Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RANGOON305
2007-03-23 04:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMESE REGIME CONTINUES TO HARASS ACTIVISTS
how-toVZCZCXRO3214 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0305 0820439 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 230439Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5893 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0236 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 4510 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3805 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7331 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4883 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1086 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1101 RUDKIA/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0931 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3092 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0733
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REGIME CONTINUES TO HARASS ACTIVISTS
REF: A. RANGOON 248
B. RANGOON 211
C. RANGOON 185
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000305
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REGIME CONTINUES TO HARASS ACTIVISTS
REF: A. RANGOON 248
B. RANGOON 211
C. RANGOON 185
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The regime continues to detain and harass
pro-democracy activists. Authorities arrested activist Htin
Kyaw for the fourth time in four weeks. They unsuccessfully
tried to prevent Min Ko Naing from visiting the family of a
political prisoner. They detained two activists in Bago
Division for distributing the U.N. Declaration on Human
Rights. The pro-regime USDA appears to be acting as
enforcers, not the police. The activists remain defiant and
vow to continue their protests. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On March 22, authorities arrested Htin Kyaw, one of
the demonstrators arrested following the February 22 public
protest in Rangoon (reftels) after he staged a solo protest
in a crowded Rangoon market. Htin Kyaw was protesting the
regime's pressure on a local Buddhist monastery to prevent
Htin Kyaw from being ordained as a monk. He claimed in his
public protest that this violated his religious rights. This
was the fourth time authorities detained him in four weeks.
He was subsequently released.
3. (C) On March 18, an 88 Generation Students group led by
political activist Min Ko Naing visited the family of Myo Min
Zaw, a political prisoner serving a long sentence in Putao
Prison. After local authorities in Bahan Township, Rangoon
Division, learned of the planned visit, they ordered
pro-regime groups to block their way and ordered neighbors to
condemn the activists when they arrived. Their efforts
backfired when the neighbors came out and cheered the
visitors, while the authorities and their Union Solidarity
Development Association (USDA) supporters fled.
4. (C) Guards and officials at the Shwedagon Pagoda prevented
Htun Htun from worshipping on March 19 because his T-shirt
bore a picture of national hero General Aung San. He
protested that it was not illegal to honor Aung San, but the
authorities refused him access to the pagoda.
5. (C) On March 20, authorities in Pyay, Bago Division,
detained two activists from the Human Rights Defender and
Promoter group for distributing 200 copies of the U.N.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The authorities
released them, after warning them not to distribute any more
pamphlets.
6. (C) COMMENT: Regime authorities continue to harass,
detain, and arrest pro-democracy activists, but have failed
to discourage them. Individual Burmese show increased
willingness to publicly protests and defy threats (reftels).
In response, the regime has relied more often on its goon
squads of USDA members and newly formed "People's Militia" to
intimidate activists. Traditional law enforcement officers
have been marginalized. We have heard the military and
police rank and file are uncomfortable with the more active
USDA role. We will continue to monitor how these tensions
evolve. END COMMENT.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REGIME CONTINUES TO HARASS ACTIVISTS
REF: A. RANGOON 248
B. RANGOON 211
C. RANGOON 185
Classified By: Poloff Dean Tidwell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The regime continues to detain and harass
pro-democracy activists. Authorities arrested activist Htin
Kyaw for the fourth time in four weeks. They unsuccessfully
tried to prevent Min Ko Naing from visiting the family of a
political prisoner. They detained two activists in Bago
Division for distributing the U.N. Declaration on Human
Rights. The pro-regime USDA appears to be acting as
enforcers, not the police. The activists remain defiant and
vow to continue their protests. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) On March 22, authorities arrested Htin Kyaw, one of
the demonstrators arrested following the February 22 public
protest in Rangoon (reftels) after he staged a solo protest
in a crowded Rangoon market. Htin Kyaw was protesting the
regime's pressure on a local Buddhist monastery to prevent
Htin Kyaw from being ordained as a monk. He claimed in his
public protest that this violated his religious rights. This
was the fourth time authorities detained him in four weeks.
He was subsequently released.
3. (C) On March 18, an 88 Generation Students group led by
political activist Min Ko Naing visited the family of Myo Min
Zaw, a political prisoner serving a long sentence in Putao
Prison. After local authorities in Bahan Township, Rangoon
Division, learned of the planned visit, they ordered
pro-regime groups to block their way and ordered neighbors to
condemn the activists when they arrived. Their efforts
backfired when the neighbors came out and cheered the
visitors, while the authorities and their Union Solidarity
Development Association (USDA) supporters fled.
4. (C) Guards and officials at the Shwedagon Pagoda prevented
Htun Htun from worshipping on March 19 because his T-shirt
bore a picture of national hero General Aung San. He
protested that it was not illegal to honor Aung San, but the
authorities refused him access to the pagoda.
5. (C) On March 20, authorities in Pyay, Bago Division,
detained two activists from the Human Rights Defender and
Promoter group for distributing 200 copies of the U.N.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The authorities
released them, after warning them not to distribute any more
pamphlets.
6. (C) COMMENT: Regime authorities continue to harass,
detain, and arrest pro-democracy activists, but have failed
to discourage them. Individual Burmese show increased
willingness to publicly protests and defy threats (reftels).
In response, the regime has relied more often on its goon
squads of USDA members and newly formed "People's Militia" to
intimidate activists. Traditional law enforcement officers
have been marginalized. We have heard the military and
police rank and file are uncomfortable with the more active
USDA role. We will continue to monitor how these tensions
evolve. END COMMENT.
VILLAROSA