BURMA: APPEALS COURT REINSTATES ONE ASSK DEFENSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000341 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: APPEALS COURT REINSTATES ONE ASSK DEFENSE WITNESS REF: RANGOON 335 Classified By: Political Officer Sean K. O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (SBU) ASSK lawyer and NLD spokesman Nyan Win told us that on June 9 the Rangoon Divisional Court announced it would allow Aung San Suu Kyi's defense to call as a witness NLD member and lawyer Daw Khin Mot Mot, one of the three witnesses originally barred by the trial court. However, the Divisional Court upheld the trial court's disqualification of NLD CEC member Win Tin and Vice Chairman U Tin Oo. The Divisional Court's decision stems from a June 5 appeal by Aung San Suu Kyi's attorneys seeking the admission of all three witnesses (reftel). ¶2. (SBU) Nyan Win initially told us Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers do not intend to appeal the June 9 Divisional Court's decision, although media reported they would (note: there are three lawyers on ASSK's defense team, it is possible there is internal debate on whether to appeal this further). Nyan Win did not comment on the significance of today's decision, nor did he provide any information on Daw Khin Mot Mot's expected testimony. Nyan Win added he does not know what will happen when the trial court next meets on June 12, noting it could be another few days or longer before the latest witness testifies. DINGER