CORRECTED COPY--EXPLOSIVES FOUND DURING WEEK OF

UNCLAS RANGOON 001065 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DS/ICI/PII DS/IP/ITA DS/IP/RD/EAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER BM SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY--EXPLOSIVES FOUND DURING WEEK OF CHARGE WELCOME EVENT REF: A. RANGOON 1064 ¶B. RANGOON SPOT REPORT--DATED SEPTEMBER 8 2005 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED--PROTECT ACCORDINGLY (1) SUMMARY: On September 20, 2005, American Embassy Rangoon's FSNI met with the Government of Burma's (GOB) Special Branch Police for a breakfast meeting to discuss security for this evening's welcome function for the newly arrived Chief of Mission. During this meeting, the FSNI was told the Special Branch had discovered several explosive devices on the evening of September 16th--including hand grenades, four packages of C4, a converted cellular telephone (with enough explosive material to kill ten or more persons), and other necessary bomb making components--in a northern Rangoon township. The police imply the bombs may be part of a domestic threat from the Karen National Union; however, the investigation is continuing. END SUMMARY (2) After his meeting with the Special Branch this morning, the FSNI reported to RSO explosive devices had been found at the Aung Mingalar Highway bus terminal, in North Okkalapa township on the evening of September 16th. Originally, only four grenades and two landmines were found, but after further searching, several more devices were discovered--including more grenades, four packages of C4, and a cellular telephone converted into an IED. (3) Little is know about the person/persons responsible for the devices; however, documents were found in both Thai and Kayin (a regional Burmese dialect) language. Post is skeptical about the GOB's quick jump to assume that it may be the KNU responsible (NOTE: The Karen National Union, or KNU, is an anti-government insurgent army active along the southeast Burma/Thailand border for over five decades END NOTE). We will continue to press for further information. RSO will ask Special Branch if we can see the evidence recovered or if photos of the items could be passed for further analysis. (4) Special Branch recommended to the FSNI that all cellular telephones be checked at this evening's function. Special Branch and the Armed Battalion have provided numerous persons to assist with tonight's security. The Local Guard Force (LGF) and Surveillance Detection Team (SD) have been notified of the findings and have been instructed to be on high alert for tonight's function. (5) Police claim no link between this event and the one in Ref B. Police now tell the FSNI that the events in Ref B could be mere unfounded rumors, but are still looking for the men named in that case. Villarosa