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