BURMESE ARMY MUTINIES REPORTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L CHIANG MAI 000157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF KDEM MARR MOPS TH BM LA
SUBJECT: BURMESE ARMY MUTINIES REPORTED

CLASSIFIED BY: Michael K. Morrow, Consul General, Chiang Mai,
DoS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



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Mutiny By Burmese Army Units
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1. (C) Three Burmese Army divisions have reportedly refused to
carry out orders from army central command to fire on
demonstrators, according to several northern Thailand-based
sources. These units are:

-- the 33rd Division, based in Meiktila (near Mandalay);
-- the Mandalay Division command; and
-- the 66th Division, based in Prome (near Rangoon).


2. (C) This report initially came to us from Karen National
Union (KNU) Central Committee member Saw Isaac Po (protect). We
received a confirming report from Democrat Voice of Burma Chiang
Mai office head Toe Zaw Latt (protect). According to Latt, army
central command is now moving the 33rd Division out of action
and replacing it (by road and air) with the 99th Division. Latt
also corroborated the report of mutiny by the 66th Division.
"There is definitely internal conflict within the Burmese Army,"
Latt told us, and the situation is "very confusing." Both
sources cited unconfirmed reports of military-on-military
clashes in both Mandalay and Rangoon. "The Irrawaddy" editor
Aung Zaw (protect) told us he was also aware of the mutiny
reports, and that his staff was seeking confirming details.

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22nd Division Redeploys To Rangoon
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3. (C) The 22nd Division is reportedly redeploying from
southern Karen State toward Rangoon, according to a Free Burma
Rangers (FBR) source who is currently conducting humanitarian
and training work in Shan State. The FBR source has not
observed or heard of any redeployments of Burmese Army troops
from elsewhere along the border in Shan State, Karenni State,
and northern Karen State. In the latter two locations, the FBR
reports ongoing weekly clashes between Burmese troops and ethnic
anti-regime forces.

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Than Shwe Son-in-Law Flees to Laos
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4. (C) The KNU's Zaw also told us that Than Shwe's son-in-law,
Tayza, has fled to Vientiane aboard a chartered Air Bagan
flight. Zaw said his Thai intelligence contacts had confirmed
this report.

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Pro-Democracy Activism on Rise in Northern Thailand
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5. (U) Public activism in northern Thailand in support of
Burma's anti-regime protestors is on the rise. Burmese students
and other foreigners gathered at a Chiang Mai temple September
28 to hold rituals honoring protestors killed in Rangoon. Also,
Burmese student groups have organized a signature-collection
rally in downtown Chiang Mai this evening, urging the Burma
regime not to use violence against protestors. ConGen staff
will observe the event. Other reports include:

-- A September 27 gathering of 200 NGO activists with Burmese
monks and laymen at the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge in
Myawaddy; and

-- A September 28 multi-faith religious gathering in Mae Sot
(Tak Province) to pray for fallen protestors and call on the
Burma regime to stop the killing.

MORROW