Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RANGOON259
2007-03-12 09:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN BURMA
how-toVZCZCXRO2341 OO RUEHBZ RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0259 0710958 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 120958Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5841 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0214 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3785 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7310 RUDKIA/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0908 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3082 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0723 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS RANGOON 000259
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN BURMA
REF: A. STATE 27908
B. STATE 19118
UNCLAS RANGOON 000259
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN BURMA
REF: A. STATE 27908
B. STATE 19118
1. (SBU) In honor of International Women's Day, the Charge
d'Affaires held a well-attended afternoon discussion on March
8 with women leaders from the National League for Democracy,
the 88 Generation Students, ethnic representatives, and
leaders of grass-roots NGOs. The Charge opened the
discussion by reading a portion of Secretary Rice's statement
commemorating International Women's Day and noted the
February 27 panel discussion at the UN on state-sanctioned
rape in Burma and Sudan. The Charge then opened the floor to
the attendees to speak about what concerned them most
regarding the situation of women in Burma.
2. (SBU) Participants were eager to share their views. Most
of the women shared their concerns about the spread of
HIV/AIDs and lamented that more and more women are turning to
prostitution to earn a living because of lack of economic
opportunities. The declining quality of education in Burma,
always a popular topic of discussion, was repeatedly cited as
a major factor in Burma's current political and social
problems. Social activists and members of NGOs talked about
their experiences working with prostitutes and women with
drug-addicted family members. They also described their
efforts to provide more accurate and useful information to
make up for its absence.
3. (SBU) After the opening presentations, the women broke
up into informal discussion groups. This was the fourth
gathering of women activists hosted by the Charge. The mix
of older, experienced political activists and younger members
of the emerging 88 Generation Students group have expressed
appreciation for the opportunity to learn from each other and
build networks. Labor activist Su Su Nwe attended, as well
as women leaders from Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National
League for Democracy. Because of their activism, most of the
participants are constantly watched and harassed by the
military regime. This event provided a safe haven and rare
opportunity for these activists to gather, network, and
frankly discuss the most important issues women face in Burma
today.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PREL KPAO
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN BURMA
REF: A. STATE 27908
B. STATE 19118
1. (SBU) In honor of International Women's Day, the Charge
d'Affaires held a well-attended afternoon discussion on March
8 with women leaders from the National League for Democracy,
the 88 Generation Students, ethnic representatives, and
leaders of grass-roots NGOs. The Charge opened the
discussion by reading a portion of Secretary Rice's statement
commemorating International Women's Day and noted the
February 27 panel discussion at the UN on state-sanctioned
rape in Burma and Sudan. The Charge then opened the floor to
the attendees to speak about what concerned them most
regarding the situation of women in Burma.
2. (SBU) Participants were eager to share their views. Most
of the women shared their concerns about the spread of
HIV/AIDs and lamented that more and more women are turning to
prostitution to earn a living because of lack of economic
opportunities. The declining quality of education in Burma,
always a popular topic of discussion, was repeatedly cited as
a major factor in Burma's current political and social
problems. Social activists and members of NGOs talked about
their experiences working with prostitutes and women with
drug-addicted family members. They also described their
efforts to provide more accurate and useful information to
make up for its absence.
3. (SBU) After the opening presentations, the women broke
up into informal discussion groups. This was the fourth
gathering of women activists hosted by the Charge. The mix
of older, experienced political activists and younger members
of the emerging 88 Generation Students group have expressed
appreciation for the opportunity to learn from each other and
build networks. Labor activist Su Su Nwe attended, as well
as women leaders from Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National
League for Democracy. Because of their activism, most of the
participants are constantly watched and harassed by the
military regime. This event provided a safe haven and rare
opportunity for these activists to gather, network, and
frankly discuss the most important issues women face in Burma
today.
VILLAROSA