Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03RANGOON640
2003-06-02 10:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMESE - U.S. W.W. II REMAINS RECOVERY TECHNICAL
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000640
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE - U.S. W.W. II REMAINS RECOVERY TECHNICAL
TALKS POSTPONED
REF: A. RANGOON 636 (NOTAL)
B. RANGOON 635 (NOTAL)
Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000640
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE - U.S. W.W. II REMAINS RECOVERY TECHNICAL
TALKS POSTPONED
REF: A. RANGOON 636 (NOTAL)
B. RANGOON 635 (NOTAL)
Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) After consultation with DOD DAS Jennings and other
appropriate individuals involved in the W.W.II Remains
Recovery Technical talks scheduled for June 4-6 in Rangoon,
the mutual decision to postpone the talks was made today,
June 2. The most recent regime crackdown on the democratic
opposition in Burma (reftels),has resulted in the detention
of Aung San Suu Kyi and at least 10 senior members of her
National League for Democracy under pretense of "protective
custody" for their own safety. This is an inappropriate
setting for interaction between DOD elements and the military
regime. We have conveyed to DAS Jennings that Embassy
Rangoon continues to fully support the W.W.II Remains
Recovery Mission.
2) (C) The talks were scheduled at this time to discuss
operational details for a mission in December 2003 or January
2004 (after the local rainy season) and can easily be
rescheduled. It was decided that it would be best to
postpone the meeting rather than send conflicting signals to
the Burmese government regarding our unhappiness with this
latest round of political repression. We are also concerned
that the media or members of Congress could interpret
technical talks at this time as DOD and State conducting
"business as usual" with the regime at the same time that the
USG is denouncing the junta's actions.
3) (C) We have advised Major General Thein Shwe, of the
Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence, of the
postponement of the technical talks. We informed him that it
would be inappropriate to conduct the talks due to the
current circumstances. We reiterated our commitment to the
recovery mission from a humanitarian perspective and told the
general we would reopen discussions on the topic when
appropriate.
Martinez
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE - U.S. W.W. II REMAINS RECOVERY TECHNICAL
TALKS POSTPONED
REF: A. RANGOON 636 (NOTAL)
B. RANGOON 635 (NOTAL)
Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) After consultation with DOD DAS Jennings and other
appropriate individuals involved in the W.W.II Remains
Recovery Technical talks scheduled for June 4-6 in Rangoon,
the mutual decision to postpone the talks was made today,
June 2. The most recent regime crackdown on the democratic
opposition in Burma (reftels),has resulted in the detention
of Aung San Suu Kyi and at least 10 senior members of her
National League for Democracy under pretense of "protective
custody" for their own safety. This is an inappropriate
setting for interaction between DOD elements and the military
regime. We have conveyed to DAS Jennings that Embassy
Rangoon continues to fully support the W.W.II Remains
Recovery Mission.
2) (C) The talks were scheduled at this time to discuss
operational details for a mission in December 2003 or January
2004 (after the local rainy season) and can easily be
rescheduled. It was decided that it would be best to
postpone the meeting rather than send conflicting signals to
the Burmese government regarding our unhappiness with this
latest round of political repression. We are also concerned
that the media or members of Congress could interpret
technical talks at this time as DOD and State conducting
"business as usual" with the regime at the same time that the
USG is denouncing the junta's actions.
3) (C) We have advised Major General Thein Shwe, of the
Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence, of the
postponement of the technical talks. We informed him that it
would be inappropriate to conduct the talks due to the
current circumstances. We reiterated our commitment to the
recovery mission from a humanitarian perspective and told the
general we would reopen discussions on the topic when
appropriate.
Martinez