SE RAZALI TO MEET WITH ASSK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000675

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
USPACOM FOR FPA
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR TWINING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2012
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM ASSK
SUBJECT: SE RAZALI TO MEET WITH ASSK

REF: RANGOON 665

Classified By: COM CARMEN M. MARTINEZ FOR REASON 1.5(D).


1. (C) Summary: UN Special Envoy Razali gave COM a private
read-out of his meeting this morning, June 9, with Vice
Senior General Maung Aye. Maung Aye told Razali that "as a
special consideration" to the UN and Razali's efforts, the
SPDC had reversed a previous decision to not allow anyone
access to Aung San Suu Kyi, and Razali could see her June 10
at 10:00 in the morning at an undisclosed location. The only
conditions on the visit were that Razali cannot divulge where
the meeting takes place and he must be brief in speaking with
her. When Razali asked when ASSK would be released, Maung
Aye responded, "As soon as it is possible." Razali is
briefing the diplomatic corps on these developments just
prior to his visit to ASSK on June 10, and then leaving on a
flight to Singapore at noon at the request of the SPDC. He
said he would not provide this information to any other
members of the diplomatic corps except the Japanese
Ambassador until the morning briefing. COM said she would
alert Washington but otherwise keep the information
close-hold. End Summary.


2. (C) Special Envoy Razali briefed COM privately this
afternoon (June 9) on his meeting earlier this morning with
SPDC Vice Senior General Maung Aye. This was Razali's first
substantive meeting with the SPDC number two and he said it
went quite well. Razali said it was interesting to see the
dynamics in the meeting, with Maung Aye relaxed and clearly
in charge. Maung Aye told Razali he was aware of the
situation, Razali's efforts, and (interestingly) PM
Mahathir's concerns. He told Razali that "as a special
consideration" to the UN and to Razali's efforts, the request
to grant him access to ASSK had been reviewed by "the
organization" and it was decided to reverse a previous
decision to bar all access to her. (Note: Neither Razali
nor post has ever heard of "the organization" before. Razali
said he plans to follow-up with the Foreign Minister to get a
better understanding of what it refers to. This could be a
term for an SPDC policy council or a smaller subset of key
decision-makers. End Note.) Maung Aye said Khin Nyunt would
provide Razali with the details of the meeting and began to
excuse himself. In an effort to get a commitment for future
meetings with Maung Aye, Razali noted how useful it had been
to talk to him and said he hoped to meet with him in the
future; he said Maung Aye just smiled. Finally, Razali asked
Maung Aye when ASSK would be released. Maung Aye gave the
enigmatic reply, "As soon as it is possible."


3. (C) Khin Nyunt then took Maung Aye's chair and brought
out a book with handwritten details on how the visit to ASSK
would be handled. He told Razali that he would be taken to a
military headquarters where he would meet Brigadier General
Than Tun (the military intelligence officer normally assigned
as a liaison to ASSK). The two of them would go together to
another location to meet her. Khin Nyunt told Razali that
the two conditions for the meeting would be that Razali could
not divulge the location of the meeting to anyone and that he
had to keep the meeting brief. Khin Nyunt added that Razali
"should not be concerned by the location where they meet"
because ASSK would be brought there for the meeting from
another location. Finally, Khin Nyunt asked Razali how long
he planned to remain in Rangoon. When Razali said he was
flexible depending how things were progressing, Khin Nyunt
suggested that he leave on the 12:15 P.M. Silkair flight to
Singapore right after his meeting with ASSK. Razali said he
was a little taken aback by this, but he agreed. (Note:
Razali said he would provide Poloff with information on the
ASSK meeting at the airport, if possible. End Note.)


4. (C) COM asked if Razali had brought up the condition of U
Tin Oo or other NLD members and supporters that have been
detained and reportedly injured. Razali said he had not
raised this, preferring to focus on ASSK first and foremost.
He said he would be meeting with the Foreign Minister later
in the day and planned to discuss access to other detainees,
the steps necessary to get national reconciliation back on
track, and the decision-making process of the junta. Razali
said it was fascinating to see how relaxed and confident
Maung Aye was and how Khin Nyunt was clearly in a subservient
role in Maung Aye's presence. Most significantly, he felt,
was that there was no mention of Senior General Than Shwe
during the meeting. Razali said it was clear to him that he
will need to engage with Maung Aye to a greater degree in
order to move forward with his mission.
Martinez