ASSK HOSPITAL UPDATE: DAY EIGHT

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001214 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV; TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL; USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV BM ASSK SUBJECT: ASSK HOSPITAL UPDATE: DAY EIGHT REF: RANGOON 1187 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D) ¶1. (C) On September 24 and 25, ASSK's personal physician again briefed diplomats on her post-surgery recovery. Dr. Tin Myo Win said that ASSK was doing well and "nearly normal." He removed her stitches on September 25 and said that she could be discharged "within one or two days." He re-emphasized that she was well enough to receive "special guests," but that SPDC military intelligence (MI) officials had not notified him of any visits. He added that ASSK was aware that Indonesian special envoy Alatas had visited Rangoon and would have welcomed an opportunity to see him. ¶2. (C) Dr. Tin Myo Win said that he is concerned about ASSK's long-term care, especially over the next 1-2 months, and any possible complications resulting from her "major" operation. He said he had expressed these concerns to the authorities, and described them as cooperative, but added that he had no assurances on where she would be sent after her discharge. He said, however, that the authorities would allow him daily access to ASSK after her discharge, and that they would also permit one of his assistant physicians to reside with her on a full-time basis. He concluded that ASSK is in "100 percent top spiritual and mental form," and had expressed gratitude for the concern and support of diplomatic missions. ¶3. (C) The crowd of NLD supporters at the hospital dwindled to several dozen on September 24, but then reached well over 150 on September 25. According to sources, including ASSK's physician, MI threatened arrests if supporters repeated their September 23 demonstration, which included hand-written signs. Authorities arrested a solo demonstrator at City Hall on September 24 for shouting out "Free ASSK now." Martinez