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