NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY CAUTIOUSLY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000544 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AFTER WEBB VISIT REF: A. RANGOON 535 ¶B. RANGOON 534 ¶C. RANGOON 527 RANGOON 00000544 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) We provided a readout August 18 to the National League for Democracy on Senator Webb's meetings with Than Shwe and Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK),while also seeking the party's views on the visit and next steps. Although party elders do not agree with some of Senator Webb's views, particularly on sanctions (and asked about the extent to which the Senator discussed those issues with ASSK and the generals),they assess his visit positively and encourage continued U.S. dialogue with the regime. End summary. NLD Reacts Favorably to Senator Webb Visit -------------- ¶2. (C) P/E Chief and poloff briefed National League for Democracy (NLD) Central Executive Committee (CEC) members and others at NLD headquarters August 18 on Senator Webb's visit to Burma, including his meetings with Than Shwe (Ref A) and ASSK (Ref B). Party elders reacted positively to the visit, emphasizing the need for more U.S. dialogue with the regime in the near future. Calling Senator Webb "a good investigator", CEC member Nyunt Wai observed the party can benefit from the visit, taking into account the Senator's position and preparing itself for possible shifts in the USG approach to Burma. He emphasized the need for the U.S. to consult with opposition forces as Washington shapes a new policy and praised recent statements by President Obama and Secretary Clinton criticizing ASSK's conviction. ¶3. (C) CEC member Khin Maung Swe said he welcomed the visit, noting it could be "a chance" and adding "there is now light at the end of the tunnel but it depends on you." He stressed that "bargaining diplomacy" as used in Phuket by Secretary Clinton, is the "only way to break through." Khin Maung Swe encouraged more bilateral dialogue: "small or big, there must be more talk with high-level officials from the U.S.," in concert with ASSK's own efforts to pursue internal dialogue between the regime and the party. He advised: "Don't wait. Don't waste time." Purpose of the Senator's Visit? -------------- ¶4. (C) NLD leaders remarked that there had been confusion, including on the part of ASSK, concerning the Senator's goals for his visit. We clarified that Senator Webb, who visited five countries in the region, told ASSK that his military service and personal experience in Vietnam, previous travel to Burma in 2001, and current position in the Senate motivated him to seek ways to help Burma rejoin the international community. Clarifying Comments on Sanctions... -------------- ¶5. (C) NLD leaders inquired whether Senator Webb had raised sanctions with the senior generals, noting that both the Senator and the regime want sanctions lifted. P/E Chief responded by saying Senator Webb's message to both Prime Minister Thein Sein and Than Shwe focused not on sanctions but on the release of ASSK, noting also that he had stressed that the ASSK issue must be resolved for better bilateral relations. NLD leaders cited a press article that quoted the Senator as saying ASSK supported the lifting of some sanctions and asked if it accurately represented what she said at the meeting. P/E Chief responded by noting that discussion of sanctions was secondary; the main themes of ASSK's meeting with the Senator were her willingness to RANGOON 00000544 002.2 OF 002 engage in unconditional dialogue with the regime, and her desire to consult with her party and reach consensus on political issues, including the party's position on the 2010 elections. And on Visitors... -------------- ¶6. (C) Poloff relayed that the Senator and ASSK had discussed the issue of openness and contact with the West and that ASSK had remarked that she is "very much for openness" and not against greater contact with the regime. She said it is not a problem for visitors to come to Burma provided they get a balanced impression. Party elders asked if ASSK was referring to tourists as well as official visitors; P/E Chief responded by repeating ASSK's words verbatim and declining to characterize them. ASSK to Party: Don't Criticize Senator Webb's Visit -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Party spokesman and ASSK personal lawyer Nyan Win told Poloff privately after the meeting that ASSK told him to instruct other NLD leaders "not to criticize Senator Webb's visit." (Note: Presumably this is in response to several articles in the exile press criticizing Senator Webb's trip. End note.) VAJDA