OPPOSITION ELATED BY UNSC ATTENTION TO BURMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001377

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION ELATED BY UNSC ATTENTION TO BURMA


RANGOON 00001377 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DCM Karl Stoltz for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The UNSC's decision to place Burma on its
September agenda was greeted warmly by leaders of the
National League for Democracy (NLD),student activists, and
ethnic parties in Burma. The regime reacted by praising
China, Russia, and other countries who opposed UNSC action
and blasting the U.S., Japan, the UN and "terrorists in
exile" for forcing UNSC discussion. Opposition leaders plan
to attend the NLD's September 27 anniversary en masse to show
support for national reconciliation and dialogue. End
summary.


2. (U) The NLD issued a statement on September 20 that
praised UNSC attention to the situation in Burma. The press
release, approved on September 19 by the umbrella opposition
Committee Representing the People's Parliament (CRPP),
stated: "Burmese refugee issues, drug issues, HIV/AIDS (and)
threatening human rights violations are causing political,
economic, social, health, and educational problems. These
problems emerge because the SPDC does not discuss and
coordinate with the NLD, ethnic political parties and ethnic
organizations, and carries out self-imposed, one-sided
policies. The above problems have become not only domestic
problems, but also international problems. That is why on
September 15, 2006, the UN Security Council decided to
officially add Burma issues into their discussion agenda.
The UNSC's decision is essential for democratic
transformation and national reconciliation. We welcome this
because it is a very important step."


3. (U) Speaking to international media, NLD spokesperson U
Lwin said that the UN's efforts since 2001 to discuss Burma
had failed because UN Secretary General Annan did not have a
strong enough mandate, but that if the UNSC passes a
resolution on Burma this month, it will give the UNSYG the
mandate to impose resolutions and bring about good results.
Party executive U Nyan Win credited Archbishop Desmond Tutu
and former Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Havel for providing
the impetus for UNSC action with their September 2005 report
on Burma and said, "We can see hope for national
reconciliation." NLD leader U Myint Thein added, "The UNSC
agenda is not for military invasion or economic sanctions,
but will enforce (efforts) to bring out progress in national
reconciliation and dialogue."


4. (C) In a statement issued on September 16, leaders of the
88 Generation Students' group said, "We welcome the decision
to discuss the Burma issue at the UNSC as a crucial step in
substantiating Burma's democracy and national reconciliation.
All domestic forces, regional countries, and the
international community as a whole have urged and are still
urging discussion of Burma's national reconciliation by both
quiet and loud means... No one person or no one party can
solve Burma's political difficulties unilaterally." Student
leader Min Ko Naing told emb staff that he disagreed with the
88 Generation Students' statement that no one party could
solve the situation unilaterally, but majority ruled.


5. (C) Ethnic leaders also praised UNSC action. Pu Cin Sian
Thang of Zomi National Congress (ZNC) told the Charge and DCM
on September 16 that the UNSC action was a "wonderful gift
for the people of Burma." In a press statement on September
18, he said, "We especially want to thank all - the United
States, the ten countries (who voted for inclusion),and the
UN Security Council...We are feeling very encouraged with the
thought that the fate and prospect of Burma might improve and
that there is hope for democracy." U Kyi Win, a prominent
pro-opposition lawyer, told Embassy staff on September 20
that the UNSC action is the most significant action taken
internationally about Burma in 40 years.


6. (C) The UN action is also helping bring diverse

RANGOON 00001377 002.2 OF 002


opposition groups closer together. On September 27, many
ethnic leaders, veteran politicians, and 88 student activists
who do not normally work closely with NLD plan to participate
in NLD's anniversary celebration at party headquarters in
Rangoon to encourage members and mobilize unified opposition
to the regime.


7. (C) According to Pu Cin Sian Thang, the CRPP plan to send
a letter on September 21 to USUN Rep. Bolton, USYG Gambari,
UNSYG Annan, and all ten countries that voted "yes" to place
Burma on the UNSC agenda, praising their efforts to pursue
reconciliation and dialogue in Burma. The CRPP also plans to
send letters to the countries that voted "no" or abstained,
asking them to not vote against or veto a future UNSC
resolution unless they understand the actual conditions in
Burma.


8. (C) The SPDC, predictably, reacted to the UNSC action
with a vigorous attack on the U.S., Japan (as a "traitor to
Asian solidarity"),and the opposition. On September 19, the
regime mouthpiece "New Light of Myanmar" published a
front-page headline and five-page rebuttal of charges that
conditions in Burma constitute a threat to regional
stability, declaring in one passage that, "There are no
political prisoners in this country." On September 20, the
same paper ran an editorial entitled "Crush the Danger of
Destructive Elements Trying to Jeopardize the Peace and
Stability of the Nation," blaming the U.S. for interfering in
the country's domestic affairs. Pu Cin Sian Thang said the
regime's extensive reaction shows more fear than usual.


9. (C) COMMENT: The UNSC action has given hope to Burma's
beleaguered opposition and unnerved the SPDC. The action has
also energized pro-democracy supporters who felt they had
been forgotten. Most encouraging to us were vows to stay
united. End comment.

VILLAROSA