NLD EXPANDS RESIDUAL PARLIAMENTARY BODY

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001387

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
CINCPAC FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2012
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM NLD
SUBJECT: NLD EXPANDS RESIDUAL PARLIAMENTARY BODY


Classified By: DCM Ron McMullen FOR REASON 1.5(D).


1. (SBU) On October 23 the Committee Representing the
Peoples, Parliament (CRPP) announced that it was appointing
four new ethnic members and inviting other political parties
to join. The CRPP was created by the NLD and ethnic parties
in September 1998 to represent the Parliament that was
elected in 1990 but never allowed to take power. The parties
represented by the CRPP won approximately ninety percent of
the seats in the 1990 elections. When the Committee was
created in 1998 the regime responded harshly, arresting more
than 200 activists and Members of Parliament-elect.


2. (C) Expanding the CRPP at this time is an important step
in publicly consolidating ethnic support behind the NLD and
improving communications and coordination between ethnic
groups (which the junta attempts to keep isolated and
factionalized). It also creates a good mechanism for
incorporating ethnic concerns into any NLD dialogue with the
SPDC on national reconciliation, should that occur. The big
question is whether these actions by the CRPP will also serve
to prod the SPDC toward a dialogue or just lead to another
crackdown. The ethnic political leaders tell us they believe
this was "the right card to play" as MP-elects with a
responsibility to show the people that they are concerned for
their well-being. SNLD Chairman Hkun Htoon Oo also said,
however, that Military Intelligence had already contacted him
warning that he and the other ethnic groups are being
"confrontational" by officially joining the CRPP, which the
military has always viewed as a slap at its rule.


3. (C) The CRPP could figure in a future political
transitional phase, but the potential clout of this largely
moribund committee is difficult to judge.
Martinez