BURMA: POSSIBLE PRISONER AMNESTY IN THE WORKS?

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000454 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: POSSIBLE PRISONER AMNESTY IN THE WORKS? ASSK'S NEW HOUSE OF DETENTION? REF: RANGOON 442 Classified By: Political Officer Sean K. O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Leading 88 Generation Students (88GS) activist Toe Kyaw Hlaing, confirmed reftel report that regime officials have recently approached several imprisoned activists to ask them about their political opinions, possibly in an attempt to determine whom to release in any upcoming amnesty. However, police reportedly have not yet approached key activists such as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi. The hasty construction of a guest cottage at Tharrawaddi Prison in Bago Division (90 miles north of Rangoon) has fueled speculation among prison inmates and staff that Aung San Suu Kyi may be detained there after her trial. End Summary. Amnesty Selection? -------------- ¶2. (C) Toe Kyaw Hlaing relayed reports from the family members of some political prisoners that regime officials have recently approached the prisoners to ask about their attitudes on the elections, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the regime in general. Police reportedly made no mention of why they were interviewing prisoners about these topics, but some activists and family members speculate the questions could be an attempt to determine whom to release as part of a mass amnesty hinted at by Burma's UN PermRep last week. (Note: Per reftel, a contact recently told CDA the regime is in negotiations with some prisoners, offering freedom in exchange for support of the regime's planned elections. End note.) Toe Kyaw Hlaing noted that the families of Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi said as far as they know, police have not approached either of those two imprisoned 88GS leaders. ASSK's Future Home? -------------- ¶3. (C) Imprisoned activist Lu Tin Win told his family that prisoners and staff at Tharrawaddi Prison in Bago Division - where he is held - believe officials may incarcerate Aung San Suu Kyi there following her trial. Prisoners have drawn that conclusion from observing prison authorities hastily constructing a guest cottage there in the past couple of weeks, according to Toe Kyaw Hlaing. Thayawadi Prison is approximately 90 miles, a four-hour drive, north of Rangoon. DINGER