BURMA: SIX BOMBS EXPLODE IN RANGOON; NO INJURIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000626 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, DS/IP/EAP, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019 TAGS: PGOV ASEC BM SUBJECT: BURMA: SIX BOMBS EXPLODE IN RANGOON; NO INJURIES REPORTED REF: RANGOON 135 Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Burma Police Special Branch Deputy Director Colonel Win Naing Tun confirmed media reports of bomb explosions in Rangoon the night of September 16. No injuries were reported. On September 17, the RSO's FSN investigator learned from GOB police sources that homemade bombs containing metal balls exploded in six different locations in Hlaing Thar Yar township, Western Rangoon. The first blast reportedly occurred at 9:00 p.m. at the site of a private construction company. While police were investigating the scene, two additional bombs exploded nearby at approximately 11:00 p.m., close to the Valiant CIGARETTE factory. Another two explosions occurred around midnight near the Max Soft Drink Company. The last bomb exploded early on September 17 at an industrial area. ¶2. (C) No group has claimed responsibility thus far and authorities continue investigating. RSO has offered to assist with the investigation. Special Branch has not yet responded to the offer. RSO sources report that security is tight in the area surrounding the explosions. Two similar bombings occurred in Rangoon on March 3 (reftel). The GOB tends to blame such incidents on opposition activists or insurgent groups, but has yet to produce credible evidence to back these claims. DINGER