RELEASED POLITICAL PRISONER UNDER TIGHT WATCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000964 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON PREL BM NLD SUBJECT: RELEASED POLITICAL PRISONER UNDER TIGHT WATCH REF: RANGOON 806 Classified By: P/E - Mark B. Taylor; for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. SUMMARY: The regime has increased its surveillance and harassment of prominent NLD Youth member Su Su New, released from prison a month ago. Security personnel will likely tightly monitor her to thwart her activities, but they will probably stop short of re-arresting her or restricting her movements. END SUMMARY ¶1. (C) Despite tight surveillance, NLD Youth member Su Su Nwe, released from Insein prison on June 6, attempts to continue her work with the NLD. In a July 6 meeting, Su Su Nwe described the complete coverage of her movements by the Police Special Branch (SB). An SB officer follows her on the bus trip from her village in Twante township to the ferry jetty, and he sees her off on the ferry that crosses the Rangoon river. Upon arrival on the Rangoon side, another SB officer waits to take over her surveillance. 2.(C) Su Su Nwe noted that she was delayed in arriving at the NLD Headquarters in Rangoon on June 19 for the commemoration of Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday because police stopped and searched her bus and inspected the national identity cards of all the passengers. She concluded that the police and officials in her township are not happy that she is out of prison. She disclosed that a deputy police inspector that morning had questioned several young men in her town who had earlier helped her contact the ILO and present her forced labor case to the legal system. The police officer asked them why they maintained contact with Su Su Nwe. On the same day, another police officer approached her as she left her village and told her that in a previous night's dream he had seen her injured. Su Su Nwe interpreted this as a veiled threat. 3.(C) Su Su Nwe remains committed to working for the party and notes that her resumed party activity caused increased pressure and harassment from authorities. She visits the NLD headquarters office regularly and meets with other NLD youth. She acknowledged that she regularly listens to VOA and RFA and is aware of the positive statements made by the regime at the Geneva International Labor Conference (ILC) in early June. 4.(C) COMMENT: The tight monitoring of Su Su New is characteristic of the regime,s practice with other released political prisoners as well. While designed to intimidate, it does not deter most from going about their activities. END COMMENT VILLAROSA