Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RANGOON925
2008-12-04 09:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: ASSK'S LAWYER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CLIENT'S CASE
how-toVZCZCXRO8302 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0925 3390905 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 040905Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8450 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1662 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5144 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8739 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6311 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4155 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2132 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000925
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK'S LAWYER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CLIENT'S CASE
REF: A. RANGOON 806
B. RANGOON 754
C. RANGOON 725
D. RANGOON 704
E. RANGOON 648
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 000925
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK'S LAWYER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CLIENT'S CASE
REF: A. RANGOON 806
B. RANGOON 754
C. RANGOON 725
D. RANGOON 704
E. RANGOON 648
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer U Kyi Win (aka Neville)
told POLOFF December 4 that he is pressing GOB authorities to
allow him to meet with his client. Neville had refrained
from following up on his October 16 request to see Aung San
Suu Kyi (ASSK) in response to GOB indications of possible
near-term developments in her case. The lack of any action
or response to her legal appeal, however, has left the lawyer
frustrated and determined to pursue her case. Neville last
saw ASSK in September, before filing her appeal on October 9.
Neville explained that May 29 will mark the six-year
anniversary of ASSK's current detention order, after which
the regime will no longer have any authority, even under its
own laws, to hold ASSK. Nonetheless, the lawyer conceded
that the only thing that can assure her release is a decision
by Than Shwe. End summary.
Justice Delayed
--------------
2. (C) In a December 4 meeting with Poloff, Aung San Suu
Kyi's lawyer Neville said that, on December 3, he renewed his
request to GOB authorities to see Aung San Suu Kyi. Neville
told us he has grown frustrated with the regime's inaction on
his client's case, and demanded in writing that the Special
Branch of Police provide him access to his client. Neville
last asked for permission to see ASSK on October 16, seven
days after filing her appeal in Nay Pyi Taw. He last saw her
in September.
3. (C) Neville informed us that on October 18, Special
Branch officials summoned him to their offices and relayed a
request from "higher authorities" for him to wait a few weeks
before seeing her. At that time, officials told him there
may be a development in a few weeks, but did not elaborate.
Neville interpreted this to mean the authorities might
release ASSK when her detention came up for its scheduled
six-month review at the end of November. As a result,
Neville decided not to press the appeal or his request to
meet with ASSK until after November. However, Neville said
that since authorities neither released ASSK nor responded to
the appeal or request to visit her, he has grown frustrated
with what he views as stalling by the regime and filed the
new request to see his client. If officials do not respond
within 10 days, Neville said he will request a hearing before
the Council of Ministers (aka the cabinet). "Justice delayed
is justice denied" Neville said, quoting William Gladstone,
and so far the regime "has delayed justice for over five
years."
The Six Year Mark
--------------
4. (C) Neville went on to explain that the six-year
anniversary of ASSK's current detention order will occur on
May 29, 2009. Neville believes that after this date the
regime will no longer have any authority, even under its own
unjust laws, to extend ASSK's house arrest. He speculated
that the regime could release her then, as part of a
pre-election public relations ploy, but stressed that
everything depends on "the whim of that dictator Than Shwe,
who is the mastermind behind it all."
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK'S LAWYER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS CLIENT'S CASE
REF: A. RANGOON 806
B. RANGOON 754
C. RANGOON 725
D. RANGOON 704
E. RANGOON 648
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer U Kyi Win (aka Neville)
told POLOFF December 4 that he is pressing GOB authorities to
allow him to meet with his client. Neville had refrained
from following up on his October 16 request to see Aung San
Suu Kyi (ASSK) in response to GOB indications of possible
near-term developments in her case. The lack of any action
or response to her legal appeal, however, has left the lawyer
frustrated and determined to pursue her case. Neville last
saw ASSK in September, before filing her appeal on October 9.
Neville explained that May 29 will mark the six-year
anniversary of ASSK's current detention order, after which
the regime will no longer have any authority, even under its
own laws, to hold ASSK. Nonetheless, the lawyer conceded
that the only thing that can assure her release is a decision
by Than Shwe. End summary.
Justice Delayed
--------------
2. (C) In a December 4 meeting with Poloff, Aung San Suu
Kyi's lawyer Neville said that, on December 3, he renewed his
request to GOB authorities to see Aung San Suu Kyi. Neville
told us he has grown frustrated with the regime's inaction on
his client's case, and demanded in writing that the Special
Branch of Police provide him access to his client. Neville
last asked for permission to see ASSK on October 16, seven
days after filing her appeal in Nay Pyi Taw. He last saw her
in September.
3. (C) Neville informed us that on October 18, Special
Branch officials summoned him to their offices and relayed a
request from "higher authorities" for him to wait a few weeks
before seeing her. At that time, officials told him there
may be a development in a few weeks, but did not elaborate.
Neville interpreted this to mean the authorities might
release ASSK when her detention came up for its scheduled
six-month review at the end of November. As a result,
Neville decided not to press the appeal or his request to
meet with ASSK until after November. However, Neville said
that since authorities neither released ASSK nor responded to
the appeal or request to visit her, he has grown frustrated
with what he views as stalling by the regime and filed the
new request to see his client. If officials do not respond
within 10 days, Neville said he will request a hearing before
the Council of Ministers (aka the cabinet). "Justice delayed
is justice denied" Neville said, quoting William Gladstone,
and so far the regime "has delayed justice for over five
years."
The Six Year Mark
--------------
4. (C) Neville went on to explain that the six-year
anniversary of ASSK's current detention order will occur on
May 29, 2009. Neville believes that after this date the
regime will no longer have any authority, even under its own
unjust laws, to extend ASSK's house arrest. He speculated
that the regime could release her then, as part of a
pre-election public relations ploy, but stressed that
everything depends on "the whim of that dictator Than Shwe,
who is the mastermind behind it all."
DINGER