BURMA'S TOP GENERAL IN SINGAPORE FOR HEART

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000007

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA'S TOP GENERAL IN SINGAPORE FOR HEART
TREATMENT

Classified By: A/DCM Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The Singaporeans confirmed to us that
Senior General Than Shwe is in Singapore General Hospital
undergoing treatment for a coronary artery blockage. His
treatment is expected to continue for the next few days. No.
2 General Maung Aye is reportedly in charge. Post has no
reason to believe Than Shwe has fled the country or that a
coup is underway. In other significant developments, the
regime recessed the latest session of its sham constitution
drafting process, extended the remand of the five detained
leaders of the 88 Generation Students, and granted amnesty to
2,831 prisoners, most of whom were jailed on criminal
charges. End summary.

Than Shwe Ailing
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2. (C) Singaporean DCM Mark Low confirmed to us that press
reports indicating the Burmese military regime's top leader,
Senior General Than Shwe, is in Singapore for treatment of a
coronary artery blockage were accurate. Low said he was
confirming the information to us in confidence and that,
officially, Singapore was referring to Than Shwe's travel to
Singapore as a "private visit." Low relayed that Than Shwe's
treatment began on January 2 and was expected to continue for
a few more days. Singaporean officials are not aware of his
current condition.


3. (SBU) Than Shwe reportedly traveled to Singapore during
the weekend with his wife, Daw Kyaing Kyaing and their
daughters Dewar Shwe, Kyi Kyi Shwe, and Aye Aye Thit Shwe.
Some press report Than Shwe was scheduled to return to Burma
last Monday, but will now miss Burma's January 4 Independence
Day celebration in Nay Pyi Taw that he was scheduled to host.
There are reports he may also miss the official quarterly
military meeting that is usually held during the second week
of January. Vice Senior General Maung Aye is reportedly in
charge. There is no information regarding Than Shwe's
absence or travel in Burma's official press.

Other Significant Developments
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4. (C) On December 30 the regime recessed the latest session
of the National Convention (NC),their manipulated and
orchestrated constitution drafting process (septel),which
they call the first step in the Regime's "roadmap to
democracy." Contacts and the official press report the
regime completed work on the last eight of the fifteen
chapters. Chairman of the NC, Lt. General Thein Sein,
announced the NC would reconvene "at an appropriate time in
2007," but did not specify when.


5. (C) On January 1 the Kyauk-ta-da Township court extended
the remand for the five detained leaders of the 88 Generation
Students: Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Kywe, Min Zeya, and
Phone Cho. This was the fifth extension of their remand and
it was unusual that it was done on a holiday when courts are
officially closed. The regime renewed the remand from a
different township court to skirt the requirement that the
accused may only be remanded for two weeks without a trial or
sentence. The interim 88 Generation leaders have joined
forces with lawyers from Aung San Su Kyi's National League
for Democracy Party to petition the court to release the
leaders or proceed with a trial.


6. (C) Today the regime announced it would grant amnesty to
2,831 prisoners. The amnesty is mostly for criminal
prisoners, although we know of a few political prisoners from
Insein prison, Mandalay prison, and Thayet prison who will be
released under the order. The amnesty does not include the
most prominent political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi,
U Tin Oo, Win Tin, or the detained leaders of the 88
Generation Students.

Comment

RANGOON 00000007 002 OF 002


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7. (C) Than Shwe's reported delay in returning to Burma may
indicate that his heart condition was more serious than
anticipated or that he needed immediate, preventative
treatment. The irony is lost on no one that Burma's
"excellent" healthcare system was not good enough for the
country's leader. The lack of official information on Than
Shwe's health and travel will undoubtedly spur speculation
and rumors regarding his condition and who is really in
charge in Burma. False reports over a year ago, that Than
Shwe was in Singapore being treated for a heart attack, set
off a frenzy of rumors in Burma and in the exile press.
Despite persistent murmurings of tension between Than Shwe
and No. 2 General Maung Aye, Than Shwe's position appears to
be secure. His picture continues to grace the regime's
mouthpiece newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar, along with
his Independence Day messages. We have no reason to suspect
he has fled the country or that a coup is underway. End
comment.
VILLAROSA