BURMA: NO LOVE FOR THAN SHWE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000057

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: NO LOVE FOR THAN SHWE

Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) Summary. Several political dissidents were summoned
to the office of the Deputy Rangoon Regional Commander and
told the dialogue with ASSK is not going well and that the
regime would be proceeding with the roadmap. The dissidents
were warned that no demonstrations against the roadmap or the
regime would be tolerated. Should they chose to protest, the
regime was prepared to mop up the remaining pro-democracy
activists and the most active MPs-elect. Authorities
arrested a well-known poet for writing a romantic verse with
a hidden anti-government message. End Summary.


2. (C) 88 Generation leader Toe Kyaw Hlaing reported to us
today that several veteran political activists were summoned
to the office of the Deputy Rangoon Regional Commander,
Brigadier General Kyaw Kyaw Tun, last week. The Deputy
Commander informed the activists that the regime's dialogue
with Aung San Suu Kyi was not going well because she refused
to meet Than Shwe's demands. He reported that the regime was
going to continue with its seven-step roadmap and would not
accept any disturbance to the process. The regime was fully
prepared to mop up the rest of the pro-democracy movement.
Veteran activist U Hla Shwe attended the meeting. He was
also detained for questioning earlier in the week. He
claimed to have seen a list of several MPs-elect and members
of 88 Generation that the regime was ready to arrest should
there be any new demonstrations against it.


3. (SBU) On January 22, the authorities arrested well-known
poet Saw Wai after he published a poem with a hidden
anti-government message. At first look the poem, entitled
"February the Fourteenth," appeared to be an ode to
Valentines Day. But on closer examination, the first words
of each line read "General Than Shwe is crazy with power."
It did not take long for readers, and the authorities, to
find what the censors had missed.


4. (C) Saw Wai's friends and family confirmed he was
arrested on Tuesday and has been detained ever since. His
wife, Ma Nan San San Aye, was permitted to visit him on
January 23 and reported he was in good health and has even
been able to make phone calls while in detention. So far the
regime has not released any information about the reason for
his arrest or what, if any, charges would been brought
against him. Authorities have not yet taken any action
against the Love Journal, the magazine that published the
poem. While our sources reported that police did briefly
interrogate its editor, Myat Khine, they pointed out he was
not arrested and commented that he is known to have close
ties with the Information Minister.


5. (C) Comment: The poet was right: Than Shwe is mad with
power. The senior generals are terrified of losing control
over Burma and determined to crush any sign of dissent, even
if it comes in the form of a romantic sonnet. Despite the
pleas of the international community and the pro-democracy
opposition, Than Shwe appears determined to proceed with the
roadmap on his terms only. End comment.
VILLAROSA