Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RANGOON290
2008-04-25 09:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMESE REGIME OFFERS ASSK A VOTE, BUT NOT FREEDOM
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000290
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REGIME OFFERS ASSK A VOTE, BUT NOT FREEDOM
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000290
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REGIME OFFERS ASSK A VOTE, BUT NOT FREEDOM
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Two separate sources reported that regime officials
visited Aung San Suu Kyi this week to offer her the right to
vote in May's referendum. Imprisoned activist Su Su Nwe
declined authorities' offer of a new national registration
card that would allow her to vote. The regime continued to
arrest Rakhine State NLD members and has detained over 60
activists in that state since April 13.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
--------------
2. (C) The person who purchases and delivers Aung San Suu
Kyi's (ASSK) daily food told us regime officials visited the
NLD leader on April 21 to offer her the opportunity to vote
in the May 10 referendum. The visit took place the same day
the NLD released a statement demanding the regime permit
senior party officials to vote. Separately, another reliable
NLD source reported the visit to us and added that ASSK had
accepted a ballot from the visiting officials, but had made
no comment about it. ASSK's food buyer has daily access to
her house and has been a reliable source of information in
the past. She often passes messages through him to other
political activists outside of the NLD.
SU SU NWE
--------------
3. (C) A leading NLD youth activist told us authorities also
offered detained activist Su Su Nwe a national registration
card (NRC) that would allow her to vote. According to our
source, Su Su Nwe already had an NRC but was told by
officials she would need a new one in order to vote. She
declined their offer.
ARRESTS
--------------
4. (SBU) Our contacts confirmed that authorities arrested
Rakhine State NLD member Ko Zaw Naing this week. His fellow
NLD members Ko Than Htay, Ko Aung Naing Min, and Ko Moe Kyaw
were detained on March 27 and 28 for allegedly distributing
the Rakhine State NLD's "vote no" pamphlets. The four
activists have been charged with trespassing, intimidation,
and use of abusive language. Additionally, our sources
confirmed that at least 60 persons have been arrested in
Sittwe, Rakhine State since April 13, including during the
Thingyan water festival. Of these, approximately 40 remained
in detention while 20 had been released.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Offering political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi
and Su Su Nwe the opportunity to vote is the right thing to
do, but does little to overcome the litany of abuses the Than
Shwe regime continues to commit to ensure the referendum
lacks credibility. What would count for real progress is if
Aung San Suu Kyi and fifty million of her fellow citizens
could freely debate and participate in a genuine democratic
process, and the process would take place in a transparent
manner.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REGIME OFFERS ASSK A VOTE, BUT NOT FREEDOM
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Two separate sources reported that regime officials
visited Aung San Suu Kyi this week to offer her the right to
vote in May's referendum. Imprisoned activist Su Su Nwe
declined authorities' offer of a new national registration
card that would allow her to vote. The regime continued to
arrest Rakhine State NLD members and has detained over 60
activists in that state since April 13.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
--------------
2. (C) The person who purchases and delivers Aung San Suu
Kyi's (ASSK) daily food told us regime officials visited the
NLD leader on April 21 to offer her the opportunity to vote
in the May 10 referendum. The visit took place the same day
the NLD released a statement demanding the regime permit
senior party officials to vote. Separately, another reliable
NLD source reported the visit to us and added that ASSK had
accepted a ballot from the visiting officials, but had made
no comment about it. ASSK's food buyer has daily access to
her house and has been a reliable source of information in
the past. She often passes messages through him to other
political activists outside of the NLD.
SU SU NWE
--------------
3. (C) A leading NLD youth activist told us authorities also
offered detained activist Su Su Nwe a national registration
card (NRC) that would allow her to vote. According to our
source, Su Su Nwe already had an NRC but was told by
officials she would need a new one in order to vote. She
declined their offer.
ARRESTS
--------------
4. (SBU) Our contacts confirmed that authorities arrested
Rakhine State NLD member Ko Zaw Naing this week. His fellow
NLD members Ko Than Htay, Ko Aung Naing Min, and Ko Moe Kyaw
were detained on March 27 and 28 for allegedly distributing
the Rakhine State NLD's "vote no" pamphlets. The four
activists have been charged with trespassing, intimidation,
and use of abusive language. Additionally, our sources
confirmed that at least 60 persons have been arrested in
Sittwe, Rakhine State since April 13, including during the
Thingyan water festival. Of these, approximately 40 remained
in detention while 20 had been released.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) Offering political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi
and Su Su Nwe the opportunity to vote is the right thing to
do, but does little to overcome the litany of abuses the Than
Shwe regime continues to commit to ensure the referendum
lacks credibility. What would count for real progress is if
Aung San Suu Kyi and fifty million of her fellow citizens
could freely debate and participate in a genuine democratic
process, and the process would take place in a transparent
manner.
VILLAROSA