Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON381
2009-06-22 06:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: ASSK APPEAL HEARING SET FOR JUNE 24;
how-toVZCZCXRO5613 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0381 1730652 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 220652Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9143 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2080 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5554 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9150 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6728 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4537 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2531 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS RANGOON 000381
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK APPEAL HEARING SET FOR JUNE 24;
CONSULAR ACCESS TO YETTAW
REF: A. RANGOON 341
B. RANGOON 369
Summary
-------
UNCLAS RANGOON 000381
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK APPEAL HEARING SET FOR JUNE 24;
CONSULAR ACCESS TO YETTAW
REF: A. RANGOON 341
B. RANGOON 369
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments
on June 24 in the Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) appeal to readmit
two defense witnesses. The next trial court session is
scheduled to take place on June 26. Vice Consul met with
Amcit John Yettaw for 40 minutes on June 20. Yettaw
continues his fast, and his health has declined since our
last consular visit. He was on an intravenous drip and had
to be assisted into the room. Yettaw told Vice Consul he
will begin eating again on June 26, but would refuse all food
and water (other than the IV) until that time. End Summary.
ASSK Trial
--------------
2. (SBU) On June 19, the Supreme Court announced it would
hear substantive arguments on June 24 in the appeal to
reinstate two defense witnesses in ASSK's trial. ASSK's
lawyers told us they do not know when the high court will
issue its decision. ASSK's legal team earlier had
successfully appealed the trial court's decision to bar one
defense witness -- National League for Democracy (NLD) member
and lawyer Daw Khin Mot Mot, who has yet to take the stand.
The lawyers now are asking the Supreme Court to permit
detained NLD Vice Chairman U Tin Oo and NLD Central Executive
Committee Member Win Tin to be witnesses.
3. (SBU) The trial court is scheduled to reconvene on June
26. ASSK's lawyers noted they do not know what will happen
when the trial court next meets. Much will depend on what
the Supreme Court decides at the June 24 hearing.
Consular Access to Yettaw
--------------
4. (SBU) On June 20, Vice Consul met with John Yettaw for
approximately 40 minutes at Insein Prison. For the first
time, the Prison Director, rather than the lower-ranking
Prison Superintendant, was present, along with the usual
array of government officials. Prior to the meeting, the
Prison Director reported that Yettaw, who is normally very
active, had remained in bed in his cell for the entire day on
June 18. Out of concern for Yettaw's health, the Prison
Director asked that Yettaw be brought to the meeting in a
wheelchair. Ultimately, when Yettaw entered, he was walking,
but was supported on the arms of two prison guards and had an
IV attached to his arm.
5. (SBU) Yettaw has been fasting for 46 days, but declared
that he will begin eating again on June 26. He explained to
Vice Consul that he intends to forgo water in addition to
food for the final days of the fast (note: until now he has
only been refusing food). He said he allows prison doctors
to feed him liquids and vitamins through an IV. He
complained of dizziness during the meeting. Vice Consul
urged Yettaw to end his fast. Yettaw stated that he would do
so on June 26 and would not fast again while in Burma.
Yettaw said he has been well-treated by prison officials.
DINGER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: ASSK APPEAL HEARING SET FOR JUNE 24;
CONSULAR ACCESS TO YETTAW
REF: A. RANGOON 341
B. RANGOON 369
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) The Supreme Court announced it will hear arguments
on June 24 in the Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) appeal to readmit
two defense witnesses. The next trial court session is
scheduled to take place on June 26. Vice Consul met with
Amcit John Yettaw for 40 minutes on June 20. Yettaw
continues his fast, and his health has declined since our
last consular visit. He was on an intravenous drip and had
to be assisted into the room. Yettaw told Vice Consul he
will begin eating again on June 26, but would refuse all food
and water (other than the IV) until that time. End Summary.
ASSK Trial
--------------
2. (SBU) On June 19, the Supreme Court announced it would
hear substantive arguments on June 24 in the appeal to
reinstate two defense witnesses in ASSK's trial. ASSK's
lawyers told us they do not know when the high court will
issue its decision. ASSK's legal team earlier had
successfully appealed the trial court's decision to bar one
defense witness -- National League for Democracy (NLD) member
and lawyer Daw Khin Mot Mot, who has yet to take the stand.
The lawyers now are asking the Supreme Court to permit
detained NLD Vice Chairman U Tin Oo and NLD Central Executive
Committee Member Win Tin to be witnesses.
3. (SBU) The trial court is scheduled to reconvene on June
26. ASSK's lawyers noted they do not know what will happen
when the trial court next meets. Much will depend on what
the Supreme Court decides at the June 24 hearing.
Consular Access to Yettaw
--------------
4. (SBU) On June 20, Vice Consul met with John Yettaw for
approximately 40 minutes at Insein Prison. For the first
time, the Prison Director, rather than the lower-ranking
Prison Superintendant, was present, along with the usual
array of government officials. Prior to the meeting, the
Prison Director reported that Yettaw, who is normally very
active, had remained in bed in his cell for the entire day on
June 18. Out of concern for Yettaw's health, the Prison
Director asked that Yettaw be brought to the meeting in a
wheelchair. Ultimately, when Yettaw entered, he was walking,
but was supported on the arms of two prison guards and had an
IV attached to his arm.
5. (SBU) Yettaw has been fasting for 46 days, but declared
that he will begin eating again on June 26. He explained to
Vice Consul that he intends to forgo water in addition to
food for the final days of the fast (note: until now he has
only been refusing food). He said he allows prison doctors
to feed him liquids and vitamins through an IV. He
complained of dizziness during the meeting. Vice Consul
urged Yettaw to end his fast. Yettaw stated that he would do
so on June 26 and would not fast again while in Burma.
Yettaw said he has been well-treated by prison officials.
DINGER