SHAN LEADERS TRANSFERRED TO NORTHERN PRISONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001321

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: SHAN LEADERS TRANSFERRED TO NORTHERN PRISONS

REF: A. RANGOON 1264

B. RANGOON 332

C. RANGOON 185

Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (U) Summary: Embassy sources report that GOB authorities
recently transferred Shan leaders, including ethnic
pro-democracy leader Hkun Htun Oo, from Insein Prison in
Rangoon to remote detention facilities in northern Burma.
This will make it more difficult for family members to offer
them vital supplies and will complicate their appeals
process. End Summary.


2. (C) Family members and ethnic politicians reported to
Emboffs on November 21 that in recent days the GOB had
transferred several political prisoners, all ethnic Shan
leaders, from Rangoon's Insein Prison to prisons in northern
Burma. Among those we understand are relocated are
pro-democracy leaders Hkun Htun Oo, Chairman of the Shan
Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD),and Sai Nyunt
Lwin, SNLD Secretary. Authorities also transferred General
Hso Ten, Chairman of the Shan State Army-North.


3. (C) Families members only found out about the transfers
when they went to Insein Prison on a regular food delivery
and were informed that their relatives were no longer there.
Prison authorities refused to indicate where the prisoners
were transferred. The three Shan leaders were arrested in
February (ref C) and sentenced in November to multiple life
sentences (ref A).


4. (C) Embassy sources claim that authorities may have
transferred the Shan leaders to Mandalay Prison and/or to
Kalemyo Prison, in remote Sagaing Division near the border
with India. Kalemyo Prison is notorious for its difficult
conditions. It has housed political prisoners before, often
in solitary confinement. U Tin Oo, Vice Chairman of the
National League for Democracy (NLD),was imprisoned in
Kalemyo after the May 2003 Depeyin attack and prior to his
transfer to Rangoon, where he remains under house arrest.


5. (U) Comment: Moving these political prisoners to upcountry
locations will make their lives much more uncomfortable. It
is customary in Burma for families to bring food, medicine,
and clothing to their incarcerated loved ones to supplement
the meager prison supplies. The relocation will make
intermittent family visits more difficult and will
significantly encumber communications between the prisoners
and their lawyers in Rangoon, who are attempting to file
appeals. End Comment.
VILLAROSA