BURMA: KHIN NYUNT'S GONE, BUT BIG BROTHER'S STILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001522 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, EAP/PD COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PREL PHUM ASEC BM SUBJECT: BURMA: KHIN NYUNT'S GONE, BUT BIG BROTHER'S STILL WATCHING REF: A. RANGOON 1499 ¶B. USDAO RANGOON IIR 6 812 0042 05 ¶C. RANGOON 1462 Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: At the behest of the GOB, several Burmese-language newspapers have published articles detailing encounters between members of the diplomatic community, including U.S. Embassy personnel, and democracy activists, in the process reiterating that Big Brother's still on the job despite the recent evisceration of military intelligence. We see this new GOB campaign as one of harassment, intending to intimidate and warn off those who seek to support the opposition. End Summary. Making a List, Checking it Twice ¶2. (SBU) Starting this week, the GOB has required several quasi-independent Rangoon weekly newspapers to publish articles detailing contacts between the diplomatic community and members of the democratic opposition. According to Embassy sources, the GOB's Press Scrutiny Board (housed at the Ministry of Home Affairs) recently issued a directive to local newspapers requiring publication of what appear to be GOB surveillance reports of encounters between diplomats and the NLD and other dissidents. ¶3. (SBU) The December 3rd edition of the "Flower News," a new weekly published by a well-known Burmese journalist, carried an article entitled pithily: "Entry, Exit, and Movement of Vehicles of Foreign Diplomatic Missions to and from NLD Headquarters." The article had no commentary or analysis, but rather was a police log-style column that simply listed the diplomatic plate numbers of vehicles visiting the NLD's Rangoon HQ on November 22nd, the times of these visits, and a description of the visitors. Somewhat ominously, the article identified by name those Burmese nationals who visited in diplomatic vehicles -- including one of the U.S. Embassy's political and economic Foreign Service Nationals. According to the article, on November 22 the Germans, the French, the British (three times),the Australians, the Japanese, the UNDP, and the Americans (twice) visited NLD headquarters. And What Was on the Menu? ¶4. (SBU) In this week's "Good News Journal," published by a known SPDC apologist, another article appeared describing at length a November 22 encounter between U.S. Embassy officials and recently released democracy activist U Min Ko Naing (ref A). Though the article accurately described the fact that an Emboff met with Min Ko Naing, and again identified by name a different U.S. Embassy political and economic FSN, the article incorrectly claimed that the Chief of Mission had Min Ko Naing to lunch at her residence. The December 2nd editions of two additional publications, the "7 Days News Journal" and "Myanmar Nation," also carried the identical article. ¶5. (C) The Min Ko Naing article took some liberties characterizing (incorrectly) the discussion at the meeting, emphasizing an alleged "statement" by the activist that he "opts not to secure power or position and has no contact with any political parties or veteran student activists." It is unclear whether GOB officials "debriefed" Min Ko Naing after the meeting. It is also possible that the article was based in part on incomplete surveillance of the meeting and further extrapolated from statements he made to international media representatives following his release on November 16th. Comment: We Know Who's Naughty and Nice ¶6. (C) GOB scrutiny of U.S. and other diplomats is standard fare for the regime and the official press has traditionally devoted considerable ink to attacks against the NLD leadership and their diplomatic supporters. However, the publication of surveillance reports is a new twist, clearly intended to further harass the beleaguered democracy movement, intimidate those locals who assist "foreign destructionists," and warn off any diplomats who might think they can surreptitiously deal with the opposition. ¶7. (C) These articles are a good reminder that although the Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence (OCMI),formerly under the direction of the ousted Khin Nyunt, is in disarray, no activities here go unnoticed. As reported in ref B, the regime recently abolished OCMI and replaced it with a new "Chief of Military Affairs Security," yet another indication that the SPDC may change names and faces, but will continue to rely on a broad intelligence network to counter any perceived threats to the junta's staying power (ref C). End Comment. MARTINEZ