid . ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said Wednesday that the Myanmar government had agreed to grant visas to an `` emergency rapid assessment team . '' The Myanmar government also agreed to accept 160 relief workers from India , China , Bangladesh and Thailand , the newspaper said .
Founder of dissident group : - The National Front (France) - Parti national français (France ) - Union for a Popular Movement (Spain) - Democratic Party (United States) - Socialist Workers Party (UK) - Communist Party USA (US) Maung Zarni questions usefulness of ASEAN regional group over disaster . Activist criticizes Myanmar junta for not doing more to help victims .