DING DONG NE WIN IS DEAD.....FINALLY!

UNCLAS RANGOON 001558 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV CINCPAC FOR FPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV BM SUBJECT: DING DONG NE WIN IS DEAD.....FINALLY! REF: RANGOON 1555 ¶1. (U) The regime confirmed ex-dictator Ne Win's death with a brief obituary from the family buried on the second to the last page of today's State-controlled newspapers. Tucked between the weather forecast and television schedule, the obituary was a brief statement that Ne Win died at 7:30 in the morning on December 5th and, based on his wishes, was cremated at a private cemetery in Rangoon at 1:30 that afternoon. ¶2. (U) There is no indication that the SPDC is planning any state ceremonies or official recognition of Ne Win's death, despite the fact that he ruled the country for almost three decades. The MOFA Americas' Division Director told Poloff he was not aware of any government plans to honor Ne Win, saying he only knew what he had read in the obituary. With the general public's attitude toward the death ranging from relief to satisfaction, the regime may be assessing the appropriate official response. The Buddhist custom is for friends, neighbors and the public to visit the home of the deceased on the seventh day after the death to offer condolences to the family and donations to the monks who have prayed to help his soul into another life. This gives the regime some time to decide what, if anything, it will do to recognize Ne Win's demise. ¶3. (U) Word of Ne Win's death did not spread as quickly as expected through the streets. By late evening on December 5, a sampling of the general public indicated that few had heard that he was dead. When they heard the news, the most common response was "finally." Martinez