THE MANDALAY NLD: ON THE DEFENSIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000857 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2014 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM NLD SUBJECT: THE MANDALAY NLD: ON THE DEFENSIVE REF: RANGOON 612 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: COM Carmen M. Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The regime has recently increased its efforts to suppress the actions of the NLD in Mandalay through intrusive and intimidating surveillance of senior NLD members. Despite the regime's efforts, the NLD maintains a positive spirit while it continues to hold out hope for UN intervention. END SUMMARY. THE REGIME'S HUNGRY EYES: SURVEILLANCE THAT WON'T SUBSIDE ¶2. (C) In an office adorned with the usual ASSK paraphernalia, NLD Mandalay members initially informed Poloff that after the NLD decided not to participate in the National Convention, there had not been any significant increase of "intimidation, interference or disturbance" on the part of the regime with respect to the NLD's activities. However, senior members then reported that they work under the ever-watchful (and increasingly intrusive) eyes of the Special Branch of police (SB),whose presence, intentionally or unintentionally, is all but discreet. The NLD believes that the regime is using the very obvious surveillance presence to send a strong message to the public that the security apparatus is in full control -- not the people's elected representatives and their democracy party. ¶3. (C) According to our NLD interlocutors, the regime has also opened up an economic offensive, targeting NLD members' businesses and threatening their workers. The children of the NLD upper tier are often not allowed to attend post-secondary school or join the civil service, and every year, members are arrested on the anniversary of the NLD's founding and the anniversary of the NLD's overwhelming victory in the last election in 1990. Torture and cruelty during interrogations are not uncommon for the NLD political prisoners, some of whom are MP-elects. Several members showed us the serious injuries they suffered at the hands of the government while in custody following the May 30, 2003 attacks at Depayin. Whenever incarcerated, they are treated as "petty criminals," and such treatment "degrades their integrity." ¶4. (C) On another front, according to our NLD contacts, the USDA (the regime's mass membership organization) is forcing USDA membership on whole village populations across Mandalay Division using pre-prepared membership forms, intimidation, and deception. The USDA is now claiming 100% membership in some areas. The NLD also reports that the USDA submits inaccurate information to the higher echelons of government, ridiculously exaggerating the scope of the NLD's "subversive" activities, which allows the USDA to use more repressive and intrusive tactics in stifling the NLD. ¶5. (SBU) As has become ritual, the NLD leaders told us they seek a UN resolution to enforce the election results nullified by the SLORC/SPDC and requests the United States to pressure the UN and ASEAN towards this end. COMMENT: OLD FAITHFUL ¶6. (C) The NLD delegation in Mandalay demonstrates a high level of risk-tolerance and patience, given the viciously oppressive nature of the ruling junta. They continue to maintain their conviction that U.S. policy will bring about the change they seek in the GOB. Martinez