BURMA: GOB CANCELS UNODC TRIP TO WA TERRITORY

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000066

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP AND INL; DEA FOR OF, OFF;
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: GOB CANCELS UNODC TRIP TO WA TERRITORY

REF: RANGOON 62 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (SBU) UNODC country representative Jean-Luc Lemahieu
informed us on January 18 that the Government of Burma had
canceled an annual counternarcotics visit to Wa territory for
members of the diplomatic corps. The trip had been scheduled
to get underway on January 24, coinciding with the planned
unsealing of indictments in New York of UWSA leaders
(reftel). Police Colonel Hkam Awng, joint secretary of the
Central Committee for Drugs Abuse Control (CCDAC),explained
to UNODC that the GOB is preoccupied with issues related to
the December 26 tsunami and is unable to provide sufficient
security for the diplomatic mission.


2. (C) Rangoon DEA Country Attache learned on January 16 that
CCDAC, which has been briefed by DEA on the pending
indictments, planned to cancel the diplomatic trip because
the GOB believed it would be "unable to guarantee the safety"
of the diplomats while in territory controlled by the UWSA.
Separately, DEA Country Attache indicated to UNODC country
representative on January 16 that an unspecified, though
pending, law enforcement action could have some impact on
UNODC activities in Wa territory. Lemahieu told us on
January 18 that he is in close touch with CCDAC and is taking
appropriate steps to ensure that UNODC and NGO staff in Wa
territory are reviewing their emergency procedures.
Martinez