RELEASED STUDENT LEADERS ADD SPICE TO NLD

UNCLAS RANGOON 000366

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM NLD
SUBJECT: RELEASED STUDENT LEADERS ADD SPICE TO NLD
RESISTANCE DAY EVENT

REF: A. RANGOON 351

B. RANGOON 345

C. RANGOON 224

D. 04 RANGOON 1499


1. (U) Summary: The NLD hosted on March 27 its annual
commemoration of Resistance Day, attended by several hundred
party members, supporters, and diplomats. An otherwise
routine event was given a significant boost by the dramatic
arrival and attendance of a group of recently released
student activists, including two of Burma's most famous
dissidents, Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, leaders of the 1988
democracy uprising. In a public statement, the NLD expressed
support for "genuine and politically meaningful dialogue;"
called for the reopening of party offices; and demanded the
immediate release of ASSK, U Tin Oo, SNLD Chairman U Hkun
Htun Oo, SNLD Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin, other ethnic leaders,
and all political prisoners. End Summary.


2. (U) The National League for Democracy (NLD) on March 27
commemorated Burma's 60th Anti-Fascist Resistance Day (which
the SPDC renamed Armed Forces Day, ref A) at the party's
Rangoon headquarters. In contrast to the regime's
over-the-top, heavily militarized celebrations, which
included a parade of nearly 8,000 troops (septel Rangoon
DAO),the NLD commemoration was a low-key event that drew
about 250 members and supporters. Party leaders delivered
several speeches that evoked the historical roots behind the
holiday and criticized the military for its 1962 coup d'etat
against an elected government and its subsequent abuses.
Representatives of the U.S., UK, French, and Japanese
Embassies attended the event, which fell this year on Easter
Sunday.


3. (U) In its general statement, the NLD's Central Executive
Committee (CEC) expressed the party's view that a democratic
state and economic development can only be achieved through
negotiations, "meaning genuine and politically meaningful
dialogue." For a successful dialogue, the NLD expressed four
conditions: a) the immediate and unconditional release of
NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice Chairman U
Tin Oo; b) the immediate and unconditional release of SNLD
Chairman U Hkun Htun Oo, SNLD Secretary Sai Nyunt Lwin, and
other detained ethnic leaders; c) the reopening of NLD state,
divisional, and township offices; d) the immediate and
unconditional release of all political prisoners.


4. (SBU) The NLD's otherwise routine commemoration was given
a significant boost by the dramatic arrival of ten former
student activist leaders, most of whom the regime has
released from prison in recent weeks and months. NLD members
and supporters were clearly thrilled by attendance of the
student leaders, giving them a round of applause and special
seating. Among the released prisoners who attended were
1988-1989 student leaders Min Ko Naing (released on November
19, 2004 after 15 years in prison, ref D) and Ko Ko Gyi
(released on March 17 after 13 years in prison, ref B).
Emboffs spoke with each of the activists, who appeared to be
in very good physical shape and were making their first
public appearance since release from prison.
Martinez