Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK6908
2006-11-15 23:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR MR. ZAW MIN AND FAMILY

Tags:  PREF PHUM TH BM 
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VZCZCXRO0213
PP RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #6908 3192357
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 152357Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2974
INFO RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 3173
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2674
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006908 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM TH BM
SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR MR. ZAW MIN AND FAMILY


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 006908

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM TH BM
SUBJECT: REFUGEE REFERRAL FOR MR. ZAW MIN AND FAMILY


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D).


1. (U) This is an action request. See para. 9.


2. (C) Post is referring Burmese citizen, Mr. Zaw Min, for
resettlement to the United States through the Department's
Refugee Resettlement Program. Biographical information
follows:

Name: Zaw Min
D/POB: September 22, 1964; Khalot Village, Twontay
Township, Rangoon Division, Burma
Nationality: Burmese
Gender: Male

Persecution Claim
--------------


3. (C) Mr. Zaw Min (ZW) is a former political prisoner who
was jailed from 1991 - 2005 for his political activities.
Currently, he is one of the leaders of the 88 Generation
Students group. Burmese authorities recently tried to detain
him in Rangoon shortly aftev other leaders of this group were
arrested, but he had departed on a previously scheduled trip
to Thailand.


4. (C) ZW led university student demonstrations in 1988 in
protest of Burmese police and soldier attacks on students in
Rangoon. He and other student leaders established an
organization called the "Progressive University Students" and
ZW was General Secretary of that organization. He went into
hiding in April 1988 after learning that Burmese military
intelligence (MI) was looking for him. MI arrested him in
June 1988 and he was interrogated and tortured. After
serving a one month sentence, he was released in July 1988.


5. (C) He participated in the planning and organization of
the August 8, 1988 student uprising in Rangoon and Mandalay.
He was made an Executive Committee member of the All Burma
Student's Union Federation (ABSUF) when that organization was
founded on September 3, 1988. He remained active in
political activities and was arrested on August 20, 1989 and
interrogated for 17 days.


6. (C) In December 1991, ZW was arrested for his involvement
in a campaign demanding Aung San Suu Kyi's release so she
could travel to Norway to receive the Nobel Prize. As a
result of torture, he lost hearing in his left ear. On March
25, 1992, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The
sentence was later reduced to 13 years. While in prison he
was subjected to serious torture.


7. (C) ZW was released from prison on March 6, 2005. On an
individual basis, he began visiting and offering support to
the families of political prisoners not yet released. He
also engaged in other political activities. On September 6,
ZW and other former student leaders formed the 88 Generation
Students Group. This organization works to promote democracy
and national reconciliation in Burma through legal and
non-violent means. Despite considerable harassment and
surveillance by government authorities, ZM and other members
of the group have continued their activities. On September
27, 2006, Burmese authorities detained three of the 88
Generation Students Group's top leaders. Two other leaders
were detained one week later. ZW left Burma on September 28,
2006 to attend a previously-scheduled training session in
Thailand. Shortly thereafter, Burmese authorities went to
his house in search of him. On November 6, all five of the
88 Generation leaders who had been detained were charged
under the 1950 Emergency Provision Act, a catch-all law the
regime uses to prosecute those who annoy them.

Need for Resettlement to the U.S.
--------------


8. (C) Given that ZW would likely be detained and charged if
he were to return to Burma, he is requesting U.S.
resettlement for himself and his wife and daughter. There is
no durable solution available to him in Thailand.


9. (C) Post strongly supports this referral. Please provide
guidance on whether post should take further steps in
processing this case for U.S. resettlement.


10. (U) This message was cleared with Embassy Rangoon.

BOYCE