Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON64
2009-02-04 07:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: THAN SHWE RESURFACES
how-toVZCZCXRO2545 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO DE RUEHGO #0064 0350735 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 040735Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8619 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1771 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 5245 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8845 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6417 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2040 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2239 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000064
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: THAN SHWE RESURFACES
REF: RANGOON 9
Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000064
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: THAN SHWE RESURFACES
REF: RANGOON 9
Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) After a month of speculation about his whereabouts,
Burmese Senior General Than Shwe reappeared in Nay Pyi Taw
February 3 to accept the credentials of the new Cambodian,
Vietnamese, and Chinese Ambassadors to Burma. Official
photos of all three ceremonies appear in the February 4
state-run New Light of Myanmar. The Chinese incoming and
outgoing defense attaches, who attended the PRC credential
ceremony, told us Than Shwe "appeared healthy," although he
was still experiencing lower back pain. The February 3
ceremonies for the three Ambassadors took place in the order
of their arrival in country, beginning with the Cambodian at
10:00 a.m., the Vietnamese at 10:30 and the Chinese at 11:00.
2. (C) Rumors that Than Shwe is gravely ill or dead
circulate every few months. In this instance, speculation
about his health began in earnest after he failed to attend
an annual January 4 Independence Day dinner in Nay Pyi Taw
(Reftel). The official explanation given for his no-show was
that he had suffered a back injury while visiting a pagoda.
We then heard he had collapsed during a briefing on January
14 in Nay Pyi Taw, causing at least one senior figure, LtGen
Ye Myint, head of Military Intelligence, to rush there from
Rangoon. Vice-Senior General Maung Aye officially hosted the
Thai Supreme Commander during his recent visit, further
fueling rumors of Than Shwe's imminent demise. Not just yet,
but some day we all pass from the scene....
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: THAN SHWE RESURFACES
REF: RANGOON 9
Classified By: P/E Chief Jennifer Harhigh for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) After a month of speculation about his whereabouts,
Burmese Senior General Than Shwe reappeared in Nay Pyi Taw
February 3 to accept the credentials of the new Cambodian,
Vietnamese, and Chinese Ambassadors to Burma. Official
photos of all three ceremonies appear in the February 4
state-run New Light of Myanmar. The Chinese incoming and
outgoing defense attaches, who attended the PRC credential
ceremony, told us Than Shwe "appeared healthy," although he
was still experiencing lower back pain. The February 3
ceremonies for the three Ambassadors took place in the order
of their arrival in country, beginning with the Cambodian at
10:00 a.m., the Vietnamese at 10:30 and the Chinese at 11:00.
2. (C) Rumors that Than Shwe is gravely ill or dead
circulate every few months. In this instance, speculation
about his health began in earnest after he failed to attend
an annual January 4 Independence Day dinner in Nay Pyi Taw
(Reftel). The official explanation given for his no-show was
that he had suffered a back injury while visiting a pagoda.
We then heard he had collapsed during a briefing on January
14 in Nay Pyi Taw, causing at least one senior figure, LtGen
Ye Myint, head of Military Intelligence, to rush there from
Rangoon. Vice-Senior General Maung Aye officially hosted the
Thai Supreme Commander during his recent visit, further
fueling rumors of Than Shwe's imminent demise. Not just yet,
but some day we all pass from the scene....
DINGER