ANOTHER EXPLOSION IN BURMA; NLD UNDER PRESSURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000039 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: ANOTHER EXPLOSION IN BURMA; NLD UNDER PRESSURE REF: RANGOON 25 Classified By: P/E Chief Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Another bomb exploded on a bus 65 miles north of Rangoon yesterday, killing the driver. An NLD member remains in custody after he and his colleague were interrogated regarding the Charge d'Affaires's recent meeting with 7 NLD members in their town. Other NLD leaders were summoned to the Ministry of Information regarding the posting of an NLD Youth newsletter on the internet and signed an agreement to not distribute publications again. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Authorities reported another bomb exploded in Burma yesterday, this one on a bus, killing the driver, in the town of Pyinbonegyi, 65 miles north of Rangoon. There were no other injuries reported. The latest bombing is the forth in a series of small bombings that the authorities reported occurred throughout Burma over the weekend. Media reported the latest incident happened when a bomb located in a passenger bag carrying corn exploded. None of the passengers were injured because they had disembarked to eat lunch. Unlike the previous bombings, official media reports today did not single out the KNU for responsibility. ¶3. (C) Taungdwingyi NLD member U Maung Soe remains in custody after being detained on January 15 with fellow member U Par Lay. U Par Lay was released on January 16. We learned today that both members were taken to Mandalay and interrogated regarding the Charge d'Affaires's recent visit to Taungdwingyi and her meeting with 7 NLD members there (reftel). Neither U Maung Soe nor U Par Lay were at the meeting but are the Township's NLD chairman and vice chairman. The two were reportedly asked why the "U.S. Ambassador" met with them and if she gave them funds. ¶4. (C) Separately, the Ministry of Information summoned NLD officials regarding the posting of an NLD Youth newsletter on the internet. NLD Spokesman U Nyan Win told us he was met at the Ministry by the Director of the Press Scrutiny Board, a Special Branch Police major, the Township Peace and Development Chairman, a Township law officer, Township judge, and a lieutenant colonel from the Army. The Director of the Press Scrutiny Board informed U Nyan Win that the NLD's press registration permit was revoked in 1990 and that NLD "Uncle" U Lwin had agreed then not to publish or distribute any publications. He reminded U Nyan Win that the order was still effective. ¶5. (C) U Nyan Win acknowledged the order and denied the NLD leadership knew about the newsletter. He also added that he signed a paper agreeing the NLD would not distribute any publications again. In explaining his actions, he emphasized his rationale that "if a certain road is blocked, you should avoid it and choose another." ¶6. (C) Comment: continued bombings are bound to heighten anxiety in the general population, which has not yet gotten over the harsh September crackdown. The military, meanwhile, continues to arrest people throughout the country on any pretext indicating their own state of anxiety. It will not take much to spark clashes. When something erupts, as we saw last September, NLD will not be in the lead as long as the Uncles are in control of the party. End comment. VILLAROSA