SPDC STILL ARRESTING NLD MEMBERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000199 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2014 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM NLD SUBJECT: SPDC STILL ARRESTING NLD MEMBERS REF: RANGOON 91 Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (B,D) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Despite talk of a "new year of transition," the SPDC has perpetuated old habits by continuing to arrest NLD members for conducting peaceful political activities. These latest arrests, over a dozen total, stand in contrast to reports of an on-going dialogue between ASSK and the SPDC aimed at the short-term objective of releasing all remaining post-Depeyin NLD prisoners. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) According to Embassy and National League for Democracy (NLD) sources, the SPDC's Office of the Chief of Military Intelligence (OCMI) has arrested numerous NLD members in recent weeks. On January 4, MI agents in Rangoon Division arrested U Myint Aye, NLD Chairman of Kyimaingdaing Township, and U Tin Maung Kyi, a local youth organizer. The two were reportedly rounded up for the illegal distribution of over 3,000 Burmese language copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, originally provided by the UNDP. The NLD believes that OCMI's "Unit 7" interrogated the two men and then transferred them to Rangoon's Insein Prison, before releasing them to NLD CEC member U Nyunt Wei in early February. ¶3. (C) Sources also indicate that OCMI arrested NLD youth leader Myint Ngwe in Yenanchaung Township (Magwe Division) on January 21 for the unauthorized distribution of leaflets on HIV/AIDS. On January 30 and 31, respectively, OCMI arrested Maung Maung Kyaw Aye, NLD Secretary of Dabnon Township and U May, NLD Chair of Htantapin Township (Rangoon Division),for unknown reasons. ¶4. (SBU) On February 11, OCMI arrested seven NLD members in Bogalay Township (Irrawaddy Division) for allegedly planning NLD party ceremonies to commemorate Union Day on February 12. MI agents picked up one of the seven members when he returned from Rangoon to Bogalay with the NLD's Union Day statement. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The SPDC made loud noises in mid-January to draw attention to their release of 26 NLD members imprisoned in connection with the May 2003 attack on ASSK and her NLD convoy. The act was gratuitous, as none of those released had ever been officially charged, but led some observers to believe that the regime was beginning to ease up on the pro-democracy movement. Old habits die hard, however, and these latest arrests are further indication that the SPDC has little intention of giving the NLD any genuine breathing room to function as a political party. END COMMENT. Martinez