BURMA: REGIME TOUGHS GET TOUGHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000752

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME TOUGHS GET TOUGHER

REF: RANGOON 698

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Classified By: POLOFF Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Recent actions by regime authorities show a
trend of strengthened surveillance and control of movement
and meeting by opposition parties and the general public. In
May, Rangoon officials started a campaign to photograph all
household members in selected Rangoon communities. Township
authorities broadcast public announcements for residents to
be present for photographs on specified days. On June 7,
Mandalay authorities notified political party leaders that
advance approval is required for all meetings, and that a
representative of local government will attend and take
notes. The new photography campaign and the warnings to
party members seem designed to further tighten control over
the movement of citizens. END SUMMARY.

Little Reason To Smile For the Camera
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2. (SBU) The GOB has been updating census information for
over a year, but in mid-May, authorities began a campaign to
photograph household members in selected Rangoon townships.
Local authorities use loudspeakers mounted on vehicles to
announce to local communities where all household members
will be required to sit for photographs. Each household must
pay 1,000 kyats ($0.80) for two or three 6-inch by 4-inch
photos, but larger households report that they have to pay
K.1,500 or more. In retail shops in Rangoon, two photos cost
about K.400 ($0.35).


3. (SBU) City authorities, including the ward Peace and
Development Committee (PDC) chief and sometimes a Union
Solidarity and Development Association representative, visit
families in their homes to take the photos, or sometimes
order them to gather at a local school for the session. They
usually take photos in the evening or at night, when families
are more likely to be at home. In some cases, the photo
sessions are scheduled during the day, forcing some people to
miss work. A few people who were not able to leave work said
they left photos with their families for the authorities to
scan.


4. (SBU) A resident of Hlaing Thayar Township reported that
the chief of the ward PDC arrived with a photographer just as
the family was about to go to sleep. Family members had to
wear a number around their neck for the group photo.
Afterwards the authorities completed a family census form,
matching each name with a number. The authorities said they
would send a copy of the photo and census form for the family
to display at home.


5. (C) Former student activist and political prisoner Min Ko
Naing said he would refuse to stay home to be photographed.
He said, "If the people accept this order and stay at home,
then the SPDC will bully them even harder."


6. (SBU) The GOB already requires every Burmese citizen to
have a personal identification card, called a "Citizenship
Verification Card" (formerly "National Registration Card").
This card lists the person's name, father's name, date of
birth, distinguishing marks, ethnicity, religion, occupation,
and address, and included the person's signature and
fingerprint. Each household also has a "household register"
of all the members who regularly reside there. In Burmese is
called the "midnight list," since authorities demand to see
it during nighttime raids to verify the identity of everyone
staying at residences. As part of the photography campaign,
authorities are allegedly creating new lists that include
only those shown in the household photograph.


7. (C) It is unclear whether this program will be carried out

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throughout the country, or just in selected Rangoon
townships. The areas where the initial efforts are focused,
Rangoon's Hlaing Thayar, Da La, Hmawby, Insein, and North and
South Okkalapa townships have significant ethnic Karen
populations and high proportions of poor laborers, two groups
of particular regime concern. Many Karen people believe the
photography campaign is related to recent fighting in north
Karen State (reftel) and is designed to help authorities to
better identify IDPs or troublemakers who may have fled to
Rangoon.

Keeping Closer Watch
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8. (C) On June 7, the Mandalay township PDC chairman called
five members from the NLD Executive Committee and five
members from the National Unity Party to his office. He told
them the authorities will require three day advance notice
before approving any meeting. A ward PDC officer will then
attend each meeting and take photos. Party representatives
refused to sign a agreement to follow these rules. NLD
leaders told us that they never hold public meetings given
the current climate in Mandalay. Members gather quietly at
private houses instead, so they are not overly concerned
about the new warnings.


9. (C) COMMENT: Authorities have not revealed the purpose of
the photography campaign, but they clearly have taken their
Orwellian practices to the next level of control.
Photographing households is another form of intimidation,
letting people to let them know "big brother" is watching
even closer. The new photos will also make it easier for
authorities to conduct spot checks of households and quickly
determine whether there are strangers in the camp. Senior
General Than Shwe told U/SYG Gambari on May 20 that he was
eager to turn over a new page. Recent actions indicate that
any pages he may turn are still out of the book "1984." END
COMMENT.
STOLTZ