NLD COMMENTS ON PRISONER RELEASES, INTIMIDATION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000359

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM NLD ASSK
SUBJECT: NLD COMMENTS ON PRISONER RELEASES, INTIMIDATION,
AND MANDALAY RALLY


Classified By: DCM RON MCMULLEN FOR REASON 1.5(D).


1. (SBU) Summary: On March 18, NLD Central Executive
Committee members told Embassy officials that the SPDC
included 3 NLD prisoners in the 45 prisoners released on
March 16. However, the NLD also charged that the SPDC
continues to condone, if not direct, harassment of the NLD
and Aung San Suu Kyi. The prisoner releases are the first
since last November and are probably linked to Special
Rapporteur Pinheiro's visit this week. End Summary.

Three NLD Prisoners Released


2. (SBU) On March 16, the SPDC announced the release of 45
prisoners described as "elder inmates, females, either
pregnant or with young children, and those incarcerated for
disturbing peace and tranquility." The announcement was
provided to the local press but, as far as we have
ascertained, not to the diplomatic community. The SPDC has
made similar releases of pregnant women and women with
children over the past year at the request of Special
Rapporteur for Human Rights Sergio Pinheiro. With Pinheiro
arriving in Rangoon on March 19, it may be that the prisoner
release was motivated by his visit, although the SPDC has not
made the connection explicit.


3. (C) According to NLD CEC members, there were 3 NLD
members among those released. One of the NLD prisoners is
elderly and another has epilepsy, according to the NLD, so
the organization was pleased to have them out of prison.
That said, the CEC members went on to note that these are the
first NLD prisoners released since last November and that
there are many other elderly and sick NLD prisoners still in
prison. NLD Secretary U Lwin also stated that the identities
of the 115 prisoners the regime claims to have released in
November have never been clarified.

Pamphlets Attack ASSK and Authorities Harass NLD Members


4. (C) The NLD CEC members said that the distribution of
defamatory pamphlets against Aung San Suu Kyi continues at
many locations throughout the country. The NLD leaders found
it implausible that the regime cannot identify those
distributing the pamphlets when it closely monitors all
citizens' activities, especially the publishing and
distribution of written materials.


5. (C) The NLD leaders said that, since February, there has
also been an increase in repression against NLD members at
locations throughout the country. They cited the following
examples: a) authorities discouraged NLD members from working
at the NLD office in Kawthaung, the southernmost town in
Burma; b) an NLD Member of Parliament elect in southern Shan
State was told by local authorities to resign from a position
he held at a local monastery; and c) authorities in Bago
questioned and harassed the landlord of the NLD office there.
NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe argued that while local officials
took these actions against NLD members, they may have been
done at the direction of central authorities. U Aung Shwe
noted in particular that in some of the locations where
harassment is occurring relations between the NLD and local
authorities have traditionally been good.

Ex-members and USDA Hold Anti-NLD Rally in Mandalay


6. (C) The NLD CEC members said recent press reports
regarding an anti-NLD rally in Mandalay on March 9 were true.
Two ex-NLD members organized the rally with support from
Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) members.
The rally denouncing the NLD was held in Kanaung Hall, which
is owned by Minister of Industry-1 Aung Thaung; a former a
Military Intelligence officer and current USDA official.


7. (C) Comment: The release of the 45 prisoners, including
the 3 NLD members, is probably directly linked to Special
Rapporteur Pinheiro's visit this week. Pinheiro will almost
certainly urge the regime to release the political prisoners
as soon as possible, as he has often done in the past.
Whether these urgings will have any more impact than they
have in the recent past remains to be seen, particularly in
view of the NLD's allegations of increased regime harassment.
End Comment.
Martinez