FOREIGN MINISTRY WARNS AGAIN ABOUT AMERICAN CENTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000314 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLA, EAP/PD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO BM SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY WARNS AGAIN ABOUT AMERICAN CENTER REF: RANGOON 184 Classified By: DCM Karl Stoltz for Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: MFA Protocol Deputy Director-General U Soe Win summoned DCM and PAO to the Foreign Ministry on March 28 to reiterate warnings about the American Center activities (reftel). After repeating GOB directives that institutions that teach or provide information to the public must be registered with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Information, U Soe Win expressed official concern about a February 22 event at the American Center with Burmese film-maker and political activist Zarganar. The MFA claimed that some at the event had advocated the use of violence to force political change. We responded that, as is well known worldwide, the U.S. does not support the use of terrorism or violence means to effect political change, and that we do not provide a platform for those who advocate it. End summary. ¶2. (U) On March 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned DCM Karl Stoltz and PAO Todd Pierce to its Rangoon office to meet again with Protocol Division Deputy Director-General U Soe Win. Protocol Assistant Director Zaw Tin Oo and MFA note-taker Aung Myint also attended. U Soe Win began by asking for clarification of the names of diplomats based at the American Center. MFA's protocol lists showed only the PAO and APAO's full names; the issue was apparently resolved when we provided the shorter first names both PAO and APAO commonly use. ¶3. (U) U Soe Win then repeated his earlier directive that under the Myanmar Education Law of 1984, all classes must be registered with the Ministry of Education, and under a 1964 information law, all libraries must be registered with the Ministry of Information and must submit a list of all books and other materials they have on hand for public use. He promised to obtain a copy of the 1964 information law soon, and confirmed the Embassy had already received a Burmese-language version of the Education Law. DCM said that we believe our American Center diplomatic facilities, like similar libraries and teaching centers around the world, are in full compliance with Vienna Convention protocols. U Soe Win did not pursue the issue further. ¶4. (U) The Foreign Minister, U Soe Win explained, had asked him to meet with us again to express concern over a public event held at the American Center on February 22. The Home Affairs Minister was also concerned, U Soe Win added. U Soe Win said he delayed because he had recently met with the DCM on similar issues (reftel),but the Minister insisted on the follow-up meeting. The GOB, U Soe Win, was concerned about the February 22 lecture at the American Center by prominent film-maker and political activist Zarganar. Reading from a Burmese-language report of the February 22 meeting he would not share with us, U Soe Win claimed that some attendees had expressed admiration in the question-and-answer session after Zarganar's lecture for the tactics of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Tamil Tigers, arguing that there was "something to learn from these groups" and encouraging people in Burma to "sacrifice themselves" for the cause of political change. ¶5. (C) The DCM and PAO responded by emphasizing that the U.S. has a strong worldwide record of opposing terrorist violence and strongly opposes the tactics of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Tamil Tigers, and all other terrorist groups. The PAO, who attended the Zarganar lecture, said that the MFA report was inaccurate, and stressed that we oppose the use of political violence. U Soe Win said that the MFA believes it is inappropriate for the American Center to be used for such talks. The DCM responded that, while we cannot control what people attending Embassy programs choose to say, we would not allow the American Center to be used as a platform for those who advocate violence and terrorism. ¶6. (SBU) At the end of the meeting, the DCM and PAO again invited MFA officials to come to the American Center to experience it firsthand. As he escorted DCM and PAO back to their car, Aung Myint whispered that he used to visit the American Center all the time and would love to return, but "the government will not allow any of us to go there now." ¶7. (C) COMMENT: While MFA's diplomats were only reluctant messengers, Big Brother is clearly watching the American Center much more closely. We continue to draw overflow crowds to American Center events, and our speakers from overseas speak freely about democracy, human rights, and other sensitive topics. While the MFA's information about the American Center is absurdly inaccurate, the Zarganar program clearly crossed the regime's invisible line. We will continue working with political activists, who have impressed us with their commitment to non-violence and peaceful political change. End comment. VILLAROSA