REGIME EASES UP ON ASSK HARASSMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000439

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2012
TAGS: PREL PHUM BM ASSK NLD
SUBJECT: REGIME EASES UP ON ASSK HARASSMENT


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


1. (SBU) Summary: NLD spokesman U Lwin told Poloff on April
7 that ASSK and party were harassed by SPDC and local
authorities representatives for the first few days of their
visit to Chin State. However, Military Intelligence (MI)
officials, who provided earlier assurances that there would
be no such harassment, have apparently stepped in to prevent
further incidents. The sequence of events indicates that the
SPDC is still working out how best to manage relations with
the NLD within Senior General Than Shwe's overarching
hard-line policy. End Summary.

2. (SBU) In spite of the authorities, efforts to prevent
people from turning out for ASSK as she traveled through
Magwe Division to Chin State, NLD spokesman U Lwin told
Poloff that large crowds chose to risk official threats of
"serious consequences" to greet her. He cited as an example,
a town in Chin State in which the community turned out in a
silent candle vigil along the roadside to welcome ASSK and
her party as they arrived late at night. According to U
Lwin, harassment during the first four days of the visit
included the following:

-- local authorities played loud recordings of Buddhist
prayers and sermons denouncing ASSK as an enemy and stating
that she was unwelcome;

-- the Minister of Information and Deputy Ministers of Home
Affairs, Religious Affairs, and Mines visited the area just
ahead of ASSK telling their local employees and other
residents along her route to stay home during her visit.
They threatened serious actions against any employees and
their families who showed support for the NLD, noting that
videotapes would be taken to identify those who turned out to
see ASSK;

-- the Deputy Minister for Mines told his Ministry's
employees that there would be no dialogue with the NLD or
transfer of power (Note: This echoes similar remarks
attributed to Secretary Two Lt. General Soe Win at a USDA
gathering in Pyay about two months ago. End Note);

-- local authorities believed to be USDA members used
abusive language to disburse crowds gathering to meet ASSK
and threatened actions against locals painting signs wishing
ASSK good health.


3. (SBU) U Lwin said he reported these abuses as he
learned of them to the NLD's MI liaison, Brigadier General
Than Tun, who had earlier provided assurances to U Lwin and
ASSK personally that there would be no such harassment on
this trip. U Lwin told Poloff that Than Tun appeared
genuinely surprised that the harassment was occurring, and
that it was being directed by SPDC Ministers and Deputy
Ministers. A turning point apparently came on April 6,
according to U Lwin, when election committee authorities
(under the Ministry of Home Affairs) in Haka, the capitol of
Chin State, refused to allow ASSK to open the NLD office
there. Prior to the trip, MI had agreed to allow ASSK to
open six NLD offices during her trip, including the office in
Haka. U Lwin said he reported the incident to MI at noon and
within 15 minutes, the NLD party in Haka called to tell him
they had received word that they could open the office.
Since that time, U Lwin told Poloff, the harassment of ASSK
and her party appears to have ended, and she opened another
township office early on April 7 without incident.


4. (C) Comment: Although ASSK will be traveling for
approximately five more days and more harassment could occur,
U Lwin appeared hopeful that MI has now stepped in to ensure
the rest of the trip goes smoothly. The SPDC's handling of
the trip highlights continuing internal differences on how
best to handle relations with the NLD. The dispatching of
the Minister of Information and several Deputy Ministers to
the area to whip up public sentiment against ASSK and
threaten those interested in turning out to see her is
consistent with the hard-line that Senior General Than Shwe
appears to have laid down on no dialogue or power sharing
with ASSK. These actions indicate little interest in
pursuing the non-confrontational relations between the SPDC
and NLD that Special Envoy Razali has tried to nurture since
late 2000. However, MI appears to be pursuing a less harsh
approach, perhaps hoping to avoid negative international
press such as that received after the harassment of ASSK on
her Rakhine trip late last year. While MI must conform to
the Senior General's overall hard-line stance, its efforts to
coordinate ASSK's travel, even if only to avoid bad press,
provide her the opportunity to continue to rebuild the party
structure and patiently but consistently push for democratic
reform. End Comment.
Martinez