Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON390
2009-06-25 07:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: REGIME NEWS CONFERENCE IMPLIES USG
how-toVZCZCXRO8725 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0390/01 1760713 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 250713Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9158 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2094 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5568 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9164 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6742 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4551 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2545 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000390
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME NEWS CONFERENCE IMPLIES USG
INVOLVEMENT IN YETTAW VISITS TO ASSK
REF: RANGOON 381 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Political Officer Sean K. O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000390
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME NEWS CONFERENCE IMPLIES USG
INVOLVEMENT IN YETTAW VISITS TO ASSK
REF: RANGOON 381 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Political Officer Sean K. O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 25, Chief of Police (and Deputy Minister of
Home Affairs) Brigadier General Khin Yi held an hour long
briefing for the press and diplomatic corps regarding
American Citizen John Yettaw. For over 40 minutes, Khin Yi
described in detail the GOB's version of events surrounding
Yettaw's May visit to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) as
well as Yettaw's prior travel and biography. Khin Yi stated
that foreigners may have been behind Yettaw's actions, and
implied (but did not articulate) that the United States
Government was involved. He did not explain why the GOB held
the press conference now or what effect this is intended to
have on the Yettaw or ASSK trials. Khin Yi took several
questions from the assembled Burmese press and diplomatic
corps, but provided little substantive information beyond his
prepared statement. End Summary.
Out of the Blue
--------------
2. (SBU) On June 25, Chief of Police Brigadier General Khin
Yi held a briefing for the press and diplomatic corps
regarding American Citizen John Yettaw. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs officially informed the diplomatic corps that
the police would hold the briefing approximately four hours
before it began at 2:00 p.m. At least one media contact
received word last night, and informed us, that the Police
would hold a media conference today.
3. (U) For approximately 40 minutes, Khin Yi - reading from a
prepared statement - provided a detailed account of the GOB's
version of events surrounding Yettaw's May visit to ASSK's
home, his prior travels to Burma and Thailand, and his
biography. Police also displayed the items allegedly found
in Yettaw's possession as well as a number of photographs of
and taken by Yettaw. While the vast majority of the briefing
was devoted to Yettaw, Khin Yi took a moment during his
presentation to reiterate the GOB's allegation that ASSK
failed to cooperate with the police, as was her duty. Nearly
all of the information Khin Yi provided has been previously
reported in state media.
The Conspiracy Theory
--------------
4. (SBU) Khin Yi said it is likely foreign persons or
organizations were "behind the curtain," supporting Yettaw's
actions, a possibility that requires additional
investigation. He clearly implied (but did not articulate)
that the United States Government was involved. During the
depiction of Yettaw's May 2009 visit to ASSK's property, Khin
Yi specified that Yettaw entered the lake "near the U.S.
Embassy" and was caught "just 30 yards from the U.S. Charge's
residence." Later, in response to a (likely staged) question
by a Burmese reporter regarding who may have supported
Yettaw, Khin Yi said he could not say for now, but pointedly
reminded the audience that Yettaw is a U.S. citizen and had
ample money to make multiple expensive trips between the U.S.
and South East Asia, despite his meager personal finances.
The presentation claimed that Yettaw met with Burmese
opposition activists in Thailand before traveling to Burma,
an assertion supported by photographs purportedly showing
Yettaw with Burmese members of the Thailand-based human
rights group Assistance Association of Political Prisoners
(AAPP).
Comment
--------------
RANGOON 00000390 002 OF 002
5. (C) Khin Yi provided no explanation for the timing of the
briefing/press conference today, on such short notice, with
the trials scheduled to resume tomorrow, and with a Supreme
Court appeal by ASSK lawyers still pending . It seems
evident, though, that the GOB now wants to imply that the USG
was involved in Yettaw's actions. Whether the regime
actually believes that, despite USG clear denials, is
anybody's guess. But invoking an "American conspiracy"
theory fits neatly into the regime's longstanding paranoia of
foreign meddling and its propaganda that ASSK and her Western
supporters are up to no good. If asked, we intend to
reiterate Washington's clear and accurate denial of any USG
involvement in Yettaw's actions. End Comment.
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2019
TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: REGIME NEWS CONFERENCE IMPLIES USG
INVOLVEMENT IN YETTAW VISITS TO ASSK
REF: RANGOON 381 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Political Officer Sean K. O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) &
(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (SBU) On June 25, Chief of Police (and Deputy Minister of
Home Affairs) Brigadier General Khin Yi held an hour long
briefing for the press and diplomatic corps regarding
American Citizen John Yettaw. For over 40 minutes, Khin Yi
described in detail the GOB's version of events surrounding
Yettaw's May visit to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) as
well as Yettaw's prior travel and biography. Khin Yi stated
that foreigners may have been behind Yettaw's actions, and
implied (but did not articulate) that the United States
Government was involved. He did not explain why the GOB held
the press conference now or what effect this is intended to
have on the Yettaw or ASSK trials. Khin Yi took several
questions from the assembled Burmese press and diplomatic
corps, but provided little substantive information beyond his
prepared statement. End Summary.
Out of the Blue
--------------
2. (SBU) On June 25, Chief of Police Brigadier General Khin
Yi held a briefing for the press and diplomatic corps
regarding American Citizen John Yettaw. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs officially informed the diplomatic corps that
the police would hold the briefing approximately four hours
before it began at 2:00 p.m. At least one media contact
received word last night, and informed us, that the Police
would hold a media conference today.
3. (U) For approximately 40 minutes, Khin Yi - reading from a
prepared statement - provided a detailed account of the GOB's
version of events surrounding Yettaw's May visit to ASSK's
home, his prior travels to Burma and Thailand, and his
biography. Police also displayed the items allegedly found
in Yettaw's possession as well as a number of photographs of
and taken by Yettaw. While the vast majority of the briefing
was devoted to Yettaw, Khin Yi took a moment during his
presentation to reiterate the GOB's allegation that ASSK
failed to cooperate with the police, as was her duty. Nearly
all of the information Khin Yi provided has been previously
reported in state media.
The Conspiracy Theory
--------------
4. (SBU) Khin Yi said it is likely foreign persons or
organizations were "behind the curtain," supporting Yettaw's
actions, a possibility that requires additional
investigation. He clearly implied (but did not articulate)
that the United States Government was involved. During the
depiction of Yettaw's May 2009 visit to ASSK's property, Khin
Yi specified that Yettaw entered the lake "near the U.S.
Embassy" and was caught "just 30 yards from the U.S. Charge's
residence." Later, in response to a (likely staged) question
by a Burmese reporter regarding who may have supported
Yettaw, Khin Yi said he could not say for now, but pointedly
reminded the audience that Yettaw is a U.S. citizen and had
ample money to make multiple expensive trips between the U.S.
and South East Asia, despite his meager personal finances.
The presentation claimed that Yettaw met with Burmese
opposition activists in Thailand before traveling to Burma,
an assertion supported by photographs purportedly showing
Yettaw with Burmese members of the Thailand-based human
rights group Assistance Association of Political Prisoners
(AAPP).
Comment
--------------
RANGOON 00000390 002 OF 002
5. (C) Khin Yi provided no explanation for the timing of the
briefing/press conference today, on such short notice, with
the trials scheduled to resume tomorrow, and with a Supreme
Court appeal by ASSK lawyers still pending . It seems
evident, though, that the GOB now wants to imply that the USG
was involved in Yettaw's actions. Whether the regime
actually believes that, despite USG clear denials, is
anybody's guess. But invoking an "American conspiracy"
theory fits neatly into the regime's longstanding paranoia of
foreign meddling and its propaganda that ASSK and her Western
supporters are up to no good. If asked, we intend to
reiterate Washington's clear and accurate denial of any USG
involvement in Yettaw's actions. End Comment.
DINGER