BURMA: FORMER PM KHIN NYUNT RECEIVES SUSPENDED

S E C R E T RANGOON 000862

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: FORMER PM KHIN NYUNT RECEIVES SUSPENDED
SENTENCE


Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (S) A reliable Embassy source, a lawyer with close ties to
former Military Intelligence officials, said on July 25 that
the secret trial of former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt is over.
The General, ousted in October 2004, was apparently
sentenced to 44 years imprisonment under eight different
criminal and security charges including insubordination,
attempt to disintegrate the armed forces, and corruption.


2. (S) Another Embassy source connected with the Burmese
Police Special Branch claimed that authorities immediately
suspended Khin Nyunt's sentence under a provision of the law
that permits the GOB to take such action if it is deemed in
the government's interest. The GOB's ability to reactivate a
suspended sentence without notice is frequently used to
ensure that former prisoners refrain from political or other
prohibited activities.


3. (C) Now that the secret trial held in Insein Prison is
over and his sentence apparently suspended, Khin Nyunt is
reported to have returned to his Rangoon residence (within a
military compound) where he is expected to remain under house
arrest for the foreseeable future.
Martinez