BURMA: NEXT STEPS IN THE ASSK TRIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000440 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, IO, AND CA/OCS/ACS/EAP; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019 TAGS: CASC PGOV PHUM PREL BM SUBJECT: BURMA: NEXT STEPS IN THE ASSK TRIAL REF: RANGOON 430 Classified By: Political Officer Sean K. O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) On July 10, the last scheduled witness in the Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK)/Yettaw trial testified (reftel). ASSK lawyer Nyan Win told us he expects closing arguments in the trial will begin when the court reconvenes on July 24. Nyan Win estimated closing arguments could last for as long as two days. Opposition lawyer Aung Thein said that, based on his experience with previous politically sensitive trials, he expects the court could take another two weeks or more to reach a verdict. However, he stressed that the unique nature of this trial makes it difficult to predict exactly how long it will take. ¶2. (C) The defendants, ASSK, her two assistants, and Amcit John Yettaw, each have the right to provide closing statements of their own, either directly or through their lawyers. Nyan Win said that ASSK is actively preparing a statement, but he could not confirm whether she would deliver it herself or rely on her attorneys to do so. ¶3. (C) Some weeks ago, we asked the Dean of the DipCorps, the Singapore Ambassador, to seek regime approval for diplomats to attend the final trial sessions. The Dean passed that request to Nay Pyi Taw. We await a response. DINGER