SUPPORT FOR BURMESE POLITICAL PRISONERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001085

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2008
TAGS: PHUM EAID PGOV KDEM BM NLD
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR BURMESE POLITICAL PRISONERS

Classified By: CDA, A.I. RON MCMULLEN FOR REASONS 1.5 (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The NLD runs a modest but very successful
program to assist its imprisoned members. Post is interested
in exploring ways to bolster this NLD effort and/or find
parallel means to help political prisoners and their
families. See action request para 8. End Summary.


2. (SBU) NLD HQ ABUZZ: The NLD national headquarters was a
hive of activity, as is usually the case, during one of our
many visits there earlier in August. The ground floor of the
decrepit two-story building was jammed with party members
involved with HIV/AIDS awareness projects, women's self-help
activities, child nutrition and care workshops, and many
other civic programs. At one desk two young women were
talking to an NLD volunteer, filling out forms and answering
questions. We asked if we could join them; they agreed and
we sat down to observe what was happening.


3. (C) HIGH SCHOOL REBEL: One of the women was the sister
of an NLD Youth League member who had been imprisoned for
pro-democracy activities just after he graduated from high
school. Her brother has served four years of his six-year
sentence, the woman explained, and had recently been
transferred from Rangoon's infamous Insein Prison to another
prison five hours north of the city. She was at NLD HQ, she
went on, applying for the monthly monetary support for
imprisoned NLD members.


4. (C) AN APPLE A DAY: The NLD volunteer explained that the
party's political prisoner support committee provides up to
2,000 kyat (about $2.50) per month to the families of
political prisoners. These meager funds are to enable a
prisoner to buy "a little cooking oil, some vegetables, or
perhaps some fresh fruit" from prison authorities. The NLD
volunteer said she processes about 60 such requests for
assistance each week.


5. (C) ICRC HELP: When we asked the applicant if her
brother or her family had received assistance from any other
source, she said no. She did say that she was grateful to
the ICRC, which had given her the equivalent of $15 for bus
fare and expenses to visit her brother when he was
transferred upcountry. We asked the NLD volunteer if she was
aware of any other group helping political prisoners. She
checked with a number of colleagues, and came back to say
nobody knew of any other source of support for political
prisoners.


6. (C) FUNDING TROUBLES: According to a knowledgeable FSN,
funding for the NLD's political prisoner support committee is
a very sensitive issue. If local Burmese are known to
contribute to the fund, they often find themselves quickly
arrested by the police on trumped-up, but unrelated charges.
The NLD has a very firm policy of not accepting foreign
assistance. What frequently happens, the FSN continued, is
that wealthy expatriate Burmese will send a trusted family
member some money, with the understanding that the family
member will quietly contribute it to the NLD fund for
political prisoners. We estimate that the NLD distributes a
total of approximately $7,500 per year to political prisoners
and/or their families.


7. (C) COMMENT: This tiny sum probably does more to keep
the NLD's flickering flame alive than many other
pro-democracy programs costing a great deal more. Post would
like to discuss with various USG entities potential
modalities or parallel programs that could support
pro-democracy political prisoners regardless of party
affiliation. We would also be interested in exploring ways
to help the families of the prisoners, if possible.


8. (C) REQUEST: We note that that National Endowment for
Democracy has provided up to $80,000 per year in Burma
earmark funds in recent years to a grantee organization
called "The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners
(AAPP)," which aims to provide direct assistance to Burmese
political prisoners and their families. No one we have
talked to (including the NLD and ICRC) seems to have any
knowledge of this organization or of its activities inside
Burma, if any. Post would appreciate an assessment from the
Department, USAID, or the NED of the AAPP's effectiveness as
we begin to explore ways to be helpful to political prisoners
and their families.
McMullen