BURMA: REGIME RELEASES ADDITIONAL MAY 30 DETAINEES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001572

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV;
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BM NLD
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME RELEASES ADDITIONAL MAY 30 DETAINEES

REF: A. RANGOON 1518


B. RANGOON 1444

C. RANGOON 1431

Classified By: P/E Chief Murphy for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: The SPDC acknowledged on December 5 that it
had recently released up to 16 NLD party members who had been
detained in connection with the May 30 Depeyin attack. By
the regime's own admission, 14 individuals associated with
the attack remain in detention. The regime's decision to
release more detainees is not purely humanitarian, but rather
may be the result of a quiet dialogue with ASSK and/or an
effort to ensure a warm reception at several upcoming
international forums. End Summary.


2. (U) During a December 5 press conference to unexpectedly
announce new money laundering regulations (septel),the SPDC
verified international press reports that the regime had
released as many as 16 NLD party members. The group of 16
activists, all members of the NLD youth division, had
provided security for ASSK and her convoy during a swing
through northern Burma and were detained following the May 30
Depeyin attack.


3. (C) For the past six months, the 16 NLD members have been
detained in Hkamti prison, a remote town in northern Sagaing
Division, and were apparently released on December 2.
According to NLD sources, however, the released party members
are at the mercy of local government authorities for
transportation out of their remote location and only a few
have been able to contact their families. As of December 5,
the NLD was able to verify the release of only eight party
members, but found credible the government's claim that a
total of 16 had been released.


4. (SBU) During the recent visit of U.N. Special Rapporteur
Pinheiro (ref C),the human rights envoy pressed the SPDC for
the release of 35 specific political detainees, most of whom
were NLD party members detained in connection with the May 30
convoy. The regime released eight of the detainees on
November 9 (ref B),leaving 27 on the Pinheiro-NLD list. The
SPDC now claims that with the latest release of 16 prisoners,
only 14 individuals associated with the May 30 attack remain
in detention. By NLD calculations, which correspond with the
SPDC figures, 11 party members are still held in Sagaing
jails, including NLD Vice Chairman U Tin Oo, and three NLD
CEC members remain under house arrest in Rangoon (U Lwin, U
Aung Shwe, and Aung San Suu Kyi).


5. (U) According to NLD sources, the following party youth
members were released o/a December 2:

--Myo Nyunt (Rangoon).

--Myo Thaw, aka Ko Pauk (Rangoon).

--Myint Kyaw (Rangoon).

--Thet Tun (Rangoon).

--Kwaw Zin Win (Irrawaddy).

--Toe Lwin (Irrawaddy; believed to have suffered serious head
injuries on May 30).

--Min Lwin (Mandalay).

--Myint Wai (unknown hometown).


6. (U) According to NLD sources, the following party youth
members were held at Hkamti prison and were likely among
those released o/a December 2:

--Tun Myint (Rangoon)

--Than Tun (Rangoon)

--Myo Zaw Aung (Mandalay)

--Aung Naing (Mandalay)

--Than Htay (Mandalay)

--Aung Kyaw Oo (Mandalay)

--Zaw Win Tun (Mandalay)

--Kyaw Soe Linn (Mandalay)


7. (S) Comment: The SPDC's motives for releasing NLD
detainees (and issuing long-awaited money laundering
regulations; septel) are clearly not humanitarian. First,
there are credible reports that ASSK has continued to press
her SPDC interlocutors for the release of her colleagues, the
reopening of NLD offices, and a full investigation of the May
30 attack. The regime may be trying to meet her part of the
way in order to continue a quiet dialogue and head off a
renewed public standoff, in which ASSK could regain regional
sympathies. Secondly, the regime is preparing to defend its
road map for democracy at several upcoming forums, including
the Japan-ASEAN summit in Tokyo December 11-12 and a
Thai-sponsored Burma meeting on December 15. Releasing NLD
party members, who were the victims of a brutal attack,
increases the likelihood of a warm reception at those venues.
End Comment.
Martinez