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