LAMPOONING THE ECONOMY LANDS SHAN YOUTH IN JAIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000952 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PREL BM SUBJECT: LAMPOONING THE ECONOMY LANDS SHAN YOUTH IN JAIL Classified By: P/E Mark Taylor, for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Public lampooning of price hikes and the poor economy by youth during a recent festival in the Shan State landed eight, including a member of the regime,s mass-member organization Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA),in jail for presenting a security threat. While the regime successfully prevents most public displays of discontent, the worsening state of Burma's economy, and the dismal opportunities facing youth today, may prompt otherwise politically inactive youth to speak out. This incident shows the regime will quickly quash even mild expressions of discontent. End Summary. 2.(C) During a July 1 meeting with Emboff, former NLD Central Committee member Sai Ohn Maung (strictly protect) disclosed that police arrested and imprisoned eight youths for protesting the poor economy at a peaceful festival on May 9 in the Shan town of Naungshwe (former Yawngshwe). He provided Emboff with a partial copy (two of three pages) of a local police report on the incident, declining to explain how it was obtained. 3.(C) Locals traditionally water banyan trees at pagodas and organize outdoor festivals to mark a Buddhist religious even. Youth in the town created several placards with cartoons depicting rising prices in the form of a bird carrying rice, cooking oil, gasoline, and other commodities high into the sky. The young people also appended to bamboo poles flags showing relatively conservative prices of rice and other commodities. 4.(C) The youths performed a traditional form of outdoor skits or comedy also used in the past to mask political satire, according to Sai Ohn Maung and the police report. In reference to Avian Influenza (AI) cases found in Burma, some youths yell out "Don't eat chicken, even if its cheap -- it will kill you!" to which others responded "it's so scary, it's so scary." This was followed by the cheer "rice now costs 200 kyat" to which the holler-back was "very expensive." Placards designed by the group's artist also depicted a poor man with the slogan -- "work for a day, eat for a day." 5.(C) A partial copy of the police report identifies five youths as the leaders of this performance and concludes that this activity is a risk to national security. The police report justifies this conclusion by claiming that mocking the government encourages popular disrespect; the protest blocks the government's progress in developing the nation; this action harms the tourism industry; and it lends aid to outside media attacks on the government. The local Naungshwe deputy police chief's report, apparently sent to the regional police headquarters in Taunggyi and copied to the District office in Mandalay, notes that he will monitor the activities of the youth and "follow-up." He also requested instructions on how to proceed. 6.(C) The police later arrested the five youths identified in the police report, according to Sai Ohn Maung, in addition to three others involved in the festival. Among the eight was the artist who designed the placards and other props, who is a member of USDA, the regime,s mass-member organization. Sai Ohn Maung claimed that the eight have not been released from prison, nor have worried family members received any news. He noted that state media has not reported on this incident. 7.(C) Bio Note: Sai Ohn Maung, aka U Ohn Myint, an ethnic Shan NLD member who won the Naungshwe parliamentary seat in the 1990 election, was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in jail in mid-1990. He was released after 16 months and now runs a tourism business, including a hotel on Inle Lake. The regime forced the NLD to expel him from the party during his imprisonment; consequently he is no longer formally involved in NLD affairs. 8.(C) COMMENT: The regime's harsh response to a mild form of public expression with no overt ties to political causes shows the regime's zero tolerance of dissent. The economic theme of the performance, by young people generally regarded as politically apathetic, indicates that worsening economic conditions may be motivating people out of their apathy. END COMMENT VILLAROSA