Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RANGOON385
2008-05-15 09:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: REGIME CLAIMS VICTORY; NLD OFFERS HELP
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000385
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME CLAIMS VICTORY; NLD OFFERS HELP
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 000385
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME CLAIMS VICTORY; NLD OFFERS HELP
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) On May 15, the regime announced its constitution had
been overwhelmingly approved in the May 10 referendum, which
was held in all areas of the country not critically affected
by the storm. Aung San Suu Kyi's private doctor was
permitted to briefly visit with her after the cyclone and
reported she is in good health. At ASSK's direction, the NLD
has established a cyclone relief committee and begun
distributing modest amounts of disaster relief.
REFERENDUM
--------------
2. (U) State-run media announced that the regime's
constitution was approved by over 92 percent of the 22
million eligible voters in last Saturday's referendum.
According to reports broadcast on state radio on May 15, over
99 percent of eligible voters turned out for the vote on May
10, which was held in all the areas of the country not
critically affected by Cyclone Nargis. Another vote in the
cyclone affected areas had been scheduled to take place May
24, but may not given the margin of victory.
3. (C) The Burmese-national Reuters correspondent in Rangoon
told us the Information Ministry refused to comment on, or
even confirm, the announcement, instead instructing him
simply to "listen to the radio."
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
--------------
4. (C) The UK POLOFF informed us today that Aung San Suu
Kyi's doctor, Tin Myo Win (aka Douglas),was permitted to
visit her after the cyclone on May 6 for 20 minutes.
Douglas's brother, who is a construction worker, was
permitted to accompany him to make minor repairs on her
residence. Douglas confirmed that ASSK was in good health
and spoke to him about the status of the NLD's "vote no"
campaign, without elaborating on what they discussed.
5. (C) The NLD informed us that ASSK instructed them to
establish a cyclone relief committee, but said she did not
specify what activities the committee should undertake.
According to Nyan Win, so far 20 NLD members, divided into
three teams, have visited parts of the delta's affected area
to assess the damage and provide relief. The NLD has
provided cash and in-kind assistance valued at approximately
15,000,000 kyat (US$13,636) in the delta. It has also given
out an unspecified amount of clothing and rice inside
Rangoon, according to Nyan Win.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The regime's announcement that the draft
constitution was approved comes as no surprise. The massive
margin of victory they claimed, however, demonstrates just
how politically tone-deaf Than Shwe is. Few anticipated the
referendum would be free and fair. But now it seems Than
Shwe does not even care about passing the laugh test.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME CLAIMS VICTORY; NLD OFFERS HELP
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) On May 15, the regime announced its constitution had
been overwhelmingly approved in the May 10 referendum, which
was held in all areas of the country not critically affected
by the storm. Aung San Suu Kyi's private doctor was
permitted to briefly visit with her after the cyclone and
reported she is in good health. At ASSK's direction, the NLD
has established a cyclone relief committee and begun
distributing modest amounts of disaster relief.
REFERENDUM
--------------
2. (U) State-run media announced that the regime's
constitution was approved by over 92 percent of the 22
million eligible voters in last Saturday's referendum.
According to reports broadcast on state radio on May 15, over
99 percent of eligible voters turned out for the vote on May
10, which was held in all the areas of the country not
critically affected by Cyclone Nargis. Another vote in the
cyclone affected areas had been scheduled to take place May
24, but may not given the margin of victory.
3. (C) The Burmese-national Reuters correspondent in Rangoon
told us the Information Ministry refused to comment on, or
even confirm, the announcement, instead instructing him
simply to "listen to the radio."
AUNG SAN SUU KYI
--------------
4. (C) The UK POLOFF informed us today that Aung San Suu
Kyi's doctor, Tin Myo Win (aka Douglas),was permitted to
visit her after the cyclone on May 6 for 20 minutes.
Douglas's brother, who is a construction worker, was
permitted to accompany him to make minor repairs on her
residence. Douglas confirmed that ASSK was in good health
and spoke to him about the status of the NLD's "vote no"
campaign, without elaborating on what they discussed.
5. (C) The NLD informed us that ASSK instructed them to
establish a cyclone relief committee, but said she did not
specify what activities the committee should undertake.
According to Nyan Win, so far 20 NLD members, divided into
three teams, have visited parts of the delta's affected area
to assess the damage and provide relief. The NLD has
provided cash and in-kind assistance valued at approximately
15,000,000 kyat (US$13,636) in the delta. It has also given
out an unspecified amount of clothing and rice inside
Rangoon, according to Nyan Win.
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The regime's announcement that the draft
constitution was approved comes as no surprise. The massive
margin of victory they claimed, however, demonstrates just
how politically tone-deaf Than Shwe is. Few anticipated the
referendum would be free and fair. But now it seems Than
Shwe does not even care about passing the laugh test.
VILLAROSA