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