Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON38
2009-01-21 06:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: U GAMBIRA REPORTEDLY ON HUNGER STRIKE
how-toVZCZCXRO1196 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0038 0210609 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 210609Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8565 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1723 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5201 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8797 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6369 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4214 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2195 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000038
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: U GAMBIRA REPORTEDLY ON HUNGER STRIKE
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000038
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: U GAMBIRA REPORTEDLY ON HUNGER STRIKE
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) On January 21, NLD spokesman Nyan Win told us that
NLD contacts report detained activist monk U Gambira has been
on a hunger strike for approximately five days. On January
19, Mizzima News reported the 29-year-old monk began a hunger
strike on January 13, citing unnamed sources inside Burma.
Neither Nyan Win nor Mizzima reported any information about U
Gambira's health. According to Nyan Win, U Gambira began his
hunger strike to protest prison officials' refusal to let his
family visit him recently.
2. (C) Leading 88 Generation Students activist Toe Kyaw
Hlaing said he could not confirm whether U Gambira is on a
hunger strike, but relayed stories the monk has been acting
erratically for the past couple of months. According to Toe
Kyaw Hlaing, prisoners incarcerated with U Gambira told their
family members that the monk has been talking to himself,
berating prison guards, and staying awake nights. However,
Toe Kyaw Hlaing acknowledged that these reports are based on
second-hand hearsay, and stressed he has not spoken to anyone
with direct access to U Gambira.
3. (C) U Gambira (aka Ashin Gambira) is widely believed to
have played a key role in organizing the September 2007
monk-led protests. In November 2008, a special court in
Insein prison sentenced him to 68 years' imprisonment on over
13 charges. U Gambira is incarcerated in Mandalay's Obo
Prison and is reportedly awaiting transfer to Khamti Prison
in Sagaing Division.
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: U GAMBIRA REPORTEDLY ON HUNGER STRIKE
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) On January 21, NLD spokesman Nyan Win told us that
NLD contacts report detained activist monk U Gambira has been
on a hunger strike for approximately five days. On January
19, Mizzima News reported the 29-year-old monk began a hunger
strike on January 13, citing unnamed sources inside Burma.
Neither Nyan Win nor Mizzima reported any information about U
Gambira's health. According to Nyan Win, U Gambira began his
hunger strike to protest prison officials' refusal to let his
family visit him recently.
2. (C) Leading 88 Generation Students activist Toe Kyaw
Hlaing said he could not confirm whether U Gambira is on a
hunger strike, but relayed stories the monk has been acting
erratically for the past couple of months. According to Toe
Kyaw Hlaing, prisoners incarcerated with U Gambira told their
family members that the monk has been talking to himself,
berating prison guards, and staying awake nights. However,
Toe Kyaw Hlaing acknowledged that these reports are based on
second-hand hearsay, and stressed he has not spoken to anyone
with direct access to U Gambira.
3. (C) U Gambira (aka Ashin Gambira) is widely believed to
have played a key role in organizing the September 2007
monk-led protests. In November 2008, a special court in
Insein prison sentenced him to 68 years' imprisonment on over
13 charges. U Gambira is incarcerated in Mandalay's Obo
Prison and is reportedly awaiting transfer to Khamti Prison
in Sagaing Division.
DINGER