BURMA: DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION SHOWS UNITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001333

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ECON BM NLD
SUBJECT: BURMA: DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION SHOWS UNITY

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


1. (U) SUMMARY: Burma's democratic opposition groups gathered
in Rangoon to mark the country's National Day on November 25.
Veteran politicians spoke with candor about the lack of
basic freedoms, the deteriorating economic situation, and the
continued detention of leading political prisoners. The
chair of the Group of Veteran Politicians called for the
formation of a National Reconciliation Coalition Government
as the best way forward for Burma. End Summary.


2. (U) Pro-democracy parties and groups gathered in Rangoon
on November 25 for Burma's 85th National Day, commemorating
independence aspirations that appeared among Burmese students
in the 1920. The Group of Veteran Politicians (GVP),an
independent group of retired government and military
officials, organized the program. The event attracted 350
pro-democracy advocates, including NLD leaders; members of
the Committee to Represent the People's Parliamentarians (a
grouping of MPs-elect); officers of ethnic parties; and Min
Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, leaders of "the Generation of
Students Since 1988," a new group established by the former
political prisoners and other colleagues. Poloff was the
only foreign diplomat present at the function.


3. (U) The 90-year-old chairman of the GVP, Thakin Thein Pe,
an original member of the independence movement and a former
cabinet member in the U Nu government, delivered the keynote
speech. He said, "Our people have lost their birthright" of
basic human freedoms, including the right to free speech and
to organize. He also stressed the current difficult economic
situation, where ordinary people and civil servants alike
struggle just to get enough to eat. He blamed the increase
in consumer prices and deteriorating economic situation for a
sharp rise in crime and illicit activities. He decried the
worsening conditions in Burma reported by the United Nations
in the area of human rights, trafficking in persons, use of
child soldiers, and forced labor, and condemned the continued
detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.


4. (U) Thakin Thein Pe also called again on the GOB to solve
the country's current problems by accepting the GVP's
proposal, first made in 1999, for a National Reconciliation
Coalition Government (NRCG). He stressed that the NRCG is
compatible with the GOB's "road map." Key points of the
proposal include:

-- A coalition government of the military and representatives
of the NLD, SNLD, NUP, and various ethnic parties.

-- The military would comprise one-third of the cabinet.

-- Parliament could be convened on the basis of results from
the 1990 election.

-- A comprehensive, general amnesty and pardon to all members
of the regime would be granted for past misdeeds.

-- The NRCG would take responsibility for drafting the new
constitution.


5. (U) The program proceeded smoothly, despite the presence
of hordes of plainclothes security personnel, who wandered up
and down the aisles throughout the function in a
photographing frenzy. (Note: This is fairly standard GOB
procedure at opposition-sponsored events. End Note.) The
GOB security officials repeatedly photographed the same
individuals from different angles in an obvious effort to
intimidate them. One photographer rudely bumped poloff aside
to shoot yet another photo.


6. (U) Later in the day the NLD held its own National Day
function at its Rangoon headquarters with about 400
attendees. The NLD issued statements calling on the SPDC to
implement its promises of national reconciliation by
releasing NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo and General Secretary Aung
San Suu Kyi; releasing SNLD Chairman U Hkun Htun Oo and
Secretary U Sai Nyunt Lwin; opening immediately closed NLD

SIPDIS
offices nationwide; and releasing all political prisoners and
prisoners of conscience. There were no diplomats present
because the NLD had intentionally chosen to not invite the
diplomatic corps this year, instead using the opportunity to
target NLD party members.


7. (C) COMMENT: The GVP's plucky old politicians showed
surprising bravery in their words, especially for a society
that is used to being cowed by the heavy hand of the military
regime. While the regime photographers are obviously paying
attention to the activities of opposition politicians, it is
doubtful the generals are listening to what they have to say.
These National Day events serve to remind party followers
that a democratic opposition still exists in Burma, although
it is growing older and receiving less attention with every
passing year. End Comment.
STOLTZ