GAMBARI DEPARTS BURMA, ACTIVIST SEEKS ASYLUM

S E C R E T RANGOON 000954

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: GAMBARI DEPARTS BURMA, ACTIVIST SEEKS ASYLUM


Classified By: P/E Chief Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary: UN Special Envoy Gambari reportedly met
with Senior General Than Shwe and Aung San Suu Kyi before
departing Burma today on a Silk Air flight. He provided no
outbriefing to the diplomatic corps. A prominent
pro-democracy activist and key organizer of last week's
demonstrations has taken refuge at UN offices in Rangoon and
is requesting USG assistance after he escapes over the Thai
border (see action request for Chiang Mai in paragraph 5).
Most businesses and schools reopened today in Rangoon as life
began to return to a semblance of normal. End Summary.

Gambari Incommunicado
--------------


2. (SBU) Gambari reportedly met with Senior General Than
Shwe in Nay Pyi Taw today, after which he returned to Rangoon
and met once again with Aung San Suu Kyi. UN officials in
Rangoon told us that Gambari and UN Resident Coordinator
Charles Petrie had been incommunicado since they returned to
Nay Pyi Taw on Monday evening and they had no information
regarding the outcome of his meetings there. We have
received press reports Gambari was taken to Lashio, Shan
State yesterday to meet with European academics and Burmese
government officials there conducting Track II talks. UNDP
told us definitively that Gambari would not debrief the
diplomatic corps before his departure today, so we cannot
provide any information about his meetings in Nay Pyi Taw and
with ASSK.

Prominent Activist Requests Asylum with UN and U.S.
Assistance in Thailand
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3. (S/NF) Early this morning UNDP External Affairs Officer
Elizabeth Moorthy informed pol/econ chief that one of the key
organizers of the recent pro-democracy protests was at UNDP
headquarters requesting political asylum. The activist, Aung
Way, is a well-known Burmese poet who was a key organizer of
last week's demonstrations along with the famous comedian
Zaganar and the actor and social activist Kyaw Thu. Zaganar
has been arrested and Kyaw Thu has gone into hiding. Moorthy
told us Aung Way had plans to depart for the Thai border, and
requested U.S. assistance once he crossed the border.
According to Moorthy, and UK and Norwegian poloffs who were
also present at the meeting, neither the UN nor the UK or
Norwegian Governments would be able to provide assistance to
Aung Way when he reached Thailand due to Thai restrictions on
the status of Burmese refugees that reached Thailand.
Moorthy also requested to move Aung Way to the U.S. Embassy
until he could depart Rangoon. When asked why Aung Way could
not continue to stay at UN headquarters, Moorthy reported
that both UN Resident Coordinator Charles Petrie and UN Envoy
Gambari were reluctant to have him there because the
"immunity of the UN was much weaker than that of a foreign
embassy compound."


4. (S/NF) Pol/econ chief advised that a U.S. decision to
provide temporary shelter to Aung Way would require moving
Aung Way, putting him at risk of notice and discovery by
Burmese auhorities who are closely watching all USG
employes and buildings. Such a decision would also requre
coordination with Washington where U.S. officils would not
react positively toward UN reluctane to provide shelter to a
prominent pro-democrac activist fleeing arrest and possible
torture. eputy Resident Coordinator Sanaka Samarasinha
spke up to say he had not thought of this possibilityand
would consult with Charles Petrie and Gambar before
proceeding with the request to transfer ung Way to the U.S.
Embassy. He speculated the N would keep Aung Way for the
time being.


5. (S/NF) Action Requested: Pol/econ chief informed
amarasinha and Moorthy that Embassy Rangoon would provide
any assistance t could to help Aung Way reach the border and
woud coordinate with the UN, U.S. Embassy Bangkok, an
ConGen Chiang Mai to meet Aung Way after he crosed the Thai

border to provide him assistance there. Pol/econ chief then
spoke with Aung Way who said he planned to travel by train to
Loikaw in Kayah State where he would disguise himself as a
bus attendant and continue to the Thai Border. He said he
would contact Dr. Lun Swe, a physician at Dr. Cynthia's
clinic in Mae Sot, after reaching Loikaw. He recommended
that ConGen Chiang Mai work through Dr. Lun Swe to coordinate
plans for assisting him after his arrival in Thailand. UNDP
will notify us when Aung Way has finalized his plans for
departure.

Rumors Continue
--------------


6. (C) Rumors regarding military defections continue,
although none appear to be credible at this time. Reports of
a Burmese Lieutenant Colonel named Hla Win who deserted his
post in protest of the regime's harsh tactics and described
several thousands of corpses appear to be unfounded.
According to the Norwegian poloff, this story has been spread
by a German expat journalist, who the Norwegians regard as
lacking credibility. To add to the confusion, reports
continue in exile circles that Rangoon Commander Major
General Hla Htay Win has been removed from his command for
refusing to give orders to shoot at unarmed demonstrators and
monks. We have been unable to verify this rumor although our
DATT heard from sources in Thailand today that MG Hla Htay
Win may have been relieved because of the shooting of the
Japanese photographer.

Activists Vow to Continue, Life Slowly Returning to Normal
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7. (C) 88 Generation Students Activist Toe Kyaw Hlaing met
with pol/econ chief yesterday to inform us the pro-democracy
movement, as weakened as it might be, will continue. The
activists will attempt to regroup and strategize to
capitalize on public anger over the military's brutal
crackdown. More people were out on the streets again as
schools and businesses reopened. Some monasteries continued
to be barricaded but many more were open today. However, we
have seen very few monks on the street. Several local
journals have shut down publication, reportedly because they
refuse to print the regime's propaganda that the protests
were organized by "terrorists."

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


8. (C) We do not want to pronounce Gambari's visit a failure
before hearing from him. However, it appears that he has
only done what the military authorities permitted him, which
comes as no surprise. Therefore, we doubt this visit, like
his others, will yield any significant compromise from Than
Shwe. The generals have successfully quashed the activists,
the Buddhist clergy, and the civilians who bravely came out
to support them. Why would they yield to outside pressure
now? End Comment.
VILLAROSA