Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RANGOON1175
2007-12-10 10:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: ACTIVISTS DOWN BUT NOT OUT
how-toVZCZCXRO7670 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #1175 3441042 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101042Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6932 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0761 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4308 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7852 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5412 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3420 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1207 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001175
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001175
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary. Contrary to warnings by the authorities,
human rights activist Myint Aye and his supporters held a
ceremony commemorating the 59th anniversary of the UN's
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Rangoon on December
10. Poloffs observed a heavy plain-clothes police presence
outside the venue, but security forces did not interfere with
the program or arrest any of its participants at the scene.
Pro-democracy activist Su Su Nwe was ordered to appear in
court today. Authorities did not formally announce her
appearance and have not revealed what charges would be filed
against her. U Gambira's family briefly met with the
detained monk today, and said he appeared in good health.
End Summary.
HUMAN RIGHTS CEREMONY
--------------
2. (C) On December 10, Poloffs attended a ceremony organized
by the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) to
commemorate the 59th anniversary of the UN's Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. HRDP's Chairman Myint Aye,
along with members from around the country, spoke to an
audience of approximately 30 about human rights abuses in
their regions and HRDP's efforts to help the victims. We
observed a large and obvious plain-clothes police presence
across the street from the venue. Authorities openly
photographed the attendees as they entered and left the
premises, but did not otherwise interfere with the program or
arrest any of the participants at the scene. However, Myint
Aye told us the police had warned him against organizing the
event, which they said would be considered criminal
incitement of public unrest. He told attendees after the
event that he was concerned he would be arrested soon, but
reaffirmed his commitment to documenting and combating human
rights abuses in Burma.
SU SU NWE
--------------
3. (C) A Bahan Township judge told an Embassy contact that
labor and human rights activist Su Su Nwe was ordered to
appear before a Rangoon court today. NLD lawyers Aung Thein
and Nyan Win said they not know whether she had any legal
counsel, and expressed serious doubts the process would be
fair. Other opposition sources said they did not think her
family had been formally notified of her scheduled appearance
in court and doubted they would be permitted to attend. Su
Su Nwe, who suffers from heart disease, was arrested on
November 13 and has not seen her family since.
U GAMBIRA UPDATE
--------------
4. (C) U Gambira's sister, Lwin Lwin Myint, told us
authorities permitted the detained monk to see his family for
twenty minutes today. She reported that her brother appeared
to be in good health and spirits. She also told us that U
Gambira's father, U Min Lwin, was released on December 4. U
Min Lwin was detained along with his son on November 4. So
far, neither U Gambira nor his family have been informed of
the charges against him.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Su Su Nwe, Myint Aye, and U Gambira are three of
Burma's bravest and most effective pro-democracy activists.
They have persevered in their efforts to bring about
political reform in Burma knowing that they risked
imprisonment. Their courage and commitment stands in sharp
contrast to Than Shwe's cowardice and deceit.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ACTIVISTS DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary. Contrary to warnings by the authorities,
human rights activist Myint Aye and his supporters held a
ceremony commemorating the 59th anniversary of the UN's
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Rangoon on December
10. Poloffs observed a heavy plain-clothes police presence
outside the venue, but security forces did not interfere with
the program or arrest any of its participants at the scene.
Pro-democracy activist Su Su Nwe was ordered to appear in
court today. Authorities did not formally announce her
appearance and have not revealed what charges would be filed
against her. U Gambira's family briefly met with the
detained monk today, and said he appeared in good health.
End Summary.
HUMAN RIGHTS CEREMONY
--------------
2. (C) On December 10, Poloffs attended a ceremony organized
by the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP) to
commemorate the 59th anniversary of the UN's Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. HRDP's Chairman Myint Aye,
along with members from around the country, spoke to an
audience of approximately 30 about human rights abuses in
their regions and HRDP's efforts to help the victims. We
observed a large and obvious plain-clothes police presence
across the street from the venue. Authorities openly
photographed the attendees as they entered and left the
premises, but did not otherwise interfere with the program or
arrest any of the participants at the scene. However, Myint
Aye told us the police had warned him against organizing the
event, which they said would be considered criminal
incitement of public unrest. He told attendees after the
event that he was concerned he would be arrested soon, but
reaffirmed his commitment to documenting and combating human
rights abuses in Burma.
SU SU NWE
--------------
3. (C) A Bahan Township judge told an Embassy contact that
labor and human rights activist Su Su Nwe was ordered to
appear before a Rangoon court today. NLD lawyers Aung Thein
and Nyan Win said they not know whether she had any legal
counsel, and expressed serious doubts the process would be
fair. Other opposition sources said they did not think her
family had been formally notified of her scheduled appearance
in court and doubted they would be permitted to attend. Su
Su Nwe, who suffers from heart disease, was arrested on
November 13 and has not seen her family since.
U GAMBIRA UPDATE
--------------
4. (C) U Gambira's sister, Lwin Lwin Myint, told us
authorities permitted the detained monk to see his family for
twenty minutes today. She reported that her brother appeared
to be in good health and spirits. She also told us that U
Gambira's father, U Min Lwin, was released on December 4. U
Min Lwin was detained along with his son on November 4. So
far, neither U Gambira nor his family have been informed of
the charges against him.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Su Su Nwe, Myint Aye, and U Gambira are three of
Burma's bravest and most effective pro-democracy activists.
They have persevered in their efforts to bring about
political reform in Burma knowing that they risked
imprisonment. Their courage and commitment stands in sharp
contrast to Than Shwe's cowardice and deceit.
VILLAROSA