DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATOR RECEIVES SANCTUARY INSIDE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000429

SIPDIS

BEIJING PASS CHENGDU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/06/13
TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM BM
SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY DEMONSTRATOR RECEIVES SANCTUARY INSIDE
BRITISH EMBASSY


Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ. REASON: 1.5 (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: A young man involved in a sidewalk
pro-democracy demonstration April 4 dashed into the British
embassy to avoid arrest and as of April 7, remains inside.
His co-demonstrator, a monk from Bago, is in regime hands.
End Summary.


2. (C) British embassy sources tell us that on Friday, April
4, a monk held up a pro-democracy placard while another young
man unfurled a pro-democracy flag on the sidewalk in front of
the British embassy in Rangoon. Within ten seconds the monk
was grabbed by police and hustled off into custody. The
other young man bolted into the embassy's lobby. The
demonstrator is still inside as of April 7, being housed in a
consular section interview room. The demonstrator does not
want to go outside, fearing (with some justification) that he
is likely to be arrested and sentenced to seven years in
prison. The British embassy has been providing temporary
sanctuary, has been in close contact with London, and has
discussed the issue with Burmese officials.


3. (C) Our British contacts emphasize that the young
demonstrator inside the embassy is not affiliated with the
NLD. He is an ethnic Burman, is not a student, and does not
appear to be highly educated. His flag sported a circle
around a fighting peacock on a red field, a general symbol of
student resistance. It was attached to the flagstaff upside
down, we noted. The young man told the British that the
monk, whom he assumes is being interviewed by the police,
does not know his true name. The monk, reportedly from the
city of Bago, also uses a pseudonym.


4. (C) The British embassy staff did not indicate what they
intend to do with their young guest. Burmese MFA says this
is the first such incident in fifteen years, and tells the
British that they would be lenient with the young man (a
claim the British aren't buying). Post will review our
policy on humanitarian sanctuary and walk-ins with the local
guard force, MSG detachment, and other embassy staff.
Martinez