EAP DAS DALEY MEETS WITH SPDC SECRETARY ONE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000554

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER BM
SUBJECT: EAP DAS DALEY MEETS WITH SPDC SECRETARY ONE
GENERAL KHIN NYUNT - DISCUSSIONS ON COUNTER-TERRORISM,
POLITICAL DIALOGUE, AND PRISONER RELEASES SHOW SOME RESULT

REF: A. STATE 102828 (NOTAL)

B. RANGOON 00539

Classified By: COM CARMEN M. MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B AND D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: EAP DAS Matt Daley, COM, and DCM (note
taker) met with Secretary 1, General Khin Nyunt April 27 in
Rangoon. General Khin Nyunt emphasized counter-terrorism
cooperation and the added security the GOB has provided to
the U.S. Embassy. Daley urged the GOB to accelerate dialogue
with the NLD, to increase press freedoms, and to release more
political prisoners. Since the meeting, twenty-one political
prisoners have been released, including Dr. Salai Tun Than
(Ref B). According to the Burmese embassy in Washington, Dr.
Salai Tun Than's release was ordered in direct response to
DAS Daley's request. He also called on Senior General Than
Shwe to meet with UN Special Envoy Razali soon. S-1 said
Razali would be invited for a visit in June. The General
said Aung San Suu Kyi was "conceited" and although allowed to
travel around the country, had criticized the government in a
"very condescending manner." DAS Daley suggested he "set
aside the protocol book, invite her to lunch, and sit down
and talk with her with no set agenda." Results of the
demarche requested Ref A were reported separately. End
Summary.


2. (C) COUNTER-TERRORISM: Secretary 1, General Khin Nyunt
(the head of Military Intelligence and the third-ranking
officer in the ruling State Peace and Development Committee)
was accompanied by the Foreign Minister, the Deputy Foreign
Minister, and three other officials during the call by Daley,
COM, and DCM.

-- After reftel demarche was delivered and discussed (see
septel reply to Ref A),Khin Nyunt spoke of the close
counter-terrorism cooperation extended by the GOB to the USG,
highlighting the added security provided the embassy during
the war in Iraq. Daley thanked S-1 for the added security
and noted that terrorism in Southeast Asia was a bigger
concern than many people had previously realized.

-- Khin Nyunt recounted the March 27 bomb attacks in Rangoon,
reporting one fatality (vice two, as we had previously
thought). Daley noted that when we learned of these
bombings, we called them acts of terrorism and condemned
them. S-1 also termed the recent sabotage of a natural gas
pipeline, reportedly by KNU insurgents, a terrorist attack.
(NOTE: the GOB has frequently attempted to blur the
distinction between terrorism per se and other forms of
violence related to ongoing ethnic insurgencies.)

-- The general added, "We are trying our best to prevent
terrorism--we are taking steps to assure that our country
will not be used as a stepping stone to export terrorism to
other countries."


3. (C) DIALOGUE WITH THE NLD: Daley stated that there is a
sense of disappointment in the U.S. and in the broader
international community that the process of dialogue appears
to be losing momentum. We would hope this process could be
accelerated, DAS Daley emphasized. General Khin Nyunt
responded pointedly, saying:

"We are not trying to avoid dialogue with the NLD, but she
(ASSK) is very conceited. Anyway, she has not yet proposed
any dialogue. We let her travel in the country and what does
she do? She criticizes the government in a very
condescending manner and stirs up the people against the
government."

Daley commented that while Aung San Suu Kyi was undoubtedly
strong-willed both in personality and principles, the
government is powerful, and need not fear destabilization if
it moves forward on the democracy and human rights agenda.
Further, he had never known her to make a disrespectful
comment about the military as an institution even as she
called for a transformed polity. DAS Daley urged Khin Nyunt
to set aside the protocol book, invite Aung San Suu Kyi to
lunch, and open a discussion with no set agenda.


4. (C) POLITICAL PRISONERS: Daley made a strong pitch to Khin
Nyunt to make a mass release of political prisoners as soon
as next month, adding that freeing all the political
prisoners would not threaten regime stability. This would be
seen as an act of confidence and good faith by other nations,
international organizations, and potential business partners.
The more serious threat to the regime is economic, DAS Daley
continued, and an act of confidence and good faith could help
on that front. COM proposed that, pending the release of all
political prisoners, the GOB release a group of approximately
190 prisoners who are suffering from severe physical and
mental illnesses. COM and DAS also requested that an Embassy
consular officer be allowed to visit Dr. Salai Tun Than, as
his case has generated substantial congressional and public
interest and concern in the United States. Regarding all
three proposals, General Khin Nyunt nodded and said, "I will
look into it." (Note: Per Ref B, three political prisoners
were released just a few days after this meeting. Dr. Salai
Tun Than and 17 other political prisoners were released on
May 4th. According to the Burmese embassy in Washington, the
release of Dr. Salai Tun Than was ordered in direct response
to DAS Daley's request. End Note).


5. (C) THE MEDIA: At Aung San Suu Kyi's request, DAS Daley
commented that the GOB-controlled media does not acknowledge
or even mention the NLD, in contrast to the regime's press
releases to foreign governments and media outlets, which
frequently mention prospects for possible cooperation or
talks with the NLD. Could there be a bit more openness in
the local media? S-1 did not respond.


6. (SBU) RAZALI: When DAS Daley pressed Khin Nyunt to invite
UN Special Envoy Razali back to Burma quickly and to assure
that he meets with Senior General Than Shwe, Khin Nyunt
replied that unfortunately the schedule for May was full. He
was happy to announce, however, that Razali had just been
invited to come back in June.


7. (C) COMMENT: As always, Khin Nyunt conducted himself in
the polished, professional manner that has become something
of his trademark. Within a regime of distinctly unpolished
generals, one of his key roles is to be the presentable face
of the SPDC to foreigners. He was cordial and seemingly
agreeable even on the issue of a mass political prisoner
release. However, he lost his suavity momentarily when
describing Aung San Suu Kyi. There is clearly no love lost
between them. Interestingly, as Daley made the point on
moving the political dialogue forward, the MFA attendees and
even Major Myo Aung could be seen to nod their heads in
agreement. End Comment.


8. (U) DAS Daley has cleared on this message.
Martinez