BURMA: "HELL'S ANGELS" IN THE EAST, SLAVE LABORERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001136

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, PRM, DRL; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2014
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV PINS ELAB BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: "HELL'S ANGELS" IN THE EAST, SLAVE LABORERS
IN THE WEST

REF: RANGOON 1048 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Ron McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: UNHCR's latest assessment mission along
Burma's eastern border revealed KNU strength to be
significantly diminished and, by contrast, an alarming and
widespread presence of DKBA soldiers "who resemble the Hell's
Angels" in appearance, swagger, and influence. Meanwhile, on
the western front near the border with Bangladesh, UNHCR
staff have discovered a "massive increase" in the use of
forced labor to implement PM Khin Nyunt's recent instructions
to construct a series of six bridges. UNHCR, normally
successful in resolving such abuses through dialogue with
local military commanders, has hit a brick wall with the GOB
and requests USG assistance in raising concerns with a regime
that appears indifferent to the potential for renewed heat
from the ILO. End Summary.

The East - Born to Be Wild
--------------


2. (U) On August 30, UNHCR representative Rajiv Kapur called
on the Charge d'Affaires a.i and P/E chief to update us on
recent refugee-related developments. UNHCR staff had just
completed a fifth assessment trip to former conflict areas
along the Thai border. Kapur said that UNHCR had reached a
very high level of trust with GOB officials and local
military commanders, to the point that the fifth mission took
place without official escorts or handlers and UNHCR staff
moved about without restrictions. The latest mission took
place in the Kaykarek and Myawadi areas of east central Karen
State and a planned sixth mission will visit the Papun area
of northwest Karen State.


3. (C) Kapur said it has become evident that the Karen
National Union (KNU) insurgent movement is "extremely
marginal" inside Burma. The UNHCR missions, which have
covered vast territory throughout remote areas of Karen and
Mon States and Tanintharyi Division, have discovered a very
minimal KNU presence. In places where KNU troops are
present, said Kapur, "they are so stretched and so thin that
they have no local authority," which, he added, could
diminish the prospects for eventual repatriation to KNU-held
areas. He opined that the SPDC will nonetheless press ahead
with peace talks as one way to further marginalize the NLD
and the pro-democracy movement.


4. (C) In contrast to the KNU, Kapur said that the Democratic
Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA, a pro-regime splinter of the KNU)
is "very extensive throughout the region." Kapur said the
DKBA troops are easily recognized by their rebel appearances:
long hair, bandannas, and automatic weapons strapped to their
motorcycles. They usually travel in "gangs" of six or seven
and "resemble the Hell's Angels" when they barrel down remote
roads, demanding that all traffic, including UNHCR vehicles,
pull over to make way. "I don't know if the GOB will be
capable of rolling them back," said Kapur, adding that the
DKBA appears to be profiting handsomely from border trade
with Thailand, as evidenced by a steady stream of
DKBA-licensed trucks transporting consumer goods into Burma.

The West - A Bridge Too Far
--------------


5. (C) Kapur also briefed us on disturbing events in Rakhine
State along the western border with Bangladesh, where UNHCR
provides protection and other support for repatriated
Rohingya refugees. UNHCR staff have for the past month
observed a "massive increase" in the use of forced labor in
the region. Rajiv said that PM General Khin Nyunt, following
an official visit to Bangladesh in April, had toured northern
Rakhine State and instructed local authorities to build
bridges to facilitate local trade and development. Regional
commanders subsequently implemented the PM's "instructions"
and, according to Kapur, are building six bridges using
forced labor "on a major scale," including children.

6. (C) Kapur said that in the past he has secured the
cooperation of local military commanders in resolving human
rights abuses. However, in this most recent case the
military is refusing to meet with UNHCR to discuss the
problem. Kapur raised the forced labor issue with the DFM
Khin Maung Win, who was initially dismissive but subsequently
responded that General Khin Nyunt had issued "cease and
desist" orders to regional commanders. However, Kapur said
this has had no effect on overzealous authorities intent on
completing the bridges. Kapur has informed the Rangoon ILO
office, but he believes that the SPDC is indifferent to the
ILO and potential action against the regime already in the
works for the November ILO Governing Board meeting. Kapur
added that Leon de Riedmatten, UN Special Envoy Razali's
local liaison, has also reported that the use of forced labor
is "again on the rise throughout Burma."

7. (C) Comment: Kapur is a respected interlocutor who has
done a credible job of managing some of the UN's most
sensitive and critical operations in this highly politicized
environment. We don't take his reports of renewed forced
labor lightly and will pursue further information from NGOs,
IOs, and other Embassy sources. Kapur also asked for USG
assistance, suggesting that it would be helpful if we were to
make the GOB aware of our concerns over the Rakhine situation
(without implicating the UNHCR). We will use forthcoming
opportunities to address this development with appropriate
GOB officials. It has been a year of substantial setbacks
for overall efforts on forced labor and if these latest
reports are accurate, the November ILO GB will once again
face a knotty Burma problem. End Comment.
Martinez