BURMA: REGIME ARRESTS MORE NLD MEMBERS

UNCLAS RANGOON 000176 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME ARRESTS MORE NLD MEMBERS ¶1. (SBU) The National League for Democracy (NLD) told us that the regime arrested at least the following four of its members since the beginning of March. Authorities have not provided any information about the whereabouts or condition of these individuals, or the reasons for their arrests. - Kyi Lwin, who has not been active in the party since being paralyzed in a stroke last year, was arrested on the morning of March 16 at his home. - Myint Myint San (aka Ma Cho),a member the NLD's social support committee (which helps prisoners' families),was arrested sometime between March 6 and 13. - Sein Hlaing, a rank and file member, was arrested sometime between March 6 and 13. - Shwe Gyo, a rank and file member, was arrested sometime between March 6 and 13. ¶2. (SBU) We are seeking to confirm media reports that a fifth NLD member, Ko Thein Lwin, was also arrested in March. NLD officials noted that Ko Thein Lwin has been in hiding since mid-February and did not have any additional information about him. ¶3. (SBU) As of March 18, over 2,000 political prisoners remain in custody. Since January 1 the regime has arrested at least 15 activists, although some observers estimate the number to be in excess of 20. As in these most recent cases, the regime rarely acknowledges arrests or discloses any information about the whereabouts or condition of the detainees. VAJDA