Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON37
2009-01-21 06:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000037
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: MORE LAWYERS ARRESTED
REF: 08 RANGOON 873
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 000037
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: MORE LAWYERS ARRESTED
REF: 08 RANGOON 873
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Authorities arrested two activist lawyers on January
15 and 16. Attorney Pho Phyu was detained on January 15
after representing farmers who reported labor-rights
violations to the International Labor Organization (ILO). In
2008, the ILO filed a formal complaint on behalf of Pho
Phyu's clients, and the organization is looking into his
arrest to determine if there is a labor nexus. Human rights
lawyer San Maung is free on bail after he was charged on
January 16 with confronting a Bago immigration official over
the issuance of a registration form to a local monk.
Labor Lawyer Detained
--------------
2. (C) Detained opposition lawyer U Aung Thein's office
reported that on January 15, officials in Magwe Division
detained activist lawyer Pho Phyu as he boarded a bus to
return to Rangoon. According to our contacts, Pho Phyu had
represented a group of farmers in Aunglan Township whose land
had been confiscated by the Burma Army. So far, the regime
has not released any information about Pho Phyu's arrest,
including whether he has been charged with anything.
3. (C) ILO Liaison Officer Steve Marshall told us that Pho
Phyu represented four local farmers and one labor activist
who were arrested in 2008 after the ILO lodged a formal
complaint against the GOB. Marshall informed us that the
original ILO complaint, based on reports from over 50 local
farmers, alleged that the Burma Army had forced farmers in
Aunglan Township to work on unlawfully confiscated land.
According to Marshall, three of the five detainees were
eventually released after the ILO conducted an investigation
with a senior official from the Ministry of Labor. However,
two of the detainees remain in custody on charges of
violating the Official Secrets Act for allegedly providing
the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) with video of secure army
facilities. In fact, Marshall said, the video DVB aired
showed bamboo and thatched huts the army had erected on the
confiscated farmland, not sensitive government facilities.
Marshall informed us that the ILO is looking into Pho Phyu's
arrest and will formally pursue the matter if it finds the
lawyer's arrest was related to his representation of these
labor activists.
Activist Lawyer Charged
--------------
4. (C) Bago Division NLD official Myat Hla confirmed media
reports that on January 16 officials charged attorney San
Maung with "using criminal force to deter a public official
from discharging his duties." According to Myat Hla, the
charges stem from a recent incident in which San Maung
berated a Bago immigration official for not immediately
issuing a registration form to a local monk. Bago Police
officials charged San Maung under Section 353 of the Penal
Code after the immigration office complained. According to
the media, San Maung is free on bail pending his trial.
Three Other Opposition Lawyers Remain in Jail, One in Exile
-------------- --------------
5. (C) In November 2008, four defense lawyers representing
political prisoners were sentenced to between four and six
months' imprisonment for contempt of court after they
objected to the lack of due process in their clients' cases.
Nyi Nyi Htwe, Aung Thein, and Khin Maung Shein remain in
prison pending the completion of their sentence. The fourth
lawyer, Saw Kyaw Kyaw Min, fled and is reportedly in Thailand
(reftel).
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: MORE LAWYERS ARRESTED
REF: 08 RANGOON 873
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Authorities arrested two activist lawyers on January
15 and 16. Attorney Pho Phyu was detained on January 15
after representing farmers who reported labor-rights
violations to the International Labor Organization (ILO). In
2008, the ILO filed a formal complaint on behalf of Pho
Phyu's clients, and the organization is looking into his
arrest to determine if there is a labor nexus. Human rights
lawyer San Maung is free on bail after he was charged on
January 16 with confronting a Bago immigration official over
the issuance of a registration form to a local monk.
Labor Lawyer Detained
--------------
2. (C) Detained opposition lawyer U Aung Thein's office
reported that on January 15, officials in Magwe Division
detained activist lawyer Pho Phyu as he boarded a bus to
return to Rangoon. According to our contacts, Pho Phyu had
represented a group of farmers in Aunglan Township whose land
had been confiscated by the Burma Army. So far, the regime
has not released any information about Pho Phyu's arrest,
including whether he has been charged with anything.
3. (C) ILO Liaison Officer Steve Marshall told us that Pho
Phyu represented four local farmers and one labor activist
who were arrested in 2008 after the ILO lodged a formal
complaint against the GOB. Marshall informed us that the
original ILO complaint, based on reports from over 50 local
farmers, alleged that the Burma Army had forced farmers in
Aunglan Township to work on unlawfully confiscated land.
According to Marshall, three of the five detainees were
eventually released after the ILO conducted an investigation
with a senior official from the Ministry of Labor. However,
two of the detainees remain in custody on charges of
violating the Official Secrets Act for allegedly providing
the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) with video of secure army
facilities. In fact, Marshall said, the video DVB aired
showed bamboo and thatched huts the army had erected on the
confiscated farmland, not sensitive government facilities.
Marshall informed us that the ILO is looking into Pho Phyu's
arrest and will formally pursue the matter if it finds the
lawyer's arrest was related to his representation of these
labor activists.
Activist Lawyer Charged
--------------
4. (C) Bago Division NLD official Myat Hla confirmed media
reports that on January 16 officials charged attorney San
Maung with "using criminal force to deter a public official
from discharging his duties." According to Myat Hla, the
charges stem from a recent incident in which San Maung
berated a Bago immigration official for not immediately
issuing a registration form to a local monk. Bago Police
officials charged San Maung under Section 353 of the Penal
Code after the immigration office complained. According to
the media, San Maung is free on bail pending his trial.
Three Other Opposition Lawyers Remain in Jail, One in Exile
-------------- --------------
5. (C) In November 2008, four defense lawyers representing
political prisoners were sentenced to between four and six
months' imprisonment for contempt of court after they
objected to the lack of due process in their clients' cases.
Nyi Nyi Htwe, Aung Thein, and Khin Maung Shein remain in
prison pending the completion of their sentence. The fourth
lawyer, Saw Kyaw Kyaw Min, fled and is reportedly in Thailand
(reftel).
DINGER