BURMA: MORE ARRESTS RAISE TENSIONS, HIGHLIGHT LIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001146

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: MORE ARRESTS RAISE TENSIONS, HIGHLIGHT LIES

REF: RANGOON 1119

Classified By: Political Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary. KIO officials confirmed that on November
22, the Burma Army arrested eight of the group's members, six
of whom were released the next day. The KIO is negotiating
for the release of the remaining two, believed to be senior
regional leaders of the cease-fire group. While there were
no reports of a break in the 13-year-old ceasefire, KIO
officials told us the regime's actions have raised tensions
in the region. Authorities arrested human rights activist
Aung Zaw Oo at a Rangoon teashop on November 26. He was
helping to organize a ceremony to commemorate International
Human Rights Day on December 10. End Summary.


2. (C) Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) liaison
officer Lone Taung confirmed that on November 22, the Burma
Army raided the KIO's regional offices in Dawhpum Yang
Township, Kachin State. Local contacts reported that forces
from the Burma Army's Northern Regional Command arrested six
soldiers and two KIO officials in the mid-day raid. The six
KIO soldiers were released the following day but the two
officials remain in custody, Lone Taung said. He would not
confirm subsequent media reports identifying the two as Bhamo
District Commander Zai San and Assistant Commander Zau Gawng
but described them simply as "senior officials."


3. (C) Lone Taung informed us the KIO's Central Executive
Committee was scheduled to meet today. The organization's
representatives were negotiating with the Burma Army's local
commanders for the two officials' release. He would not
speculate on the reasons for the arrests, but pointed out
that the Burma Army has taken an increasingly aggressive
stance against the KIO since its refusal earlier this month
to publicly disavow Aung San Suu Kyi as several other ethnic
groups have been forced to do. (reftel). Lone Taung
discounted media reports that the KIO and Burma Army had
increased their troop levels in the area but acknowledged the
regime had intentionally disrupted local trade including
rendering inoperable an important bridge over the Mayhka
river. The situation was not violent yet, he remarked, but
the Burma Army's recent actions have raised tensions in the
region.


4. (C) On the afternoon of November 26, authorities arrested
leading human rights activist Aung Zaw Oo at a Rangoon
teashop. Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) leader
Myint Aye confirmed the arrest, telling us his fellow HRDP
member had been helping to organize a ceremony to commemorate
International Human Rights Day on December 10. Myint Aye
said he had hoped to hold the ceremony outside of Rangoon to
highlight the plight of rural Burmese, but worried the
government's ongoing crackdown may make that too risky. The
regime has not acknowledged Aung Zaw Oo's arrest, and friends
and family know nothing of his whereabouts or condition.


5. (C) Comment. Instead of persuading the KIO of its
genuine interest in political dialogue, the Than Shwe regime
relies on force to bring the ethnic group in line. The same
tactics are used against organizers trying to celebrate UN
agreements signed by the Burmese government. We see nothing
to show that Than Shwe is interested in real dialogue and
reconciliation. End Comment.
VILLAROSA