VETERAN POLITICIANS CALL FOR RELEASE OF ASSK,

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001540 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2014 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM BM ASSK SUBJECT: VETERAN POLITICIANS CALL FOR RELEASE OF ASSK, CHASTISE SPDC REF: A. RANGOON 1488 ¶B. RANGOON 1530 ¶C. RANGOON 404 Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) Summary: The Veteran Politicians, a respected group of Burma's aging war heroes and retired government officials, commemorated the country's 84th "National Day" on December 6 by praising recently released political prisoners; urging the early release of opposition leaders ASSK and U Tin Oo; and criticizing the regime for ignoring 1990 elections results and targeting political party members. Their feisty criticism of the regime and overt support of the pro-democracy movement is a breath of fresh air in an environment otherwise polluted by a climate of fear. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On December 6, the "Group of Veteran Politicians and Colleagues" - a political association of retired government officials, military officers, party leaders, and Burmese independence fighters - gathered in Rangoon to celebrate Burma's 84th anniversary of "Glorious National Day." The anniversary, recognized by the GOB as an official holiday but not widely observed, commemorates a 1920 student strike that sparked the struggle for Burmese independence from the British. Several hundred supporters attended the Veterans' event, as did members of the NLD Central Executive Committee and leaders of the pro-democracy ethnic political parties. Emboff was the only diplomat in attendance. Also on the scene was a phalanx of military intelligence agents who photographed participants and filmed the entire proceedings. ¶3. (C) Thakhin Thein Pe, the 89 year-old leader of the Veteran Politicians, read a chairman's statement that praised recently released political prisoners "for their selfless sacrifices and beliefs" and urged attendees to pray for the early release of NLD leaders Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and U Tin Oo and other political prisoners. At the event, Emboff spoke with NLD MP-elect U Ohn Maung, released from Insein Prison on November 19 after six years of detention (ref A), who said, "As long as the MI thugs harass these peaceful events, I will be here to meet them." ¶4. (U) In a group statement, the Veterans criticized the Burmese military regime for "dishonorably" ignoring the results of its own 1990 legislative elections. The Veterans also chastised the SPDC for using notorious provisions of the 1975 "Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Subversive Elements," enacted by former dictator Ne Win, to target political party members. The Veterans observed that the recent extension of ASSK's house arrest (ref B) was "inappropriate" and harmful to national reconciliation, noting that ASSK has frequently acknowledged her willingness to work with the military on the future of the country. ¶5. (C) Comment: Individual members of the Veteran Politicians have for years suffered arbitrary arrest, long prison terms, and other human rights abuses under the Burmese regime (authorities, for example, detained Chairman Thein Pe in 2003 for holding a National Day event without official permission). However, collectively they have enjoyed a certain degree of immunity. The SPDC, begrudgingly, feels compelled to respect their historical service to the country, but also views the group as politically benign (most of the members are in their 80s and 90s). However, the Veterans' feisty criticism of the regime and overt support of the pro-democracy movement is a breath of fresh air in an environment otherwise polluted by a climate of fear. End Comment. MARTINEZ