BURMESE GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN ON NLD FOLLOWING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000636 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2013 TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL BM NLD SUBJECT: BURMESE GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN ON NLD FOLLOWING RIOT NEAR MANDALAY REF: A. (A) RANGOON 635 ¶B. (B) STATE 146467 Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez. Reason: 1.5 (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The Chief of Mission delivered reftel B demarche to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today and will follow up tomorrow with the Deputy Foreign Minister and the Minister of Labor. In company with Ambassadors from Germany and Italy and the British Charge, she also confirmed NLD Central Executive Committee members have been effectively placed under house arrest. She also visited NLD headquarters and confirmed that it had been closed and sealed by the regime. Aung San Suu Kyi reportedly is returning to Rangoon, probably in police custody. Reportedly special facilities are being constructed for her in Daukyant, on the outskirts of Rangoon, where she may be held once she returns. We hope we are wrong, but it appears that the government is gearing up for a prolonged period of repression. End Summary. Demarche Delivered ¶2. (U) The Chief of Mission delivered reftel demarche in written form to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon. Despite repeated attempts, she was not able to reach any MFA officials to deliver the points orally. We will ask for meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win and Minister of Labor Tin Winn (the former Burmese Ambassador to the United States, who briefed reporters on the situation on Friday) to make the points in person on Monday. The British are doing a parallel demarche. NLD Offices Closed; Central Committee Members Under House Arrest ¶3. (C) With the Ambassadors from Germany and Italy, and Britain's Charge', the Chief of Mission attempted to call on NLD Chairman U Aung Shwe and NLD Spokesman U Lwin, but was turned away by Burmese police. Nobody can enter or leave the CEC members' houses, and all of their phones have been cut off, but the police refused to admit that that constituted house arrest (or protective custody.). The Australian Charge' was invited to accompany the group, but, surprisingly, was instructed by Canberra to stay away. The Charge also confirmed that NLD headquarters has been closed and sealed by the government. Aung San Suu Kyi Returning to Rangoon ¶4. (C) According to our police contacts, Aung San Suu Kyi is on her way back to Rangoon. The government offered to fly her back, but she chose to return by car, spending the night of June 1 in Taungoo. Most likely, she is traveling in police custody. Reporters in Rangoon tell us that ASSK will be detained once she returns. In fact, signals point to her being detained not in her own house, as on every previous occasion, but in special government facilities in Daukyant on the outskirts of Rangoon. Events in Depeyin ¶5. (U) Meanwhile, the government press has provided additional details of the riot in Depeyin. Apparently, a convoy of about 40 motorcycles and 9 cars that were accompanying ASSK were met by a crowd of about 5,000 anti-NLD protesters as they arrived in Depeyin northwest of Mandalay at 8 pm on May 30. Fighting broke out when the NLD convoy attempted to break through the crowd. One vehicle (apparently not from the NLD convoy) hit a tree, killing four. Another vehicle (from the convoy) ran into a ditch. A third (not belonging to the NLD convoy) was set on fire, allegedly by NLD supporters. Altogether, four persons were killed and fifty wounded in the fighting and auto accidents. None of participants in ASSK's main party were hurt, however. Early reports that her vehicle was hit by gunfire also appear to have been false. Comment ¶5. (C) The situation is serious. The turmoil that has surrounded ASSK's latest trip has apparently alarmed the government. In any case, while its statements have had a "more in sorrow than anger" tone, particularly in regard to Aung San Suu Kyi personally, its actions in placing the members of the NLD's Central Executive Committee under house arrest, in sealing the NLD's headquarters and township offices, and now possibly preparing special detention facilities for Aung San Suu Kyi, all suggest that we may be in for a prolonged bout of repression. ¶6. (C) None of this bodes well for UN Special Envoy Razali's upcoming visit. To judge from its recent actions, the government is done talking to the NLD. Unless it relents, there is probably little point in a new visit by the UN Envoy. Martinez