Sanctions on Myanmar hurt regime, not populace, says activist

February 09, 2011

Western sanctions on Myanmar are not harming the nation’s people, but only punishing the country’s repressive regime, according to a Burmese democracy activist.

U Maung Maung, the general secretary of the National Council of the Union of Burma, explained to AsiaNews that the widespread poverty in Myanmar is attributable to the regime’s decision to close the country’s borders. The sanctions imposed by the US and European Union cut official trade, but have little effect on the lives of ordinary citizens, who maintain their living by smuggling and illegal exchanges in any case.

 

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Further information:

• Western sanctions touch the regime, not the people, trade union leader says (AsiaNews)