Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04RANGOON535
2004-04-28 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:  

GOB RELEASES MORE POST-DEPAYIN PRISONERS

Tags:  PHUM PGOV BM NLD 
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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 RANGOON 000535 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BM NLD
SUBJECT: GOB RELEASES MORE POST-DEPAYIN PRISONERS

REF: RANGOON 199

Classified By: COM Carmen M. Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000535

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BM NLD
SUBJECT: GOB RELEASES MORE POST-DEPAYIN PRISONERS

REF: RANGOON 199

Classified By: COM Carmen M. Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) On April 25 the GOB released 24 more of the estimated
250 pro-democracy activists arrested across Burma in the
government crackdown immediately following the May 30, 2003
attack on the National League for Democracy (NLD) convoy at
Depayin. Four other NLD members, including an MP-elect, who
had been arrested the week prior to the Depayin attack, were
also released on April 25. Though the GOB has been releasing
a handful of post-Depayin prisoners every month or so (ref)
NLD sources estimate over 100 of them are still in detention.



2. (U) Since the approximately 250 activists (both NLD
members and NLD supporters) were arrested on the fringes of
the Depayin attack, and as they were not part of the official
NLD convoy on May 30, their numbers were not included in the
official NLD and UN list of 135 people arrested at Depayin.
Of the "official" 135, all have been released except for Aung
San Suu Kyi and U Tin Oo, who both remain under house arrest
in Rangoon.


3. (C) COMMENT: Some of the newly released activists (10
from Mandalay prison and 17 from Shwebo prison) had received
sentences ranging from two years or to nine years in prison
for various fabricated criminal offenses. Releasing them
after less than a year served may be a sign the GOB is
attempting to entice the NLD to join the National Convention.
The regime may be hopeful that the releases will help to
remove festering reminders of the May 30 attack in advance of
the May 17 opening of the National Convention. END COMMENT.
Martinez