C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000635

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2013
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL BM NLD ASSK
SUBJECT: NLD, GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS CLASH IN NORTHERN BURMA


1. (C) Summary: The military junta may be preparing a new
crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for
Democracy. At a news conference May 31, the government
accused the NLD of provoking a riot in Sagaing Division
northwest of Mandalay that left four dead and more than 50
injured. It also closed NLD headquarters and placed members
of the NLD's Central Executive Committee under house arrest
in Rangoon. Aung San Suu Kyi herself, and senior members of
her traveling party, have been held in Ye Oo in Sagaing
Division, ostensibly for their own safety. End Summary.


2. (U) At a press conference held May 31, the SPDC accused
the NLD of provoking a riot on May 30 in Depeyin in Sagaing
Division northwest of Mandalay. According to the government,
Aung San Suu Kyi's traveling party was met by a crowd of
about 5,000 anti-NLD protesters as it reached Depeyin. An
argument broke out which degenerated into about a riot,
leaving four dead and more than 50 wounded. According to
news reports (which we have not been able to confirm), Aung
San Suu Kyi's car was also hit by gunfire. She was not hurt,
but was taken, together with 19 members of her traveling
party, to Ye Oo in Sagaing Division (also northwest of
Mandalay), where she was held, ostensibly for her own safety.
In Rangoon, NLD headquarters was closed and members of the
NLD's Central Executive Committee were placed under house
arrest. Burmese police special branch members told Poloff on
May 31 that both NLD spokesman U Lwin and CEC member U Nyunt
Wei have been detained under section 10(B) of Burma's Public
Security Act, which allows the government to detain
'subversive elements" for up to one year without a trial.
Most likely, all other members of the NLD's Central Executive
Committee have also been placed under house arrest.


3. (U) Earlier in the day, the government's official
newspaper, the Myanmar Alin carried stories on its front and
back pages which accused the NLD of provoking disturbances in
Chaung U and Mon Ywa in Burma's Sagaing division. According
to the newspaper, in Ye Bo San village and Mon Ywa, ASSK's
party, reportedly about 150 people traveling in 16 cars and
70 motorcycles, ended up in an altercation with "peaceful
protesters" that left several injured and resulted in both
sides filing charges at local police station. According to
the government, this followed clashes earlier in the month in
Kachin State and Mandalay Division between NLD supporters and
protesters.


4. (U) As yet, the NLD has not yet been able to provide its
version of these latest events. Earlier in the week,
however, the NLD's U Lwin had described the clashes in Kachin
State and Mandalay Division as having been provoked by regime
supporters, who physically threatened Aung San Suu Kyi and
her party.

Comment


5. (C) We do not have the full story yet on the events in
Sagaing, but this may be the beginning of a new government
crackdown on the NLD. There have been rumors in Rangoon for
several days that June was to be the month in which the
government brought the NLD to heel. The events in Sagaing may
be the start of that campaign. End Comment.
Martinez