Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04RANGOON232
2004-02-20 09:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:  

REGIME BLOCKS NLD LEADERS FROM VISITING ASSK

Tags:  PREL PGOV BM NLD ASSK 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000232 

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV; CINPAC FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM NLD ASSK
SUBJECT: REGIME BLOCKS NLD LEADERS FROM VISITING ASSK

REF: A. RANGOON 206

B. RANGOON 205

C. RANGOON 199

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000232

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV; CINPAC FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM NLD ASSK
SUBJECT: REGIME BLOCKS NLD LEADERS FROM VISITING ASSK

REF: A. RANGOON 206

B. RANGOON 205

C. RANGOON 199

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.5 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: The five free members of the NLD's Central
Executive Committee (CEC) attempted on February 17 to visit
Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) at her Rangoon residence, where she
is under house arrest, but were rebuffed by the Burmese
regime. The "uncles" have in recent weeks taken a more
visible and proactive role in leading party activities,
including a quiet march on Union Day, meetings with
diplomats, and correspondence with the regime that demands
the release of NLD leaders and space to operate as a
political party. The regime responded with veiled threats
directed at the uncles and cut their phone lines, but has
otherwise turned a blind eye to their activities. As for the
regime's road map and a renewed National Convention, the CEC
says "been there, done that" but refuses to take a public
stand until ASSK and their other colleagues are released.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) We spoke on February 19 with NLD Central Executive
Committee member U Nyunt Wei, who gave us detailed background
regarding an unsuccessful attempt on February 17 by the five
released members of the NLD CEC to visit ASSK, who remains
under house arrest at her University Avenue residence in
Rangoon. The CEC has been increasingly visible in recent
weeks, including a successful effort at leading a quiet
procession of party members and supporters through a portion
of central Rangoon on Union Day (ref A). (Note: Of the
nine-member CEC, five were freed from house arrest in
November, while the most senior four members, including ASSK,
remain in detention. End note.)

It's In the Mail
--------------


3. (C) According to U Nyunt Wei, the NLD CEC had in recent
months written three consecutive letters to SPDC Chairman
Senior General Than Shwe and PM General Khin Nyunt. The
first two letters appealed for the release of ASSK and other
NLD leaders detained without charges and requested an
opportunity to visit ASSK at her home. Their third and most
recent letter, delivered in early February, specified to the

SPDC leaders that the NLD CEC wanted to speak with ASSK about
top-level party matters. The NLD CEC has received no
response to any of their letters.


4. (C) Parallel to their latest letter, the NLD "uncles" told
an SPDC intermediary that they planned to make a unilateral
visit to ASSK's residence in the absence of a timely response
to their request. The intermediary, a Burmese Army major,
pleaded with the uncles not to proceed and promised he would
report their concerns to his chain of command. However, U
Nyunt Wei said, the uncles replied that "we won't wait
indefinitely."

University Avenue Breakdown
--------------


5. (C) On the morning of February 17, having received no
response from the SPDC, the five elderly uncles flagged down
two taxicabs and headed for University Avenue. U Nyunt Wei
recounted with delight that the two cabbies, recognizing the
uncles and their famous destination, refused to accept cab
fare. Arriving at ASSK's heavily guarded compound at around
11:00 a.m., the uncles were seated across the street while
military intelligence (MI) agents fetched a more senior-level
interlocutor. The regime officer who appeared apologized to
the uncles, but said that no visitors were allowed to enter
ASSK's compound. "And besides," the major said, "if ASSK
wants to see you, she will have to make an official request."
The uncles suggested that the army major consult with ASSK
directly on her wishes and the hapless officer demurred,
responding "I don't have permission myself to enter the
compound."


6. (C) U Nyunt Wei said the uncles exchanged friendly banter
for about an hour with their regime interlocutors. The
senior regime officer on the scene claimed that the SPDC was
undertaking efforts to "improve the political situation" and
cited as an example the recent transfer from prison to house
arrest of NLD Vice Chairman U Tin Oo (ref B). In what the
uncles interpreted as a threat to keep quiet, the major
exhorted the NLD CEC not to create "untoward incidents which
will inevitably cause problems and force the SPDC to blame
the NLD leadership." Following what U Nyunt Wei described as
a "light standoff," MI agents escorted the uncles home in
government vehicles.

A Train to Nowhere
--------------


7. (C) U Nyunt Wei took advantage of our meeting to reiterate
the CEC's position on the regime's road map for democracy.
"We will not take a public stand," he said, "unless all nine
members of our Central Committee can meet together freely to
discuss our views." We inquired about the CEC's ability to
get input from ASSK on the road map and other party issues
while she is under house arrest. U Nyunt Wei smiled and
said, "We have no official communications with her,"
intimating that the uncles make use of a back channel to
communicate with ASSK.


8. (C) With regard to the December Thai-hosted meeting on
Burma, U Nyunt Wei said that the CEC had written to all of
the Bangkok participants to exchange views. To date, the
uncles have not heard a single word back from China, India,
or any of the ASEAN participants. U Nyunt Wei said he was
particularly galled at not hearing from the Indians, the
"so-called largest democracy in the world." He added,
however, that the CEC greatly appreciates the ongoing support
and contact from the U.S. and the U.K. missions. "Without
you, we have no one," he said.


9. (C) However, Ambassadors from Australia, Italy, France,
and Germany and the Japanese political counselor have all
responded to the NLD appeal and met with the released CEC
members in recent weeks. U Nyunt Wei said that while the NLD
leaders appreciated the opportunity to hear first-hand about
the Bangkok meeting, the diplomats all had a similar message
which warned the NLD that "the train is leaving, and you need
to get on board (with the road map process)." The NLD
leaders responded, "we've been on that train and it's not
going anywhere worthwhile."


10. (C) U Nyunt Wei said that it was impossible to envision
participating in a National Convention without the release of
ASSK and other NLD leaders and the re-opening of NLD offices.
He concluded that it would be "foolish" for the NLD to
repeat the failed experience of the 1993 Convention which was
convened under similar circumstances and failed miserably.
"We got off that train for a good reason," he said.

Comment: Taking Charge
--------------


11. (C) The released NLD CEC members are clearly pushing the
envelope with the SPDC. While they may have some limited
contact with ASSK, we suspect the main motivating factor in
pursuing more visible tactics may be to appease the youth
wing of the NLD, which by all accounts is frustrated with the
stalemate and growing restless. Also, ASSK has expressed in
the past her own desire to see the CEC take a more proactive
role in leading the party when she is incarcerated or
otherwise isolated by the SPDC. The regime has responded to
the feisty uncles by cutting the phone lines of several CEC
members and restricting the others to outgoing calls only
(which prohibits the uncles from receiving inquiries from
international journalists). However, overall SPDC
intimidation since their late 2003 release has been, by
regime standards, fairly limited. End Comment.
Martinez