BURMA: NEW ARRESTS ON CAMPUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001134

SIPDIS

COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2013
TAGS: PHUM PINS BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: NEW ARRESTS ON CAMPUS


Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Post has received information that Rangoon
police arrested seven university students on July 14 for
attempting to reopen the Rangoon University Student Union and
are holding them in Insein prison The Junta's repressive
actions at the smallest signs of student political activity
indicates its continued fear of organized dissent on campuses
and its continued willingness to use strong tactics to
instill fear in other students. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On September 13 Pol Off learned from a reliable
source that the Burmese police had arrested seven
Rangoon-area university students on July 14 for trying to
reopen the Rangoon University Student Union, which had been
de-registerd and dynamited by former dictator General Ne Win
in July, 1962. The students were held incommunicado until
September 12 when the Special Branch of the Police
Intelligence Wing notified the parents of the arrested
students of their pending prosecutions. The students remain
in Rangoon's Insein prison, waiting for their trials to start.


3. (C) The GOB plans to prosecute the students under
Section Five of the Emergency Provisions Act of 1950, which
prohibits spreading false news or undermining the Union.
They are also being charged under the Press and Publication
Acts which prohibit circulating uncensored documents, and the
Organization Acts which prohibit the reforming of a banned
organization. Their trials are expected to begin within a
week, will likely be short and result in guilty verdicts with
immediate sentencing of 7-20 years. The arrested student's
names are:

Aung Gyi, 19, 2nd yr law major, Dagon Univ
Nann Shin Mong, 19, 2nd yr law major, Dagon Univ
Myo Than Tun, 19, 2nd yr econ major, Ywathargyi Univ
Myo Min Thu, 19, 1st yr chemistry, Dagon Univ
Zaw Min Lwin, 19, 1st yr chemistry, Dagon Univ
Aug Ko Oo, 19, 1st year, Institute of Nautical Science
Kyaw Maung, 20, 3rd yr econ, Ywathargyi Univ
Martinez