Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03RANGOON963
2003-08-11 08:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:  

RUMORS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI,S DEATH APPEAR TO BE

Tags:  PGOV ASEC BM ASSK 
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This 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 000963 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2013
TAGS: PGOV ASEC BM ASSK
SUBJECT: RUMORS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI,S DEATH APPEAR TO BE
UNFOUNDED

REF: A. FBIS 110839Z AUG 03

B. RANGOON 928 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000963

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2013
TAGS: PGOV ASEC BM ASSK
SUBJECT: RUMORS OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI,S DEATH APPEAR TO BE
UNFOUNDED

REF: A. FBIS 110839Z AUG 03

B. RANGOON 928 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)


1. (U) Ref A article in the Thai daily Bangkok Siam Rat
(titled "Rumor Says Suu Kyi Dead; Dream of Democracy
Shattered") reported on rumors that an assailant recently
stabbed detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to death.
Although there are many uncertainties regarding ASSK,s
current whereabouts and well being, we have no credible
information that she has been killed or otherwise harmed.


2. (C) As we reported in ref B, the ICRC met with ASSK on
July 28 and observed her to be in good health. We have
subsequently learned that, in accordance with Burmese laws
pertaining to political detainees, ASSK supporters have been
able to supply her with weekly deliveries of food and
clothing through military intelligence intermediaries. Her
supporters believe that she has been receiving these
deliveries, although they have been denied direct access to
her. Asked to comment about rumors of her death, a senior
Ministry of Defense official told Emboff on August 11 that
ASSK was "alive, eating regularly, and even gaining weight."


3. (U) Comment: Without direct access to Aung San Suu Kyi,
we cannot report with certainty on her current status.
However, the SPDC maintains an intensely secretive posture
with regard to her "protective custody" and the status of all
NLD members detained in the aftermath of the May 30 attack on
her convoy. As a result, we fully expect that rumors about
her state of health will continue to flourish.
Martinez