88 GENERATION ACTIVISTS DETAIL PRISON CONDITIONS;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000628 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: 88 GENERATION ACTIVISTS DETAIL PRISON CONDITIONS; APPEAL FOR USG ASSISTANCE RANGOON 00000628 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a September 17 meeting with P/E chief and Poloff, 88 Generation Students (88GS) activist Soe Htun and human rights activist Myat Ko Ko expressed growing concern over the poor conditions of Burma's prisons and political prisoners' lack of basic necessities. Soe Htun, who continues his work as an underground activist, requested USG assistance in urging the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to press for access to prisons. Soe Htun told us he has not heard of any planned events to commemorate the 2007 Saffron Revolution. Despite rumors spread by the exile community, he assesses Burma's internal networks are too weak to support such a protest. Soe Htun believes the government is giving the right cues to suggest some political prisoners will be released, but he cannot verify details. End Summary. Prison Conditions Poor; Prisoners Lack Basic Necessities -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Soe Htun, who was released from Thayawaddy Prison (Bago Division) in 2004 after serving seven years for his political activities, expressed growing concern over the poor conditions of Burma's prisons and political prisoners' lack of basic necessities. He presented us a list of 60 prisoners in 36 different prisons who lack adequate medical care and food. Hepatitis B and amoebas are the most prevalent medical problems, but prisoners also suffer from malaria, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stomach issues -- the result of unhygienic conditions and spoiled food. Soe Htun told us of a prisoner he knows who sustained severe eye injuries during his arrest and interrogation but has yet to receive medical attention. Relating this episode to his own experience -- Soe Htun told us he endured toothache pain for three months at Thayawaddy Prison before seeing a dentist and by that time two of his molars had rotted -- he commented that his primary concern is prisoners' health because they must be well enough to participate in the democratic process after their release. He predicted that no matter what happens in the 2010 elections, the road to democracy will be a long journey. ¶3. (C) Soe Htun continues his work to promote political awareness, specifically about democracy and human rights, among Burma's youth, even as he remains in hiding to avoid arrest for his role in organizing protests in August and September 2007. He told P/E chief and Poloff that in contrast to the students of his generation, who were politically aware and well-educated, the deterioration of Burma's education system has resulted in a younger generation that is ignorant of politics. Soe Htun continues to work with a small group of pro-democracy activists to discuss approaches to the 2010 elections. He told us he funds his activities through donations from sympathetic former university classmates, many of whom are employed as engineers in Singapore. Plea for ICRC to Access Prisons -------------- ¶4. (C) Soe Htun expressed concern over the ICRC's limited ability to support political prisoners and their families. He told us that budget cuts within the organization have caused the ICRC to limit its provision of assistance to families for travel costs associated with prison visits. (Note: The regime has dispersed prisoners to different parts of the country, many in remote areas that require excessive travel time -- days not hours -- and significant cost.) ¶5. (C) Soe Htun asked that USG urge the ICRC to press the regime for renewed access to prisons. There is a lack of food and medicine, and general conditions of the prisons are decrepit. Prisoners, Soe Htun and Myat Ko Ko agreed, often tell their families of being held for extended periods in RANGOON 00000628 002.2 OF 002 solitary confinement (e.g. in Meiktila Prison, Mandalay Division) and in unsanitary conditions without access to purified water and clean toilets (e.g., Buthitaung Prison in Rakkhine State). Myat Ko Ko said he was frustrated with ICRC workers in Rangoon who turned him away when he tried to report on conditions of political prisoners and to solicit help. The ICRC said only prisoners' family members can request ICRC assistance. Many family members are reluctant to approach ICRC directly due to fear of retribution by authorities, Myat Ko Ko added. No Plans for September 2007 Commemoration -------------- ¶6. (C) Soe Htun told us he has not heard of any planned events to commemorate the September 2007 uprising. He noted that activists in the exile community are circulating rumors of a commemoration, but current tight security conditions and weak links among activists make such endeavors difficult. General Amnesty Plans -------------- ¶7. (C) In our meeting, which preceded the GOB's announced prisoner release, Soe Htun said he expects a general amnesty and he reported that prison authorities recently questioned various political prisoners -- currently held in Thayawaddy Prison -- about their plans should they be released and their views on the SPDC. Authorities also took their photos, a common precursor to a prisoner's release. Soe Htun added, however, that he was questioned five times over the course of seven years before being released. (Note: Per septel, the Burma Government announced an amnesty of 7,114 prisoners on September 17.) Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) The ICRC suspended prison visits in 2006, when the GOB no longer permitted the ICRC to follow its established operating procedures. When dialogue failed to resolve the situation, the ICRC issued a rare public denunciation of Burma in June 2007. The ICRC's current mandate here is severely limited: funding family visits to prisoners and providing prosthetic limbs to landmine victims. Soe Htun and Myat Ko Ko echo others who have observed the potential value of an expanded ICRC mandate. We have discussed the matter with the ICRC Head of Delegation in the past and will do so again. Putting ICRC prisoner access on the agenda for any future USG dialogue with the GOB is worth serious consideration, given the importance of political prisoners to the future of a more democratic Burma. We would need to first coordinate with the ICRC, which has wished to avoid any appearance of collusion with Western countries for fear the GOB could further restrict its activities. DINGER