GOB TRIES TO DEFEND ITS ACTIONS AGAINST PROTESTORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000924

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS; INR/EAP; S/ES-O/CMS; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: GOB TRIES TO DEFEND ITS ACTIONS AGAINST PROTESTORS

REF: A. RANGOON 913 AND PREVIOUS


B. USUN 794

Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4
(b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary. Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint on
September 27 relayed to the diplomatic corps the GOB's
version of "real" political situation. He argued that the 88
Generation Students, the NLD, and the U.S. Government were
behind the marches, forcing monks to protest and that the
government had exercised restraint in dealing with the
protestors. The EU Ambassadors criticized the GOB's handling
of the situation, encouraged the government to open a
dialogue with the opposition, and called for the release of
political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi. The UNDP
Country Coordinator noted that Ibrahim Gambari was ready to
assist Burma at any time, but the MFA refused to comment on a
possible Gambari visit. The Singaporean Ambassador told us
that Gambari is scheduled to arrive in Burma on September 29,
although he does not yet have a visa. U Maung Myint
confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest in
her residence. End Summary.

MFA Delivers the "Truth"
--------------


2. (C) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the
diplomatic corps to Nai Pyi Taw for a briefing on the
political situation on September 27. During his forty-minute
speech, Deputy Foreign Minister U Maung Myint explained that
the Burmese Government was working to maintain peace and
stability throughout the country. He denied that the
protests since September 19 were led by monks, and instead
accused the 88 Generation Students, the NLD, and the U.S.
Government of instigating the demonstrations. Political
activists, he stated, forced monks into demonstrating against
the government - a statement printed on the front page of the
New Light of Myanmar. Noting that only 5,000 monks out of
the 500,000 monks living in Burma participated in the
protests, U Maung Myint explained that the "rogue monks" did
not represent the Burmese Buddhist community.


3. (C) U Maung Myint acknowledged that the police on
September 26 opened fire on protestors which resulted in one
death and more than 10 injuries, but emphasized that the
government has shown restraint when dealing with the
protestors. Claiming that the GOB only detained 30 political
activists since the protest began in August, he commented
that more than 200 anti-Iraq war protestors were arrested in
Washington D.C. several weeks ago. He rhetorically inquired
why no one condemned the U.S. for their violations of freedom
of speech.

Diplomatic Community Speaks Out
--------------


4. (C) After the briefing, the French Ambassador presented
his government's views on the current situation and reminded
the GOB that the EU governments were monitoring the situation
very closely. The French Government strongly condemned the
GOB's use of violence against the protestors and urged the
Burmese to abstain from violence. The French Ambassador also
requested that the GOB enter into an open dialogue with the
opposition, and called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi
and the other political prisoners. The Italian and German
Ambassadors echoed these remarks, and also encouraged the GOB
to allow foreign media to monitor the political situation.


5. (C) U Maung Myint chose not to respond to these remarks,
and instead pointed out that the GOB keeps Aung San Suu Kyi
under house arrest to maintain peace and stability in the
country. In a side meeting with the Deputy Foreign Minister,
we learned that Aung San Suu Kyi has not/not been moved to a
prison and remains under house arrest in her residence. U
Maung Myint affirmed that she still has access to medical
treatment. He also rejected suggestions of a dialogue,
claiming the GOB had an open dialogue during the National
Convention process. The NLD, he emphasized, opted to not
join in that process and therefore has no right to complain

RANGOON 00000924 002 OF 002


about the outcome.

Gambari Waiting in the Wings
But Burmese Not Ready to Receive
--------------


6. (C) UNDP Country Coordinator Charles Petrie informed U
Maung Myint that Ibrahim Gabari stood ready to visit Burma at
any time. He also remarked that the United Nations remained
committed to address the key socio-economic issues felt by
the people - the very reasons why people are protesting in
the first place. Instead of addressing a possible Gambari
visit, U Maung Myint claimed that the Burmese people, who
earn an average of $1/day, were above the world poverty line.
Because living costs are low in Burma, they earn enough to
be sufficient, he explained. The Burmese Government expects
new foreign direct investment, foreign loans and assistance
in the future. He commented that Burma is taking steps
toward democracy; the international community must be
patient.


7. (C) Singapore Ambassador told Charge that Gambari has
reservations to depart Singapore for Rangoon on Silk Air on
September 29 (Ref B). After the Charge said that the Burmese
refused to address Gambari's visit and he still does not yet
have a visa, the Ambassador responded that Gambari would wait
in Singapore.

International Press Access
--------------


8. (C) The Brunei Ambassador inquired whether the MFA was
approving visas for international press, and noted that
several foreign correspondents were afraid of being arrested.
U Maung Myint explained that the Ministry of Information,
not the MFA, adjudicates press visas. The GOB was willing to
allow foreign correspondents to enter Burma, he stressed, but
officials are wary that these foreigners will exaggerate the
situation to make Burma look bad. Foreign press, such as CNN
and BBC, do not provide balanced views. The senior
leadership has no plans to talk to the people or the press
directly, he continued, and the MFA requested that the
diplomatic corps present the GOB version of the truth to the
press.

Curfew Applies to All
--------------


9. (C) U Maung Myint confirmed the imposition of a curfew
from 9pm to 5am in Rangoon and Mandalay. The MFA expected
all people residing in these cities, including diplomatic
staff, to follow the curfew. The German Ambassador opined
that the military will be unable to patrol all areas of the
city, and instead will focus on the blockades zones around
Sule Pagoda, Shwe Dagon Pagoda, Kan Daw Kyi Lake, and Aung
San Suu Kyi's residence.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Only the GOB believes that its own rhetoric that the
U.S. and the other usual suspects are behind the
demonstrations. But maybe not even the GOB really believes,
since they are unwilling to talk with their own people or the
press. None of the assembled diplomats accepted the
explanation. We are disappointed that the UNDP
representative attempted to downplay popular desire for
political change, although the blithe dismissal of
socio-economic concerns by U Maung Myint reveals how out of
touch the authorities are in their isolated capital.
VILLAROSA