BURMA: DOCTOR: AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN GOOD HEALTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000208 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: DOCTOR: AUNG SAN SUU KYI IN GOOD HEALTH REF: A. 2008 RANGOON 648 ¶B. RANGOON 93 Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Acting DCM met April 3 with Dr. Tin Myo Win (aka Douglas),who confirmed that he visited Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) for her scheduled monthly medical appointment April 2. He proclaimed the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader to be in good health, and said she is anxious to talk and cooperate with Burmese authorities although she has yet to receive a response from the GOB. Douglas noted that ASSK is receiving family mail and that her estranged brother, Aung San Oo, is currently in Rangoon. Douglas is scheduled to visit ASSK next on May 7. End summary. ASSK in good health -------------- ¶2. (C) Douglas told us April 3 that he spent four hours with ASSK at her residence April 2 and found her to be in good health "physically, emotionally and spiritually." He added that she is very much aware of current events, including Secretary Clinton's remarks on U.S. policy in Jakarta, although Douglas declined to elaborate any further on this topic. "Ready to talk" -------------- ¶3. (C) Douglas told us ASSK has asked him to convey to the authorities that she is "flexible, ready to talk, and ready to cooperate," a message he has passed along. According to Douglas, the GOB has yet to respond. Regarding the NLD, Douglas said ASSK told him she wants the NLD's Central Executive Committee (CEC) to maintain close ties with the Committee Representing the Peoples' Parliament (CRPP) and with the NLD's district-level offices. (Note: The only legally registered NLD office is its headquarters in Rangoon; district operations are often run from members' homes or other locations. End note.) Back channel to the Uncles? -------------- ¶4. (C) When asked if ASSK had any type of "back channel" or means to exchange messages with the other members of the CEC (aka "the Uncles"),Douglas replied that she did not. Douglas said that other than himself, a food deliverer and the two assistants that live on the compound with ASSK, the only others permitted entry are four men hired by Douglas to do routine yard work and maintenance on the residence. These four, intentionally selected because they are not NLD members, are permitted to perform their duties every Monday. Estranged brother in town -------------- ¶5. (C) ASSK is receiving mail, through Douglas, from her sons. He also told us her brother, Aung San Oo, is currently in Rangoon. We believe the brother's usual residence to be in the United States. As we reported in August (ref A),ASSK is estranged from her brother, who has filed a legal case to evict ASSK from her house on the premise that he is entitled to half of their mother's estate. Douglas pressed us on whether Aung San Oo is a U.S. citizen; we declined to answer. One embassy contact told us Aung San Oo visits Burma from time to time, occasionally standing in for the family at official government functions. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Over the past six months, Douglas has shown some reluctance to meet with us after visiting his patient. When RANGOON 00000208 002 OF 002 we last met with him in February he told us regime scrutiny on him had lessened (ref B) and on this occasion he again readily agreed to meet. However, when we pressed him for details of what he discussed with ASSK during their four-hour session, he was not forthcoming. It is possible he declined to provide more information to us in order to keep on the good side of the authorities to ensure future access to ASSK. His next scheduled appointment with her is May 7. DINGER