BURMA: ASSK WANTS ETHNIC LEADERS IN THE DIALOGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001136 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK WANTS ETHNIC LEADERS IN THE DIALOGUE ASAP REF: RANGOON 1129 RANGOON 00001136 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: P/E Chief Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Ethnic pro-democracy activists U Ohn Tin and Khun Tu have been released, while the president of the Zomi National Congress and an MP-elect remain detained. During his detention, the authorities questioned U Ohn Tin regarding a statement ethnic leaders had made in support of Aung San Suu Kyi's statement issued by Gambari. NLD Spokesman U Nyan Win told us that during the NLD leaders' recent meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, she told them the ethnic minority leaders should be brought into the dialogue process as soon as possible. She also requested that her deputy, U Tin Oo, be allowed to join her in meetings with Minister of Relations Aung Kyi. Imprisoned 88 Generation Students leaders were allowed visits from family members; U Gambira's mother told us his family would be allowed to visit the imprisoned monk on November 23. End summary. ¶2. (C) At a gathering of ethnic and pro-democracy movement leaders today at the Charge d'Affaires residence, NLD spokesman U Nyan Win further elaborated on the NLD Uncles' meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi. U Nyan Win told us that during the meeting, Aung San Suu Kyi told her party's leaders that she wants to bring ethnic leaders into the dialogue process with the regime as soon as possible. According to U Nyan Win, she also told Minister of Relations Aung Kyi that she would like meetings between herself and Aung Kyi to include her deputy, U Tin Oo, who is also under house arrest. As far as the NLD knows, ASSK has had no response to this request. ¶3. (U) Rakhine pro-democracy activist U Ohn Tin and Kachin pro-democracy activist Khun Tu, who were detained November 20, have been released. U Ohn Tin told DVB that he had been questioned regarding a statement issued by the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA),which endorsed Aung San Suu Kyi's statement. The regime still holds Zomi National Congress president Pu Chin Sian Thang and NLD MP-elect Dr. Myint Naing, reportedly for their refusal to disavow the statement. ¶4. (U) Embassy Rangoon confirmed today that members of the imprisoned 88 Generation Students leaders were permitted visits with their relatives on November 21 in Insein Prison. Family members have been told that they will be allowed to meet with the prisoners once a week. The sister of 88 Generation member Pandeik Tun told the media that her brother had said their interrogations are continuing. A friend who visited 88 Generation leader Pyone Cho said that he had told him he had not been brought before a court. The visits lasted 20 minutes and the conversations were reportedly recorded. Family members said the prisoners requested medicine, books, and journals. ¶5. (SBU) In a conversation with detained monk U Gambira's mother, Daw Yay, Embassy Rangoon political assistant confirmed that she has not been informed by any government authorities that her son had been charged or sentenced for treason. Daw Yay told us the regime continues to detain U Gambira's bother, Aung Kyaw Kyaw, and his father, U Min Lwin. She has been permitted to deliver food to her family members and was told that U Gambira would be allowed to meet with his family November 23. ¶6. (C) Comment: The regime has long benefited from its divide and rule strategy of keeping the opposition divided. Aung San Suu Kyi's well-crafted statement reaching out to the ethnics has clearly rattled the regime. Her appeal to bring the ethnics in soon reinforces her desire for an inclusive dialogue. The Than Shwe regime does not want to include the ethnic minorities in any dialogue, since the ethnics would probably want to discuss their dissatisfaction with the results of the National Convention, in which many ethnics participated. By trying to claim the ethnics are already on board, Than Shwe hoped to gain ASSK's acquiescence to the RANGOON 00001136 002.2 OF 002 flawed roadmap. It is clear which party is interested in a genuine dialogue. The international community should keep insisting that all the relevant parties be included and permitted to freely air their views. End comment. VILLAROSA