A humanitarian catastrophe is the absolute worst time to pursue political agendas, even noble ones such as seeking an end to Myanmar's brutal dictatorship. If anything, even the hint that outside states would seek to erode that regime's grip on power, could lead to its shutting off all humanitarian assistance, as it still controls the country's levers of power. In turn, such a development would greatly magnify the tragedy that is now unfolding. It is already very difficult to get assistance to the cyclone's victims (very limited assistance is being permitted into Myanmar).

In addition, a push for human rights/freedom now could lead others to conclude that those making the push were attempting to leverage an awful catastrophe for political objectives. Such a move would not play well in world opinion. It might actually leave the human rights/freedom cause worse off than it presently is, especially if those making the push were to be blamed and discredited for the consequences that resulted from, let's say, the dictatorship's inhibiting assistance in response to a fresh human rights/freedom effort.

In the end, much as I would prefer to see Aung Syu Kyi freed and the harsh military dictatorship brought to a conclusion, I don't believe this is the time to do it. The sole priority needs to be getting relief to the estimated 1.5 million cyclone victims as quickly as possible.