NLD AND GOB GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS ON MARTYRS' DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000923

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA; COMMERCE FOR ITA - JEAN
KELLY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BM NLD
SUBJECT: NLD AND GOB GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS ON MARTYRS' DAY

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: The GOB and the NLD marked Martyrs' Day on
July 19 with separate, low-key events. The GOB, per its
tradition, took all necessary measures to ensure a quiet and
subdued holiday. At NLD headquarters, opposition parties
held a brief event for several hundred supporters, members,
and diplomats and issued a statement criticizing the SPDC for
ignoring the 1990 election results and for using "irrelevant
excuses" to retain military control. Meanwhile, NLD CEC
members told Emboffs that on July 15 the NLD convened the
Committee to Represent the People's Parliament (CRPP) for the
first time in over 14 months and to date there have been no
repercussions. The SPDC, it appears, has succeeded in
placing sufficient limits on the democracy movement and does
not feel threatened by the occasional party event or meeting.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) The GOB and the NLD marked Burma's 57th Martyrs' Day
on July 19 with separate, low-key events commemorating the
1947 assassination of independence leader Aung San and
members of his cabinet. The GOB version was a "ceremony,"
devoid of emotion or public participation, where officials
and diplomats delivered wreaths and paid respects at the
Soviet-style Martyrs' Mausoleum in central Rangoon. Security
was extremely tight at the mausoleum, a "public" monument
that has been generally closed to visitors since a 1983
bombing orchestrated by North Korean agents that targeted the
visiting ROK cabinet.


3. (U) At NLD headquarters, opposition parties held a brief
event for about 200 hundred supporters and political party
members. Some 25 diplomats were in attendance (including
COMs from the U.S., UK, French, and German embassies as well
as other diplomats from local UN missions and the Australian,
Italian, and Japanese embassies). In addition to an NLD
statement read by party chairman U Aung Shwe, representatives
from the Shan State Kokang National Democratic Convention
Party, the Veteran Politicians, and the Kaman National League
for Democracy (Arakan) delivered supporting speeches.


4. (U) The NLD statement criticized the SPDC for ignoring the
1990 legislative election results and for using "irrelevant
excuses" to retain military control of the country,
admonishing the generals to be honest with the Burmese people
and admit "we are holding on to power because we do not wish
to relinquish it." The NLD acknowledged that a
constitutional convention is a "true national need," but
rejected the regime's current National Convention as one that
did not result from consultations between the SPDC and the
political parties that were victorious in 1990.


5. (SBU) Curiously, while the NLD paid homage to founding
father Aung San, the party made no reference to his daughter,
NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi, or to NLD Vice
Chairman U Tin Oo, both of whom remain under house arrest.
(Note: CNN International broadcast a Martyrs' Day story on
July 20, reporting incorrectly that ASSK had "declined" to
attend events commemorating her father or to pay respects at
the Mausoleum. End Note.)


6. (C) Meanwhile, as the NLD's official function was taking
place, several small groups of NLD members attempted to enter
the nearby Martyrs' Mausoleum to pay their respects. GOB
security forces would only allow entrance to NLD members who
removed party insignia, such as NLD pins, badges, and
traditional jackets. Several dozen party members complied
and entered the monument grounds, while government soldiers
blocked several dozen others who refused to obey. (Note:
NLD leaders, who described the NLD members as acting
individually and not officially on behalf of the party, later
told the COM and P/E chief on July 21 that military
intelligence agents had closed down a nearby tea shop where
NLD members had congregated after being turned away from the
mausoleum, although there were no arrests. End Note.)


7. (C) On July 16, prior to Martyrs' Day, Emboffs met
privately with NLD CEC members U Aung Shwe and U Lwin to
discuss party activities and plans for Martyrs' Day and
beyond. Although they said that they were in communication
with ASSK on an "almost daily" basis, the CEC members
described the party as being in a "wait and see" mode with no
plans for immediate action. However, they did reveal that
the CRPP (Committee to Represent the People's Parliament) had
convened the day before, on July 15. Twelve of the CRPP's
fourteen surviving members attended the meeting (minus ASSK
and U Tin Oo) and discussed the National Convention and other
political developments. According to U Lwin, the CRPP made
no substantive decisions, but did agree to meet again and/or
issue a statement on September 16, the 6th anniversary of the
founding of the CRPP.


8. (C) Comment: The GOB, per its tradition, took all
necessary measures to ensure that Martyrs' Day was a quiet
and subdued holiday. The NLD, though critical of the regime,
was considerably restrained, given in particular that ASSK
and U Tin Oo remain under house arrest and all party offices,
except for headquarters, remain shuttered. As for the
Committee to Represent the People's Parliament, this was the
first meeting since the May 2003 Depeyin attack. The SPDC
has in the past perceived CRPP activities as provocation and
frequently responded with arrests and other forms of
harassment. To date, the NLD and other political party
leaders report no repercussions from the July 15 meeting.
The SPDC, it appears, has succeeded in placing sufficient
limits on the democracy movement and does not feel threatened
by the occasional party event or meeting. End Comment.
Martinez