EMBASSY REFERRAL FOR THAN U WIN, A.K.A AUNG WAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005499 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017 TAGS: PREF PREL TH BM SUBJECT: EMBASSY REFERRAL FOR THAN U WIN, A.K.A AUNG WAY REF: RANGOON 00954 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN SUTTON, REASON 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (U) This is an action request. See para. 7. ¶2. (C) Embassy is referring dissident Burmese citizen, Than U Win, a.k.a. Aung Way, for resettlement to the United States through the Department's Refugee Resettlement Program. Biograpical information follows: Name: Than U Win, a.k.a. Aung Way DOB: July 24, 1954 Nationality: Burmese Gender: Male Persecution Claim -------------- ¶3. (C) Than U Win, a.k.a. Aung Way, is a well-know dissident poet who has publicly opposed the regime since the 1988 uprising. He has been imprisoned by the regime for his poems and pro-democracy activities more than once. He has authored a number of well-known poems opposing the military,s rule and encouraging the people not to be afraid to continue struggling for democracy in Burma. During the September uprising, he stepped forward to take an organizing role in the demonstrations, along with other famous dissident artists and actors, after the key 88 Generations Students leaders were arrested. He also published a widely-circulated poem in support of the demonstrators. ¶4. (C) Aung Way,s livelihood as a poet has been repeatedly threatened by the regime and their censor board, who continue to ban his poems. He has taken a defiant and uncompromising stand and refused to change his work or participate in any regime-sponsored literary events. Last year, when the regime banned a birthday party for the revered, dissident Burmese writer Ludu Daw Amar, Aung Way held the birthday party anyway. ¶5. (C) Aung Way is a key organizer of the recent demonstrations in Burma. He was hiding in the UNDP,s Rangoon office prior to fleeing across the Thai Burma border. He has been in touch with Embassy Rangoon as reported in RefTel. Aung Way is currently staying with Dr. Lun Swe who is associated with Dr. Cynthia's Mae Thao clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand. He has expressed his interest in being resettled to the United States. Need for Resettlement -------------- ¶6. (C) The Burmese junta has already detained thousands of less active dissidents and demonstrators. It would certainly detain Aung Way , and likely imprison him if he were to return to Burma. There is no durable solution for him in Thailand. ¶7. (C) Post recommends that Department approve this Embassy referral of Aung Way. Please provide guidance on whether post should take further steps in processing this case for U.S. resettlement. BOYCE