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

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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