BURMA: PROTESTS GROW INCREASINGLY POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000911 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: PROTESTS GROW INCREASINGLY POLITICAL REF: RANGOON 909 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On September 25, several thousand monks and civilians again marched unimpeded through Rangoon for over four hours. Embassy observers reported these protests have now taken on a clearly political tone. Several other smaller protests reportedly occurred in other parts of the country. While we have still not seen any significant uniformed security presence at these protests, fears of an impending crackdown grow. End Summary. PROTESTS ¶2. (SBU) Embassy officers observed as many as 10,000 demonstrators stage a political march through Rangoon for over four hours the afternoon of September 25. At points, thousands of onlookers lined the streets in advance of the procession to cheer the participants. Poloff observed monks, students, and NLD members among the participants and reported many protestors held political banners and chanted slogans. At one point, locally renowned poet Aung Way was seen leading the procession in a chant to "free Aung San Suu Kyi." We also saw a large group of student protestors unfurl and carry a large peacock banner, a symbol of the 1988 pro-democracy student uprising. Sources and Embassy staff described this as a clear symbol of protest against the regime and note it has rarely been seen in public in 1988. ¶3. (SBU) Embassy sources confirmed approximately 2,000 monks marched in downtown Mawlamyaing in Mon State on September 24. Witnesses reported the monks recited traditional Buddhist chants and urged civilian onlookers not to join the procession. Authorities reportedly followed the march but did not interfere. Our sources also confirmed reports of other marches in Mandalay, Sittwe, and Bago on September 24. ¶4. (C) NLD sources told us that on September 24, several hundred monks marched to NLD headquarters in Rangoon to offer prayers for deceased political prisoners. Approximately 30 NLD MPs-elect and 300 party members then joined the monks for the remainder of their procession. Some of the NLD MPs-elect reportedly held signs declaring themselves to be the rightfully elected legislators of Burma. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ¶5. (C) There were no reports authorities impeded the march, and we did not see or hear of any significant uniformed security presence anywhere along the procession. With the exception of several dozen armed police at the barricades near Aung San Suu Kyi's house, Embassy officers have not yet seen any significant uniformed security present on the streets of Rangoon in the past week. The Singapore Ambassador told Charge he had seen 4 trucks filled with soldiers in full battle dress with weapons at the ready headed north away from downtown. Still fears of an impending crackdown grow. Embassy officers present at today's demonstration saw monks circulate through the crowd with bull horns cautioning participants to maintain order and discipline so as not to give the regime an excuse to intervene. ¶6. (C) On September 24, Burma's Minister of Religion, Brigadier General Thura Maung instructed the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee (Religious Committee) to urge monks to end the protests and warned the regime would take action if demonstrations continued. (note: this committee consists of members of the clergy hand-picked by the government.) DEA sources reported government officials approached several other Buddhist leaders with similar warnings, but say most rejected their demands. The state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper ran an article repeating the Minister's warnings and published the full text of the statute prohibiting monks' participation in secular affairs. ¶7. (C) DAO reported there are two infantry divisions within six hours drive of Rangoon and estimates the regime could move as many as 2,000 of these troops to Rangoon in as little as six hours. These troops are front-line soldiers and do not have any equipment for or training in non-lethal crowd control, DAO noted. Widely circulated rumors that elements of the 77th Light Infantry Battalion have moved from Bago to the outskirts of Rangoon are unconfirmed. VILLAROSA