The opposition opposed to a general repression, but does not exclude the "revision" of some trade restrictions that affect the population. Asean and ethnic representatives in Parliament in favor of an end to the embargo. Sources tell AsiaNews: "Sanctions have principally affected the people."

Yangon (AsiaNews) - Leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) support the continuation of "targeted" sanctions against the ruling military regime in Myanmar, but the Burmese opposition party does not rule out the "revision" of the general limitations on trade, which mostly affect the population. The NLD note follows the proposal that emerged in recent days from the Asean summit - an association that brings together 10 nations of Southeast Asia - to "remove" or "ease" sanctions against the country. AsiaNews sources in Myanmar confirm that it is time to "review" the policy adopted by the U.S. and EU against the Burmese government, which has "helped to impoverish the people" .

Win Tin, one of the key figures of the NLD, says that the party "has always strongly supported targeted sanctions against the military leadership and its allies, and will continue to do so." The senior leader of the opposition does not exclude that "we will review the limits to trade, to see if they effect the people." The debate on sanctions brought by the United States and European Union against Myanmar is back on the agenda after the appeal of five ethnic Burmese parties (Shan National Democratic Party, All Mon Region Democracy Party, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, Chin National Party and Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party, elected in the recent “sham” elections held by the junta) who have called for their "removal". The request of the minority members - with a portfolio of 126 parliamentary seats out of more than 1000 - was accepted by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, which called for the removal or easing of coercive measures, considered in the light of "recent developments in Burma, including the general elections and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. "

However, the U.S. position remains unchanged. Sanctions are still a cornerstone of U.S. policy, despite the cautious opening of the Obama administration to the military regime. Diplomatic sources in Washington state that they may consider their cancellation following the release of all political prisoners – about 2200 -  the end of attacks against ethnic groups and a serious dialogue with the opposition.

AsiaNews sources in Yangon, however, explain that in recent years "the sanctions have mainly hit the population," While the leadership in government has continued to trade with countries - such as China and India - who have never supported the decisions of Western governments. "People do not even receive crumbs – they say -  but the leaders enrich themselves off the backs of people who are getting poorer."

The Burmese people are caught between two fires: on the one hand the regime, which is becoming stronger and the other daily problems caused by the embargo imposed by the West. In recent weeks, however, revolts have begun to emerge that see as protagonists not students, intellectuals, Buddhist monks as has been the case so far, but simple workers. In the northern Kachin State, on the border with China, the population has launched a series of strikes to protest working conditions.

• Myanmar
• burma
• regime
• sanctions
• USA
• EU
• ASEAN
• poverty
• human
• rights
• democracy