BURMA'S RELENTLESS CRACKDOWN CONTINUES AGAINST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000692

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM NLD
SUBJECT: BURMA'S RELENTLESS CRACKDOWN CONTINUES AGAINST
PRO-DEMOCRACY ASPIRANTS

REF: A. RANGOON 345

B. RANGOON 332 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: DCM Ronald K. McMullen for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: Events in past weeks demonstrate that the
GOB's appetite for pursuing pro-democracy opponents has not
abated. Detentions, interrogations, harsh jail sentences,
intimidation, and even a custodial death litter the
landscape. End Summary.


2. (C) Aung Hlaing Win, a youth member of the National League
for Democracy (NLD),was arrested on May 1 at a teashop in
Kamayut Township, Rangoon. The following day, Shwe Gyoe, his
father-in-law, filed a missing person report with the local
police. (Note: Shwe Gyoe is an ex-political prisoner who was
released from prison on January 5, 2005. End Note.) On May
10, Military Affairs Service (MAS) officials summoned Shwe
Gyoe and informed him that Aung Hlaing Win had died in
custody on the morning of May 7 and had been cremated at noon
the same day. The officials offered the family financial
compensation of approximately $100, but the family refused
it. The family has filed a case in court to determine how
Aung Hlaing Win died and who is responsible.


3. (C) On May 13, U Bo Gyi and U Pe Tin, two NLD members of
Shwegyin Township were arrested and charged under the Press
and Publication Act for publishing documents without official
permission. On May 27, they were both sentenced to 7 years
imprisonment. Following their sentencing they remained in
police custody and were not transferred to prison. This
resulted in difficulty for their lawyers to file appeals
because they did not have prisoner registration numbers.


4. (C) On May 19, the family members of a prominent,
Washington-based Burma activist were taken into custody and
questioned intensively about the activities of the activist.
Subsequently, a poster with an old photo and personal details
of the activist were posted in public places in Rangoon.
Although the family was released after two days, their case
is not isolated, and families of other suspects continue to
receive similar treatment.


5. (C) In late May U Saw Hlaing, NLD MP-elect from Indaw
Township, Sagaing Division, was sentenced to 12 years
imprisonment for breach of the Press and Publication act. He
was not allowed legal representation and the only evidence
against him was an old computer that the family used to
produce documents for official purposes. On June 6, U Kyaw
Hsan, MP-elect and NLD Chairman of Sagaing Division, was
sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for allegedly allowing
smuggled goods to be stored at his residence. He was
re-arrested four months after completing a 10-year sentence
in Insein Prison (ref A.)


6. (C) The wife and three children of MP-elect, U Kyaw Min,
of the banned National Democracy Party for Human Rights, were
arrested in May. U Kyaw Min was arrested earlier in
mid-March. The whole family is being charge for alleged
falsification of information on their identification
documents. Their trial is still ongoing and they are not
allowed to have their own lawyers.


7. (C) On June 7, the family of Hkun Htun Oo, the arrested
leader of Burma's second largest political party, the Shan
National League for Democracy, visited Insein Prison for the
second week in a row. They were able to receive a note from
him stating that he is fine and requesting some food and
medicine. In late May, the GOB added five more charges
against Hkun Htun Oo dealing with the illegal handling of
foreign currency and illegal property ownership. This brings
to 10 the number of charges made against him. Sources say
the number of witnesses has been reduced in order to speed up
his trial and a verdict may be handed down soon.


8. (C) Comment: Indications are the GOB may be having
difficulty proving that Hkun Htun Oo is guilty of association
with illegal Shan organizations and may be shifting its focus
more to economic issues. The GOB obviously feels confident
it is in a position of strength vis a vis a weak and
scattered opposition and can act against its opponents with
near impunity. For all the GOB's talk of desiring a
"flourishing democracy" for their country, it continues to
harass, intimidate, imprison, and even kill the very citizens
who most ardently support development of democracy in Burma.
The GOB's actions drown out its words. End Comment.
Martinez