AUNG SAN SUU KYI FINALLY SEES HER DOCTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001766 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL BM SUBJECT: AUNG SAN SUU KYI FINALLY SEES HER DOCTOR REF: A. RANGOON 1678 ¶B. RANGOON 1269 Classified By: CDA Shari Villarosa for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Dr. Tin Myo Win, aka Douglas, met with his most famous patient, Aung San Suu Kyi, on November 16, almost three months after his last visit August 24. He expects to see her again on December 21. He found her in good health, confirmed by an ultrasound examination. Douglas also reported that ASSK is very happy with U.S. support focusing international attention on Burma and that she believes that UN Undersecretary General Gambari now understands how bad the Burmese generals are. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Charge met with Douglas November 30 to get a read out of his most recent meeting with his famous patient. He visited ASSK November 16 shortly after UN USYG Gambari publicly commented on her desire to see her doctor more regularly. Douglas regularly requests meetings through the Special Branch of the Police; he repeatedly had been told that it was up to Than Shwe. So he was surprised by an article in the government controlled press shortly before Gambari's November visit claiming that Douglas had been too busy to see his patient. He added that his Special Branch liaison told him that they had been too busy interrogating prisoners. His Special Branch liaison now has promised that Douglas can next see ASSK on December 21. ¶3. (C) Douglas described ASSK's health as "very good," although she had had further bouts of dysentery similar to her illness last June. Charge asked about reports that the police interfered with the assistant he took for the ultrasound examination. Douglas explained that the parents of his young assistant did not want their daughter accompanying him on this visit, so Douglas had found a "senior, very respected" woman radiologist, who is a professor at the medical school (meaning she is technically a government employee). He said ASSK got along very well with the 68 year old radiologist. Charge asked if he was looking for anything in particular; he replied she had some precancerous lesions (implying gynecological) so he tries to monitor her closely. The ultrasound results indicated that these are "OK." ¶4. (C) ASSK asked Douglas to relay her appreciation for U.S. efforts to keep international attention on Burma. Charge said the plight of Burma and ASSK had the attention from the President and First Lady on down with broad bipartisan congressional support. Douglas also informed ASSK that two of the recent finalists for Fulbright scholarships were children of NLD supporters, including one whose father is an imprisoned NLD MP-elect. The wife of that person told Douglas that her husband is so proud of his son that he said it was worth being in prison. Charge said we hoped to increase the number of scholarships to train bright Burmese who will come back and build a better Burma, so we are glad to have the support of NLD and ASSK. ¶5. (C) ASSK told Douglas that she had a good visit with UN USYG Gambari and that Gambari now understands how bad the generals are. She noted that while this meeting occurred at the State Guest House, there were no microphones set up, as was the case during their May visit. Douglas gave Charge a photo of ASSK with Gambari. Charge asked if by her stance or dress, she was sending a message to which Douglas smiled and shook his head no. Charge explained the next steps for seeking a UNSC resolution at Douglas' request, so he could inform ASSK when they next meet. He added that ASSK is disappointed with the NLD Central Executive Committee (the uncles). ASSK charged Douglas with doing more social work to build support for NLD among the people. Charge suggested that given the uncles' frailties, it might be time to move younger leaders forward, with the uncles serving as respected advisors. She noted that the Generation 88 students seemed to have found the right balance with the uncles. Douglas agreed, but said that the police see the students as an alternative to NLD, which is why the police support their RANGOON 00001766 002 OF 002 release. Douglas, who also treats some of them, has heard that they are called "guests" in their current place of detention, which he thinks bodes well for their release. ¶6. (C) Comment: We will see if Douglas gets back in on December 21; he has no promises that can be enforced. It does serve as a reminder of how little the Burmese generals have done to indicate a willingness to engage with the international community. ASSK should not even be detained, much less begging to see her doctor more regularly. Among the requests Gambari made of the generals in May, the actual response to this one was to make the interval between visits even longer. Despite her isolation, it is clear that ASSK tries her best to keep informed, primarily courtesy of shortwave radio broadcasts. However, it is only through her visits with her doctor that she can communicate with her supporters. If she were released, she could communicate directly. But that is what the generals fear. VILLAROSA