DESPITE REGIME SECRECY, AUNG SAN SUU KYI RECOVERING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000775

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PREL BM
SUBJECT: DESPITE REGIME SECRECY, AUNG SAN SUU KYI RECOVERING


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Classified By: Acting P/E Chief TLManlowe for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Summary: According to National League for Democracy
(NLD) officials and her doctor, NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi
has now recovered from a recent illness that drew worldwide
concern. Despite the ruling regime's tight control over
information about her illness, which began on June 8, her
doctor was allowed extended access this weekend to see ASSK
at her home. At the same time, the underlying conditions
that provoke concern for her well-being remain unchanged: the
regime confirmed at a June 10 press conference that ASSK's
detention under house arrest has been extended by one year,
and attacked U.S. efforts to raise Burma at the UN Security
Council. End summary.

Secrecy About the Illness
--------------

2. (C) Rumors of Aung San Suu Kyi's illness began circulating
in Rangoon late on Friday night, June 9, after word of her
possible hospitalization bounced back to the country from
overseas Burma watchers. Senior NLD officials and others we
contacted on Friday were initially unaware of developments.
We spoke to NLD leaders again today and they confirmed that
ASSK developed a serious stomach/intestinal ailment on June
8, possibly from eating mangoes growing on her property.
ASSK's family doctor, Dr. Tin Myo Win (please protect),
visited her on Thursday, June 8, and again on Friday, June 9,
after he received an urgent call at 10:00 am while working at
the Muslim Free Hospital. He left immediately to treat ASSK
at her home. According to NLD, he found her on Friday
suffering from serious diarrhea and dehydration. Both Dr.
Tin Myo Win and a colleague, Dr. Pyone Mo Ei, stayed with
ASSK all day on Friday and much of the night. They visited
her again on June 10 and 11, and reported that she has now
recovered, and was not ever hospitalized.


4. (C) Regime authorities did not release any information
about Aung San Suu Kyi's condition, and her doctor remained
unavailable for comment over the weekend while he was
treating her. NLD spokesman Myint Thein told us on June 10
that NLD leaders would not make any official statement until
Monday to allow the doctor a chance to request official
action, if necessary. In addition to seeking updates on
ASSK's conditions from local contacts, on June 10, the
Embassy sent a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, expressing concern about Aung San Suu Kyi's illness,
calling on the GOB to provide her with expeditious medical
care and reiterating our call to release her from detention.
Q GOB has not responded. NLD Spokesperson U Myint Thein
expressed appreciation today for U.S.G. support throughout
this health scare.

Regime Confirms Detention, Attacks U.S. at Press Event
-------------- --------------

5. (SBU) On June 9, at a previously scheduled press
conference in Hap'An, Karen State (which an emboff attended),
Information Minster Brig. Gen. Kyaw Hsan confirmed that the
GOB extended Aung San Suu Kyi's detention for another year on
May 27 under Section 10B of the "Law Safeguarding the State
from the Danger of Subversive Elements." He defended her
extended detention, stating that she and other political
prisoners broke Burmese law, so their detention "is not a
violation of their human rights." He also denied that the
GOB impedes NLD political activities, and claimed that recent
group resignations of NLD members in selected townships were
not coerced. Police Director-General Brig. Gen. Khin Yi
continued with further criticism of NLD activities, repeating
many accusations that have appeared in the government press
in recent weeks, and contradicting his surprising comment

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last month in Malaysia that ASSK and the NLD were no longer
considered security threats.


6. (U) The Information Minister added at the same press
conference that the SPDC rejected the efforts of "super power
and anti-government groups" to put Burma on the UN Security
Council agenda. He said the GOB would respond diplomatically
and through media, stressing that Myanmar poses no threat to
international or "even regional security." The Minister also
denounced a recently announced plan by the American
Association for the Advancement of Science to use satellite
imaging to reveal potential abuses in ethnic areas of Burma.
Kyaw San claimed the AAAS, "in collusion with the U.S.
Campaign for Burma," would try to fabricate photos of alleged
abuses by the army. He claimed that it would be impossible
to determine whether people captured in the satellite photos
would be from the Burmese army or from Karen insurgent groups
staging "village burnings" and other abuses.


7. (C) Comment: While ASSK's apparent recovery from food
poisoning this weekend is a relief, the conditions which
contribute to global concern remain unchanged. The ruling
regime still controls all access to her tightly, even for her
family doctor, and refuses to release any information about
her condition until forced to respond to international
pressure. The regime's June 10 press conference, confirming
another year of detention for ASSK and launching yet another
vitriolic attack on the West, shows that the regime plans to
carry on with business as usual. End comment.
STOLTZ