BURMA: BRIEFING THE NLD ON SANCTIONS MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000690 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: BRIEFING THE NLD ON SANCTIONS MEETING WITH AUNG SAN SUU KYI REF: A. RANGOON 688 ¶B. RANGOON 687 Classified By: CDA, a.i. Tom Vajda for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) CDA, a.i., Australian Charge, and UK DCM briefed the National League for Democracy (NLD) October 9 on the meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) on sanctions earlier in the day. The meeting at NLD headquarters was packed, with both Central Executive Committee (CEC) and rank-and-file members present. CDA explained the background to the meeting and the conditions set by the GOB, and joined the other diplomats in providing an overview of the discussions (reftel). We took particular care to note that ASSK treated the meeting as a fact-finding session, citing her repeated comment that only the NLD collectively can reach a decision on sanctions policy. We also described her eagerness to meet with her party, as well as our continued efforts to facilitate such direct communication. ¶2. (C) NLD members asked few questions, but agreed on the need for more information on sanctions. A number of attendees appeared visibly pleased at hearing that ASSK insisted on collective party decision-making. CEC member U Nyunt Wai referenced U.S. outreach to the NLD and other stakeholders in conducting our policy review and asked whether the NLD's views on sanctions would affect U.S. policy in the future. CDA answered in the affirmative and encouraged continued consultations as the party forms its views. In closing, CDA asked the NLD to treat the briefing information with discretion, since we do not intend to share the details of the ASSK meeting publicly; all sides agreed to avoid putting at risk a dialogue process now only in its infancy. VAJDA