ILO PRESSURE LEADS TO LAWYER'S RELEASE

UNCLAS RANGOON 000963 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA; TREASURY FOR OASIA:AJEWELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV BM SUBJECT: ILO PRESSURE LEADS TO LAWYER'S RELEASE REF: A. RANGOON 904 ¶B. RANGOON 849 ¶C. RANGOON 806 ¶1. (SBU) On July 9, authorities released U Aye Myint from Bago prison. In June, International Labor Organization (ILO) members set Aye Myint's release by the end of July as one test of the GOB's willingness to address forced labor. Aye Myint credits the ILO pressure for his release. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Burmese prison officials released lawyer Aye Myint from Bago prison at 8:00 am on July 9. On October 31, 2005, a judge found Aye Myint guilty of "spreading false information," for advising a group of farmers to report to the ILO when authorities confiscated their land. Aye Myint had served almost nine months of a seven year sentence. In 2003, Aye Myint had previously been sentenced to death for high treason for alleged contacts with the ILO Liaison Officer, but the GOB released him in January 2005. ¶3. (SBU) In his first press interview, Aye Myint credited ILO pressure during the June International Labor Conference for his release. ILO members set the release of Aye Myint, Su Su Nway and three defendants currently under prosecution in Aunglan as tests of GOB sincerity to address forced labor and to avoid further ILO actions. ¶4. (SBU) Although he did not cite which section of the law authorities used for his release, Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Law allows for suspension of a prisoner's sentence with or without conditions. On June 6, the authorities released Su Su Nway without conditions (reftels),but Aye Myint said that his release had one condition. If he breaks the law again, he will have to serve not only the sentence for the new crime, but also the unserved time remaining from the current charge. Aye Myint was a member of the NLD's Legal Advisory Committee, but told the press that the GOB did not restore his license to practice law. VILLAROSA