There have recently been intense arguments between pro-sanction  and pro-engagement factions in Burmese democractic community.
                  But instead of pushing blindly for more sanctions, it is thought it'd be better to ask politically motivated Burmese friends to express their views on sanctions. So a survey was made about sanctions on Burma.
                  It was just an informal and unofficial survey. But it has fulfilled some criteria of credible surveys. E.g, questions are unbiased neither for or against sanctions, & it was responded by voluntary participants, & it was also random as it was sent out to the internet listserves and anybody regardless of their political ideas or age or race or ethnicity can participate voluntarily.
                 So far, HUNDREDS of participants have responded to the poll. And some political activists well-known on the internet also responded to the poll_ like Mr. Derek Tonkin, POW, Lwin Aung Soe, Ko Ko Lin, Burma-japan, etc, etc.
                 We have only one problem; some participants do not want to give their names and email addresses. We can understand the fact that some Burmese people are reluctant to participate in politics openly. But for a response to be counted as valid, we need a name and a contact email. We cannot count 'a response without a name' as a credible and serious response. 
                As far as has been counted, 55.6% of participatns said "Yes" to sanctions_ the rest have critical views on sanctions. Among those critical people, 19.5% think that sanctions hurt both SPDC and ordinary people, another 19.5% said that sanctions do more harm on ordinary people than on SPDC, and the rest call for a stop to sanctions.
               A question on NLD was also asked; 64.7% believe that NLD is doing fine. So compared to more than 85% majority won by NLD in 1990 elections, it seems NLD's approval ratings have dropped significanly. But it, at the same time shows that NLD can still win elections with at least a simple slim majority, if elections are to be held now.
               But, one interesting thing about the results is that people see sanctions and NLD separately. There are some people who support both NLD and sanctions, but it is not the same for everybody. 
                 Some people support NLD but they oppose sanctions.
                 Some do not support NLD but they support sanctions. 
                 And some oppose both NLD and sanctions.
                 The following is a collection of some interesting comments made by some participants. To maintain confidentiality, only the initials/pseudonyms of their names are described below_

                 Burmese people become a target under geopolitics and so on. Let us criticize on what is the reality. Firstly, we are hearing the voices of agonies from the ordinary people for force relocations, arbitrary arrestments, force labors, extra taxes, rape, extra judicial killings, properties and lands confiscations, and so on. Secondly we have to realize as who is behind the mask of business in Burma and who is telling that sanction is less effective. As the result, the financial crisis of the people is because of junta other then sanction. The people can’t work freely because the principle that junta formulated throughout the nation. If the sanction is deemed less effective, then we should try to extend sanctions by finding the way that more harmful to junta. The remove of sanctions will make stronger the junta for human right violations. We also need to have more working hard against those who involve in geopolitics. We need more international friends to join us in this fighting. This is the only way to weak the junta and to press them for meaningful dialogue with people’s representatives. That is the reason for me that I am a full supporter of sanction and to extend more sanctions against illegal junta. _ K K L

                  Sanction is not very good for the ordinary people, but it really hurt SPDC s, that is just great. Myanmar people has to sacrifice for a while under SPDC. _ Floramyanmar

                  English did sanction upper Burma 50 years over before english- burma Third war.People were alive but burmese kingdom was lie down..Read our history.....do not find another country's history. _ A Z Y

                  We have two sanction from US unless it is correct. One is Clinton's Sanction and other one is Bush's Sanction. Clinton's sanction didn't work affectively. During the period from 1997 to 2003 when Clinton's sanction was putting on Burmam, the junta arrested more people in Burma and we had no hope to be democratizing and negociating in Burma. In 2003, we have had another sanction, we called Bush's sanction. It directly hurt to ordinary people rather than the junta. So, if our goal is Democracy in Burma, the sanction should be just tactic. If it doesn't work, we should find another way or tactic. _ K L

                  Sanction hurt only ordinary people, many of my friends relatives wor were worked for gurment factories in yangon division arr suffering after foreign investment gurment factories pull out because of sanction. SPDC is nothing going to be hurt because they had well plan for their own benifit [for example:when SPDC arrest General Nynunt Tin (use to be Agri minister) tehy dlecare more than three ton of gold bars and diamonds from Nynunt Tin house, !!!like wise many of SPCD government people corrupt and kept such jewelleries. _ T D K

                  Sanctions should be incrased becasue investment is mostly benefit for militry not for ordinary prople. _ H C

                   I don't want to talk about economic in sanctions, what I believe is it is about whether this regime is legitimate or not - in international role. There might be something advantage and disadvantage on everything. If we want something, why shouldn't we give something first? If we let them do whatever they want to do, they are going to be a legitimate government after their so call national convention._T Z H  

                   Sanctions are comparable to applying Chemotherapy to a cancer patient. It hurts both the cancer cells and the good healthy cells. I don't think sanctions are working, since the SPDC is still in power and seems like life in Burma is getting worse, not better. In other words, the patient is not responding well to the treatment. _ M M 
 
                   We must contact with U.N,U.S.A,NATO and EU not to ASEAN becouse the asean never agree to becoming Democracy and freedom in BURMA.They afraid of their own economic. _ Z N W
              
                   SANCTIONS MAKE DECREASED IN CITIZENS HUMAN RESOURCES & DELAY IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. WHETHER BIG SANCTIONS ARE MADE, PEOPLE MAY SURVIVE WITH JUST ROSELLE LEAVES BUT NOT BE MATURED GENERATIONS. _ T A     
 
                   Sanctions do hurt the people since other countries refuse to make them Multi-lateral and fully effective. Blame other countries for this too.
And the junta takes most of the money to support and protect itself. So through those means the people suffer because of the generals. _ B J

                  When a great wrong is done to the innocents, moral sanction is granted to those doing wrong. Therefore we must send concerted and consistent messages by imposing economic and political sanctions against this brutal regime. _ M N
                    
                  SPDC and sanctions are like Burmese saying "Buffalow dain-doung, dain-doung" (i.e., Kywe-bar saung-ti) _ Dr K N 

                  * Naturally, Tayza is pro-sanctions, pro-NLD, pro-Suu_ may be pro-west & pro-American as well. (So what, a western stooge? I don't care.)  

Thanks A Lot To All,
Tayza Thuria