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