BURMA UPHOLDS CONVICTIONS FOR CONTACTING ILO

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000638

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2014
TAGS: ELAB PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA UPHOLDS CONVICTIONS FOR CONTACTING ILO

REF: RANGOON 366

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


1. (C) A special two-judge panel of the Burmese Supreme
Court on May 12 supported a secret lower court's ruling from
November 2003 that two men, Naing Min Kyi and Aye Mint, are
guilty of treason for contacting the International Labor
Organization (ref). However, on the basis of a lack of
evidence the panel changed the specific treason charges
against them to "aiding and abetting people committing
treason" and reduced their sentences from death to three
years in prison.


2. (C) The special panel also upheld the ruling by the lower
court for a third defendant, Shwe Man, who was found guilty
of treason partly for contacting the ILO and partly for
allegedly plotting to assassinate SPDC leaders. The panel
reduced Shwe Man's sentence from death to life in prison.


3. COMMENT: The special panel's ruling, which we believe was
ordered by the highest levels of the regime, at first glance
appears a positive development since it overturns several
death sentences. However, three years in jail simply for
contacting the ILO is still unacceptable and runs counter to
the regime's previously stated willingness to create a
permissive environment for the ILO to operate in Burma. END
COMMENT.
Martinez