Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON328
2009-06-04 05:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: FAMILY DETAINED AFTER SEEKING EMBASSY
how-toVZCZCXRO0265 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0328 1550548 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 040548Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9056 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2011 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5486 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9082 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6658 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4469 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2462 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000328
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND CA/OCS; DS FOR DS/IP/EAP AND DSCC; PACOM
FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: ASEC CASC BM PGOV
SUBJECT: BURMA: FAMILY DETAINED AFTER SEEKING EMBASSY
ASSISTANCE FOR DETAINED RELATIVE
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 000328
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND CA/OCS; DS FOR DS/IP/EAP AND DSCC; PACOM
FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: ASEC CASC BM PGOV
SUBJECT: BURMA: FAMILY DETAINED AFTER SEEKING EMBASSY
ASSISTANCE FOR DETAINED RELATIVE
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 4 a family of five, plus a friend,
approached the Embassy front gate holding Burmese-language
signs appealing for Embassy assistance with the case of a
detained family member. They did not claim any political
affiliation and did not raise any political issues. They
voluntarily departed approximately 15 minutes later, but were
detained by police shortly thereafter. Police confirmed to
our Regional Security Officer that they took the family to a
local police station for "inquiries." End Summary.
Family Demonstrates at the Embassy
--------------
2. (C) Local guards informed the Regional Security Officer
on the morning of June 4 that a family of five (one woman and
four children) plus a family friend had arrived outside the
Embassy's front gate to appeal for Embassy assistance with
the case of a detained family member. RSO immediately
contacted the ranking police official on the scene to inform
him that we did not perceive the family as a threat and to
request they not be arrested. Poloff and RSO then spoke with
the family and obtained their story and contact information.
We explained the Embassy's inability to directly assist, but
offered to pass their information and request for help to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). RSO and
Poloff told the group they were welcome to remain outside the
gate, but noted the presence of uniformed and plainclothes
Special Branch police and cautioned we would not be able to
interfere if the police chose to detain them. The family
members decided to depart the area after delivering their
message.
3. (C) Plainclothes and uniformed police passively observed
for the 15 minutes that the group was present at our gate and
allowed the individuals to depart without incident. However,
a short time later, members of the Embassy's surveillance
detection team observed police escorting all six away in a
taxi. Police have since confirmed to RSO that they took the
family to a local police station for "inquiries," but did not
provide any additional details.
4. (C) According to the group, their demonstration was
prompted by the arrest of the head of household while he was
taking photographs near his shop at a downtown Rangoon
market. They told us the detained man is the family's only
breadwinner and that he is not at all involved in political
activity. The mother lamented that no one else would help
her and pleaded with us to assist. There is no evidence to
suggest, and the family did not claim, any connection with
the ongoing trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. We will contact the
ICRC and pass the family's information and request for
assistance.
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND CA/OCS; DS FOR DS/IP/EAP AND DSCC; PACOM
FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2019
TAGS: ASEC CASC BM PGOV
SUBJECT: BURMA: FAMILY DETAINED AFTER SEEKING EMBASSY
ASSISTANCE FOR DETAINED RELATIVE
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 4 a family of five, plus a friend,
approached the Embassy front gate holding Burmese-language
signs appealing for Embassy assistance with the case of a
detained family member. They did not claim any political
affiliation and did not raise any political issues. They
voluntarily departed approximately 15 minutes later, but were
detained by police shortly thereafter. Police confirmed to
our Regional Security Officer that they took the family to a
local police station for "inquiries." End Summary.
Family Demonstrates at the Embassy
--------------
2. (C) Local guards informed the Regional Security Officer
on the morning of June 4 that a family of five (one woman and
four children) plus a family friend had arrived outside the
Embassy's front gate to appeal for Embassy assistance with
the case of a detained family member. RSO immediately
contacted the ranking police official on the scene to inform
him that we did not perceive the family as a threat and to
request they not be arrested. Poloff and RSO then spoke with
the family and obtained their story and contact information.
We explained the Embassy's inability to directly assist, but
offered to pass their information and request for help to the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). RSO and
Poloff told the group they were welcome to remain outside the
gate, but noted the presence of uniformed and plainclothes
Special Branch police and cautioned we would not be able to
interfere if the police chose to detain them. The family
members decided to depart the area after delivering their
message.
3. (C) Plainclothes and uniformed police passively observed
for the 15 minutes that the group was present at our gate and
allowed the individuals to depart without incident. However,
a short time later, members of the Embassy's surveillance
detection team observed police escorting all six away in a
taxi. Police have since confirmed to RSO that they took the
family to a local police station for "inquiries," but did not
provide any additional details.
4. (C) According to the group, their demonstration was
prompted by the arrest of the head of household while he was
taking photographs near his shop at a downtown Rangoon
market. They told us the detained man is the family's only
breadwinner and that he is not at all involved in political
activity. The mother lamented that no one else would help
her and pleaded with us to assist. There is no evidence to
suggest, and the family did not claim, any connection with
the ongoing trial of Aung San Suu Kyi. We will contact the
ICRC and pass the family's information and request for
assistance.
DINGER