NLD SPEAKS OUT: VOTE "NO"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000247 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: NLD SPEAKS OUT: VOTE "NO" RANGOON 00000247 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The NLD released two statements criticizing the referendum and urging people to vote against the draft constitution. It also released a third statement informing voters of their rights and the referendum procedures under the law. NLD spokesman Nyan Win told us the statements had been distributed to NLD members throughout the country but said no other instructions regarding a vote "no" campaign had been issued. Authorities arrested another leading NLD youth activist in Rangoon on April 2 and eleven Muslim community leaders in Rakhine State earlier this week. NLD STATEMENTS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On April 2, the NLD's Central Executive Committee (CEC) released three statements criticizing the regime's "roadmap to democracy," urging people to vote no in the upcoming referendum, and informing people of the voting procedures and their rights under the referendum law and regulations. In its statements, the NLD asserted that the regime's constitution was drafted unilaterally by the SPDC and "is not in line with the fundamental democratic principle that state power should ascend from the people." They also criticized constitutional provisions that guaranteed the military at least 25 percent of the seats in parliament, required 75 percent of the legislature approve constitutional amendments, and gave the president the authority to hand over power to the military in a state of emergency. For these reasons, the NLD urged Burmese "from all walks of life, ethnicities, and organizations" to participate in the referendum and vote "no." ¶3. (C) NLD spokesman Nyan Win told us the CEC had distributed the statements to NLD members throughout the country but said no other instructions regarding a vote "no" campaign had been issued. He claimed that the party's leadership had weighed the potential risks associated with issuing a statement against the referendum, but was no longer concerned with the possible repercussions. MORE ARRESTS -------------- ¶4. (C) Nyan Win confirmed authorities arrested leading NLD youth activist Ko Aung Htun on April 1. Thingangyun township officials arrested the NLD member from his home at 11:00 p.m. last night. His wife told DVB that she went to the local township office to bring her husband medicine half an hour later, but found he was not there. Authorities have not revealed his whereabouts or condition. ¶5. (C) A contact in the Rohingya community confirmed that on March 30, the Burma army arrested eleven Muslim community leaders in Maungdaw, Rakhine State, near the border with Bangladesh. Among those arrested was the president of the Maungdaw District Myanmar Muslim League, U Than Tun (aka Muhammad Solin). Witnesses told Narinjara News the arrests took place at approximately 10:30 a.m. on March 30 while ten community leaders were holding a meeting in U Than Tun's law offices. An eleventh leader, Dr. Tun Aung, went into hiding following the raid but has since been detained. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) The NLD's statements urging people to participate and vote "no" are welcome news. Many in the opposition have told us both activists and ordinary citizens alike have been waiting for word from the NLD before deciding what to do. While not everyone in Burma identifies or agrees with the NLD, they remain the highest profile opposition group around. Their statements could generate the kind of publicity and momentum needed to kick start the campaign against Than RANGOON 00000247 002.2 OF 002 Shwe's constitution. VILLAROSA