BURMA: ICRC UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001794 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL BM SUBJECT: BURMA: ICRC UPDATE REF: A. RANGOON 1622 ¶B. RANGOON 1743 ¶C. RANGOON 1762 Classified By: P/E Chief Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) ICRC Head of Delegation Pierre-Andre Conod told us today that, during a December 8 meeting in Nay Pyi Taw with the Minister of Home Affairs, he obtained permission to keep ICRC's five field offices open in Kyengtung, Taunggyi, Hpa-an, Moulmein, and Mandalay, but did not obtain permission to carry out any ICRC activities from these offices. The Minister said the decision on which ICRC staff would be allowed at the offices, and what work they would be permitted to carry out, would be made after further meetings between ICRC and various officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Conod said that while he is glad the Ministry is willing to continue a dialogue with them, the GOB continues to restrict the ICRC from working with detainees directly and in ethnic areas. ICRC is still allowed to implement their prosthetics and family visitation programs. ¶2. (C) Comment: The regime is trying to keep the ICRC door closed but looking open at the same time. While not technically closing the ICRC field offices, the regime will not allow them to conduct humanitarian support for victims of conflict, prisoners, and detainees. The regime realized that the timing of the decision to close ICRC offices was bad and so backtracked slightly. Nevertheless, we do not expect that ICRC will actually be able to do the work they want to do anytime soon. End comment. VILLAROSA